Rillington Primitive Methodist chapel

Raymond Ella has tracked down records relating to Rillington Primitive Methodist chapel.

As early as the Ordnance Survey map of Yorkshire, sheet 125, six inch scale, surveyed in  1850  and 1851, and published in 1854, a Primitive Methodist Chapel is shown in Westgate, near Collinson’s Lane.  In September 2021, StreetView  shows a chapel on the same site.  The design suggests a later building and Raymond suggests it is a rebuild from  around 1886.

The North Yorkshire Record Office  contains Rillington (Westgate) Primitive Methodist Chapel records between 1886-2012, amongst Malton Methodist Circuit records (ref. R/M/ML 2/40).

The bad news is that Raymond also found sale details for the building which said “Planning consent exists to demolish and erect a ‘Passiv-haus’ dwelling with parking, amenity areas and formation of vehicular access. ” The pictures on this page, included by kind permission of Robert Rayner, are from when it was offered for sale.

Sue Goodwill, the Archivist for Ryedale Methodist Circuit, North Yorkshire which relates to the old Malton, Pickering, Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside circuits tells us that The quinquennial records state that Westgate was built c1890s with a schoolroom added c1925.  Sue also provided the following list of what the North Yorkshire Record Office in Northallerton holds relating to Rillington Westgate Primitive Methodist chapel

1. Lists of trustees                                                      1907-1919
2. Chapel account book                                             1886-1965
3. Women’s Bright Hour meeting minutes                1945-1972
4.             -do-                                                     1972-1974
5. Balance sheets and Schedule B annual property account              1971-1972, 1984 & 1996-1998
6. Schedule G – quinquennial inspection certificate 16 Oct 1989
7. Quinquennial inspection report                         29 Nov 1994
8. Quinquennial inspection report                          25 Feb 1999
9. Letters relating to the two chapels in Rillington              1968 & 1999
10. Quinquennial inspection report                         27 Aug 2009
11. Schedule A – property and legal matters               2009-2010
12. Papers relating to the closure and sale of the chapel   2006-2011
13. Papers relating to the installation of a sound system   2004-2012
14. Report on the eradication of woodworm                        n.d.
15. Letters relating to a new organ                                       2006
16. Trustees’ meeting minutes                                    1913-1976
17. Church Council meeting minutes   1977-2010:    At back: General chapel meeting minutes             1980-1981
18. Letter relating to a wayleave agreement            23 Sep 1981
19. Quinquennial inspection report                          21 Dec 2004

Marriage register Rillington chapel                                                                  1968-2000