Biddulph Park Newtown Primitive Methodist chapel

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Biddulph Park Primitive Methodist chapel

Keith Guyler 1999

After the meetings on Mow Cop which resulted in the establishment of Primitive Methodism in 1807, Biddulph became a strong Nonconformist centre.  The notes with Keith Guyler’s picture say that the chapel was opened in 1863 and closed in the 1970s.  It is now a house offering bed and breakfast.

However, in the Primitive Methodist magazine of March 1855 there is an account by Samuel Tillotson of the opening of a chapel at “Newtown, in Biddulph-park” on December 31st 1854 – same chapel?; transcription error in the date?

It was a little chapel, 8 yards x 6 yards, seating 110 and costing £70 to build. Mr. Leonard Hopkins gave all the bricks, Mrs. Brough gave £10 and Mr. Shufflebottom promised £10. Wonder if he paid it? They had raised £60 in total.

Messrs. Tillotson and Broad and Mrs. Mary Peake preached the opening sermons.

“We are also occupying a schoolroom on rent, as a second place, at Mow, called Mount Pleasant ; we have established preaching in it, and raised a Sabbath-school of more than fifty scholars. We have had sermons and collections for rent, forms, books, and other necessaries ; and though the room will not accommodate more than seventy persons, we realized from 4J. to 51. We have two members, and a prospect of establishing a permanent society. The place is in an improving state, and likely to continue so.”

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine March 1855 pp.176-177