Newcastle under Lyme Higherland Primitive Methodist Chapel Staffordshire
The first chapel was built here in 1823
chapels of Newcastle under Lyme circuit
Christian Messenger 1911/346
Higherland was the first Primitive Methodist Chapel in Newcastle-under-Lyme Circuit, built in 1823. The original date stone can be seen in the current chapel. The chapel was enlarged and re-opened for worship in 1836, and rebuilt in 1852. The frontage dates from 1856. The present chapel is an extension of the earlier one. There is another building at the rear. This is used as a Sunday School and for other church activities. Now still used for worship the main entrance to the church is situated here as the initial entrance opens on to a busy road.
Photos taken December 2015
OS Map Ref:118:SJ846457
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This is the chapel where Robert Curzon (or Curson) was minister when he was sent to Stafford Gaol in November 1905 for a month for non-payment of rates. The nonconformists who wouldn’t pay the education portion of the poor rate (because it was seen as going to the Church of England) were called “passive resisters”. Curzon had a lot of popular support. Some of his flock are reported to have walked from Newcastle to Stafford in the rain in December to be present at 7:35am when he was released. On 8 December 1905 the Yorkshire Sentinel allocated one and a half columns of very dramatic prose to the release and quoted Curzon on such subjects as sentences not determined by magistrates on the bench but over whisky drinking. It’s a good read. I should think his sermons were lively!
The Primitive Methodist magazine for 1834 (p 150) gives an account by T Morgan of the re-opening of Newcastle Under Lyme Primitive Methodist chapel on 19/02/1832 & 20/02/1832. Preachers at the opening were T Bateman S Tillotson, E Peele & J Miller.
The original opening date is given as 1823 and the additional work involved the addition of a gallery and gas lighting.
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