Kirkham Gate Primitive Methodist chapel

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Kirkham Gate Primitive Methodist chapel

The 2019 Lindale Methodist church is on the site of a former Primitive Methodist chapel and is a former Primitive Methodist building.  Rev J Dodsworth writes about the opening of a Kirkham Gate Primitive Methodist chapel  in 1862; was that the same site and the same building?

“The foundation stone of a new chapel at Kirkham Gate, in the Wakefield Circuit, was laid on Easter Tuesday, by Samuel Seal, Esq., of Stoneleigh House, one of our own local preachers, and a long tried and sincere friend to the Connexion. After the ceremony, the friends met for tea in the Wesleyan chapel, which was kindly lent for the occasion, when Stephen Seal, Esq., was called to preside ; and effective and appropriate addresses were delivered by the Circuit ministers, and several local preachers ; and besides the gracious influence which pervaded the services, upwards of £20 were contributed to wards defraying- the expenses of the erection.

The chapel is 33 feet long by 30 feet wide outside ; its walls are of red stock bricks, 14 inches wide, and the roof is covered with blue Bangor slates, and finished with flag tabling, on the gable ends 12 inches by 2½  ; and it stands on the most eligible site in the village ; thanks to my predecessor, the Rev. H. Crabtree, and the trustees, for securing such a plot of land for the purpose. It is lighted with four spacious windows, and a fan light over the door, which folds in the centre of the front wall, and is 7 feet by 4 in the clear, above which is a beautiful inscription stone, presented by a surviving brother of the late Rev. J. Verity. The pulpit has an octagonal front, and at the opposite end is a very neat rising gallery, five pews deep, which will seat 80 persons, leaving free sitting room for 120; making a total accommodation for 200.

The land is freehold, and secured to the Connexion according to our form of title deed. The cost of the whole is £200, every farthing of which was paid to the contractors within one week after the opening services were closed.

On Sunday, July 6th, the Rev. W. Bennett, from Pontefact, and the Rev. J. Ayrton, from Horbury, officiated at the dedication of this beautiful temple to the worship of God ; and on the 13th, the services were conducted by the Rev. G. Stout, from Colne, and our friend Mr. Seal, from Wakefield. On Tuesday, the 15^th, another interesting tea meeting was held, and the opening services were brought to a close by a sermon from the writer. The congregations were large ; a gracious influence was experienced during the services, and about £14 were raised for the chapel fund, making a total of upwards of £80 given, from all sources, and the rest has been borrowed at 41/2 per cent, per annum.

Where so many have done well, laboured hard, and contributed liberally, it is a difficult and delicate task to mention names at all ; but perhaps I may be permitted through the pages of your magazine, to present the thanks of the trustees to L. Fernandes, Esq., and son, for a return of £107 of the purchase money at the time of payment for the land ; to Messrs. Samuel Seal and Son, for the gift of £5 5s., and all the stone required for window sills and arches, spout corbills, &c. ; to Mr. Blackburn for a donation of £4 and other favours ; to C. B. L. Fernandes, Esq. for the reduction of £3 from the cost of title deeds ; to T. Haigh, Esq., ex-mayor of Wakefield, for a present of £2 2s. ; to Messrs. W. Cros6land, James Chadwick, Isaac Illingworth, and Thomas Westwood for £1 each ; to Mr. Hall for pulpit trimmings; to Mr. Horton for a very handsome morocco bound gilt-edged Bible ; and last, but not least worthy, to the female friends who supplied provisions for both the tea meetings gratuitously ; and to all who have assisted in rearing this house of God, I beg to offer hearty thanks. J. Dodsworth.”

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine 1862 pages 701-702