Marsden Primitive Methodist chapel

Heyhead, Little Marsden; Expansion paid for by an Anglican clergyman

Marsden: return from the Primitive Methodist chapel to the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious worship. Return no: 478 3 1 7
transcribed by David Tonks 2021

The Primitive Methodist magazine of 1836 contains an account by John Moore of the opening of Marsden Primitive Methodist chapel in the Burnley circuit in 1835.

The new chapel measured 26′ (w) x 33′ (l) x 23′ (h) and had a gallery at one end. It seated 90 and the society started a Sunday school with 200 scholars.

Preachers at the opening were Robert Kaye, Ingham Walton and Brother John Bywater. Two sermons were preached outside as there was no room inside the chapel. The services took place on 01/11/1835 and 08/11/1835.

The return from the Primitive Methodist chapel in Hey Head, Marsden  to the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious worship was completed jointly by Thomas Harker, a teacher, and Thomas Cromton. They report that the chapel opened in 1835 and held 277 people, of whom 200 would have free seats.

On Census Sunday 20 people attended the morning, 160 the afternoon and 109 the evening services.  There was also a morning Sunday school with 111 scholars attending.

On Christmas day 1858, the chapel was re-opened after the addition of side galleries and a vestry, seating additional 70.  The work took five weeks and cost £100, which had all been raised. Many new members joined. Re-opening preachers were Rev Rumfitt, WH Walton, J Hedley.

Remarkably, Rev W Thursby, an Anglican clergyman, gave £60.

I can’t find the chapel on later Ordnance Survey maps.  Where was it and what happened to it?

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine 1836 page 266

Primitive Methodist magazine 1859 page 241-242

 

Comments about this page

  • The original chapel was on Halifax Road, Brierfield, opposite what is now Heyhead Street. There is a burial ground there, with a few gravestones repositioned round the walls.

    According to Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society’s index, a new church was built on the main Burnley Road through Brierfield (on the corner of Oxford Street) in 1866, and a school was built more or less next door in 1886. The chapel closed around 1955. Both buildings are still standing, in commercial use.

    A local directory tells us that “A new and handsome school house was erected in 1887, at a cost of £4,500. It contains a room which can seat 800 persons, 18 large class rooms, library, infants’ schoolroom, &c. The chapel has recently been reseated, and a portico added at an expense of £2,000. The chapel will seat 800 persons. Rev. Robert Reeve minister.’

    By Sue Latimer (08/12/2023)
  • I’ve added information of expansion work done in 1858 – remarkably with a sizeable donation from an Anglican clergyman

    By Christopher Hill (17/10/2017)

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