Blackheath Primitive Methodist chapel

Blackheath PM Church - 1903 building.
Picture supplied by Mike Fenton
Church pictured circa 1910
Supplied by Mike Fenton

The Primitive Methodist Magazine for January 1852 contains an account by T Batty of the recent opening of three Primitive Methodist chapels – at Blackheath, Cinder Hill and Netherton.  “The mining district of South Staffordshire has proved a fruitful soil for Primitive Methodism.  (The area includes) Dudley … with more than forty Primitive Methodist chapels within six miles of her lofty castle.”

The foundation stone for Blackheath Primitive Methodist chapel was laid in August 1851.  The chapel was opened in November and the society “increased six-fold”.  The chapel was 33’ x 30’ and 22’ from floor to ceiling.  The trustees owed £250 to a mortgage and a note of hand, but the subscriptions and donations had not come up to one third of the expenditure.

Mr S Darbey was singled out for particular thanks. Fittingly, the current Blackheath Central Methodist Church is at the junction of High Street and Darby Street.

The 1851 chapel was replaced in 1903 and that was replaced by the current church – all on the same site. In turn the 1903 building was replaced by a smaller building in 2002. A picture of the 2002 building can be seen by following this link.

Reference

Primitive Methodist Magazine for January 1852 p52

Comments about this page

  • DICTIONERY OF ORGANS AND ORGANISTS, ed. Frederick W. Thornsby, Second Edition, publ. London, 150 Fleet Street . GEO. – AUG. MATE & Son. Price 12/6.
    Page 178 :
    BLACKHEATH ( STAFFS ).- PRIMITIVE METHEDIST CHURCH. Built [organ] 1910. 3 manuals, 38 sp. stops, 8 couplers, elec. bl. Oak case. Organist F. R. Darwell.

    By Raymond E. O. Ella (26/08/2021)
  • Thanks for your comment Mike. The 1883 Ordnance Survey map shows a Primitive Methodist chapel at the junction of High Street and Darby Street – the same location as the current Blackheath Central Methodist Church. So there have been three Methodist buildings on the site – 1852, 1903 and the current church. I also note the importance of Mr Darbey in the building of the first chapel – presumably the street is named after him.
    If you email a scan of the men working on the 1903 building to info@myprimitivemethodists.org.uk , we can add it to the page. It would be good to include it.

    By Christopher Hill (31/07/2019)
  • I have a postcard photograph from 1903 showing workers completing the church; however, I am a little confused as to the chapel having opened in 1851 as I wasn’t aware another building had pre-dated the 1903 building. Is the reference to an increasing congregation the reason for the building of the 1903 church? I also presume the chapel was built in or near the same location of the 1903 building. I would like to attach the photograph but I cannot see anywhere to do this.

    By Mike Fenton (29/07/2019)
  • I have 2 silver plate presentation trowel/cake slices which are engraved:

    “Presented to Mrs J H Roberts Primitive Methodist Church Blakcheath March 31st 1902”
    &
    “Presented to Mrs W Evans Primitive Methodist Church Blakcheath March 31st 1902”

    By Michael Gittoes (21/04/2019)

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