Ashfield Primitive Methodist chapel

The Primitive Methodist magazine of September 1854 contains an account  by WH Meadows of the opening of Ashfield Primitive Methodist chapel in the Stowmarket circuit.

The society had existed for fifteen years and during that time had been meeting in the rented house of “our beloved and aged sister Osborne”.  Mr Meadows explains that she had “desired to depart and be with Christ” for some time but “her removal has been opportunely delayed by a gracious  and all-wise Providence”.

They bought two cottages and an attached garden in the centre of the village. They were opposed by supporters of the newly built parish church – “it is a shameful thing that such a place should be built here now we have got a new church” – but paid their deposit before their rivals could put in their bid.

One of the cottages was let at a rent of £3 3s p.a. and the other pulled down and replaced with a red and white brick chapel, 19′ wide and 26.5′ long.

The opening services were held June 4th and 5th 1854, with sermons preached by Mr Thomas Church of London.  70 People sat down to an excellent tea “gratuitously provided by the friends”.  Collections were very good “considering the times and the circumstances of the people.”  Other sermons were preached by Messrs Church, Dorling, Juby and Meadows.

A Primitive Methodist chapel does not appear on the Ashfield Ordnance Survey map of 1904 but does appear on the 1950 and 1957 maps – although still labelled as Primitive Methodist, so the survey is a little out of date. There are cottages on the site on Google Street View in July 2011, although I cannot make up my mind which (if any) would have been the former chapel.

Reference

The Primitive Methodist magazine September 1854 p.503-4