The notes with Keith Guyler’s photograph of Granby Street Primitive Methodist chapel in Newmarket do not say when the chapel which seated 230 people was opened. However, the area it was in was developed in the years immediately before before 1860 and was completed by 1880.
In Kelly’s Directory of Cambridgeshire in 1904 its ministers were Rev. Arthur Ernest Goodall & Rev. John Dyson. Its weekly services each Sunday were 11 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m. with a Wednesday week-night service at 8 p.m..
It closed in the 1950s; at the time of Keith Guyler’s photograph in 1993 it was in use as Trimmers Health Club. On Google Street View in 2008 this had closed and by 2010 there was renovation work and the building was available to let. There are 8 different addresses listed in postcode finder in 2015 so this implies it is probably now used for flats.
location: 647631
More of the story from Tony Pringle (10/23)
The foundation stone was laid on 1st November 1866 by the Rev. T. Penrose and completed in 1867 . The opening was on Friday 10th May 1867. The total cost including the land was £650, of which they had at that time only raised £225.
Its weekly services each Sunday were 11 a.m. and 3 and 6.30 p.m. with a Wednesday week-night service at 8 p.m.
The Primitive Methodists united with the Wesley Chapel in St Mary’s Square in 1949 and rather than sell the chapel in Granby Street, in 1951 they adapted it as a youth centre, named “Friendship House”. At the back of the building added an upstairs chapel, office and reading room, whilst the main hall at ground level was equipped with a stage and kitchen. The grant from the Government on which they had relied was suddenly cancelled, but the Methodist movement came up with the funds. Friendship House officially opened on 26th May 1951. Although sponsored by the Methodists, the Youth Club was open to all denominations.
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I’ve added information from Tony Pringle about when the chapel opened and further details about what happened to it.
Thanks for the update.
Hi,
It is currently used as 4 houses, I believe the other 4 addresses were temporary only for as long as the building’s name was changed.
-James
There is a report on the opening of the Chapel on Granby Street, Newmarket in the Bury and Norwich Post of Tuesday 14 May 1867; the storm it mentions was particularly violent (I can send you the transcript of that too if you like!):
“PRIMITIVE METHODISTS CONNEXION. —OPENING OF THE NEW CHAPEL. —The opening of the new chapel, erected in Granby-street, took place on Friday last. Service was held in the afternoon, but owing, no doubt, to the heavy tempest that was raging over the surrounding towns and villages, the attendance of the public was not so numerous as was expected. There were, however, many leading members of this and other dissenting denominations present, all of whom seemed to take a deep interest in the proceedings. An eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. T. Penrose, of London, after which a collection in aid of the building fund was made. In the evening the public tea meeting was held in the Congregational School-room, kindly lent for the purpose, and about 200 persons sat down to the repast, the proceedings arising from which were added to the building fund. The company afterwards again repaired to the newly-opened chapel, where a public meeting was held in the evening. The building was well filled, and upon the enclosed platform, which will serve as a pulpit, were the Revds. T. Penrose, T. J. Kightley, of Wickhambrook, J. Rackham, of saffron Walden, T. Fitton, R. Durrant, and J. Smith of Newmarket, and T. Ball, of Burwell. —Mr. Ball, having been voted to the chair, made some remarks upon the necessity for such a building, and congratulated the members of the society on its completion; and the meeting was next addressed by Mr. Hynett, of Newmarket, who in allusion to the cost of the erection said that money was yet wanted to pay off the debt, and he trusted that all would endeavour to assist. —The Revd. T. J. Kightley read the report of the treasurer, Mr. Petts, which shewed that the erection of the building cost 700l., towards which there was a sum of 162l. 14s. 1d. previously collected, 77l. arising form sale of land, 7l. from the afternoon collection, and the proceeds of tea, which other contributions he thought made up a cheering prospect. —The Rev. J. Smith, of Newmarket congratulated the friends of the Primitive Methodists upon having erected a house of prayer and worship in the very midst of families who, many of them, never entered either church or chapel. —The Rev. T. Penrose, in addressing the meeting, alluded to the origin of the denomination, and said that in May, 1807, the first prayer-meeting of the Society was held; and in 1810 the first class-meeting took place. At the present time there were no less than 14,252 preachers in the Primitive Methodist Church, being nearly as many as there were in the Established Church of England; there were 6094 places of worship, and no less than 700,000 members belonging thereto; and the Society had succeeded in erecting2835 Sabbath Schools, in which there were 40,203 teachers of all classes, and 227,476 children receiving instruction at their hands. Their numbers were fast increasing, and he thought none could say that God had not done great things already for the Primitive Methodists of England. He then alluded to the want of spiritual accommodation in London compared to the country; there being in the metropolis accommodation for only about 30 or 33 per cent. while In the country they accommodated from 55 to 65 per cent. In London 700 additional places of worship were required for a reasonable accommodation of the inhabitants. —The meeting was also addressed by the Rev. Mr. Fitton and Mr. Durrant, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and a collection, the proceedings terminated with prayer.”
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