Sheffield Bethel Primitive Methodist chapel
30 Cambridge St, Sheffield S1 4HP
The extension built on the front of Bethel Primitive Methodist chapel in Cambridge Street Sheffield is in 2016 occupied by the Stone the Crows shop. The original frontage is much changed, but viewed from the John Lewis car park opposite, more of the original building can be seen. Although the shop is still in use, the roof of the former chapel behind has several slates missing.
The first chapel was built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1835. The Primitive Methodist magazine of October 1893 records the laying of memorial stones for expansion of the schoolroom. Sheffield Archives contain marriage records from 1919 – 1936, so the society was active at least until Methodist Union in 1932.
The Sunday School was the narrow three storey building next door, to the left of the chapel building; it is substantially unaltered externally and retains the stone tablet saying “Bethel Sunday School 1852”
Reference
Primitive Methodist magazine October 1893 page 638
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It is highly likely my GGF Fred Goodrich did the linked Sunday School writing in 1873. (One of eight pages)
https://www.pgmain.co.uk/fred/Fred_Sunday_School.jpg
He was the son of George Goodrich (GGGF) Master Tailor who at the time lived at Barkers Pool. His Uncle Joseph Goodrich, was also a Tailor and lived in one of the Courts on Cambridge Street. Both were Primitive Methodists, both born in Epworth before moving to Sheffield for Trade. My GGGGF Thomas was a house servant to the Rev George Beckett in Epworth for a time.
The writing was passed down the generations as an example of Fred’s Sunday School work. Given all the evidence and mention of the Bethel Chapel in newspaper cuttings that mentions the family, to me it seems reasonable to assume it was done the the Sunday School building.
regards
P Goodrich
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