Bradshaw Lane Providence Primitive Methodist chapel

The ambitious opening of the Primitive Methodist chapel in Bradshaw Lane in the Halifax circuit is recorded in the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1865. The chapel, named Providence, is marked on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map. It disappears from maps between 1956 and 1962.

Street View in 2019 shows modern housing on the site.

“Opening of Bradshaw Lane Chapel, Halifax Circuit.—Some time ago, when I told the readers of this Magazine of the chapel-building work which had been effected in this station, I promised to give more at length the history of the chapel named above. For years brothers Town and Varley, two old and tried members of our church at Bradshaw Lane, had contemplated the building of a chapel there ; but as their ideas of what a chapel should be were vastly larger than the means they had at command, the authorities of the circuit refused to sanction their proposals ; so the brethren named waited in patience, hoping that better days were in store for them.

And so it turned out. Other places, as poor and feeble as Bradshaw, having arisen and built themselves houses of prayer, and a blessed revival of religion having taken place in the hamlet, brothers Town and Varley said, ” Now we will have a chapel, and a chapel worthy of the place it shall be.”

Well, they got official sanction, and set to work in earnest. A most eligible site was secured, plans for a noble building were drawn, and friends came forward with wondrous help. Two gentlemen (brothers) in Halifax, who had been brought up in Bradshaw, threw their energies into the project : the one promised to give and beg £50, and the other gave secret orders to one of the contractors to put £20 worth of extra work into the building, and to look to him for the pay.

Nine unoccupied cottages were bought for £40, all the materials of which were found to be good and useful, and by using which many pounds were saved. Besides this, beneath five of them stone was found, which supplied good walling and effected a considerable reduction in the outlay. Still we had our trials and sorrows. One of them arose from a failure in securing a mortgage. But prayer was made to God, and when our needs had reached their climax, the way opened in such a manner as to show us that prayer prevailed.

Well, at last the chapel was brought to a finish, and the opening services were so successful, that we were certain that God was in the project. Mr. Lamb, of Hull, was the preacher on the first Sabbath (Easter Sunday), and Mr. Lodge, one of our own local preachers, and myself, were sent to gather gleanings on the second. Nearly £40 was got on these occasions.

The chapel is the largest, best, and most beautiful of the five new ones recently built in this station. On counting our receipts after the opening, we found that we had netted £310 6s. 6d., and on this being made known to the Messrs. Crossley, they more than honoured their promise by sending me a check for £103 10s. I hope, Mr. Editor, this act of generosity will not excite in readers beyond the limits of this station a determination to apply for aid at the same quarter ; for (will you believe me ?) those generous men have been nearly inundated with begging letters from our people, and persons have even invaded their private residences for aid for Primitive Methodist chapels since my last mention of their benevolence to us, so that I blush for the Church to which I belong.

The building, but for the circumstances named, would have cost us nearly £1,000 ; as it is, a little over £800 is our outlay. Many persons deserve grateful mention in this account for their generous aid ; but 1 shall refrain from naming them, except the two friends referred to above, namely, Mr. Jonathan Hainsworth, who collected and gave £50, and Mr. William, who gave £20 to enrich the ceiling, and who, had he lived to see the chapel opened (which alas ! he did not), would have paid off the debt, such being his real intention. John Simpson.”

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine of 1865 624-625