A real live Primitive Methodist!

I was baptised in a continuing Prim Chapel

My twin sister, Stephanie, and I were baptised in Redbourne Street Primitive Methodist Chapel in 1966. This was one of a number of Prim chapels in the Hull area which had not joined the Methodist Church in the 1932 Union. It was the chapel where my Mum and her four brothers went to Sunday School as children in the 1940s and 50s.
Today I’m very happy to claim my place as one of Mr Wesley’s Preachers in the Methodist Church but I am also pleased have such a strong living link with the Primitive Methodist Church.

Comments about this page

  • In answer to the question ‘Do such churches still continue today?’ Yes, Redbourne Street in Hull, Patrington and Driffield still meet. Holmpton closed down some years ago, but I believe some money from the sale of the building is still available for the use of the remaining churches.

    By Beryl Kelsey (22/06/2021)
  • It is encouraging that Primitive Methodism and it’s spirit continue at Redbourne St Hull. Does the slow development described by the pastor (and local preacher) continue. Would love to think it does. 

    Tony

    By Tony Walsh (10/02/2018)
  • Are there female Preachers at a Continuing Primitive Methodist Chapel? If so then still of equal rights, the Primitive Methodists being 19th century trend setters for gender equality. 

    By Ray & Marie (Mr. & Mrs. Ella) (25/01/2018)
  • My grandfather, Gilbert William Arnott (Will) was a Prim for all of his life and he and my grandmother Eva (Formerly Eva Guy of Withernsea) were disappointed in later life not to be able to attend a Primitive Methodist Chapel. Will was born in 1900 and preached well into the 1950s across the Primitive Chapels Continuing and other Methodist denominations. Somebody once told me that he had preached in over 300 venues and my late father told me that he was ‘very good’. Redbourne Street and Patrington both knew him very well. Eva taught Sunday School for many years.  

                                                           Faith escaped my father who died in 2004 but I preached in many churches for a 25 year period. Will and Eva would have been delighted that their great grandson, Jonathan – MEP for the North East of England UKIP – is also a man of faith who has preached on more than a few occasions across a number of churches.

    Contact Les:   arnottl@aol.com

    By Les Arnott (06/04/2015)
  • One thinks of some lines by J R R Tolkien: The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken…

    By David Young (04/03/2014)
  • Driffield ‘Bourne Chapel’ continue to meet on Sunday afternoons and there is also Patrington Continuing Primitive Chapel near Hull, which I hope to visit tomorrow. They meet on Sunday evenings

    By Christine Caddy (27/02/2014)
  • From research I gather, but I may be wrong, that Redbourne Street is no longer a Primitive Methodist Chapel. The only Primitive Methodist (Continuing) Chapel left in the East Riding of Yorkshire, now, is that at Driffield where they meet at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.

    By Dr. Stephen Lansberry (31/01/2014)
  • Under the Lord’s blessing and providence, the church continues to grow, slowly but surely. Not an easy area but a blessing and a challenge to be a part of His work.

    By Steve Clark (21/11/2013)
  • Brilliant! I’m 21 and belong to Redbourne St Church, been going there for 2 years mow. I found this page which is really interesting and encouraging. If anyone wishes to learn about what’s going on now or ask anyquestions please email me: jpickering91@gmail.com.

    By Jamie Pickering (11/04/2013)
  • I was baptised, at Redbourne Street, in 1952 by Rob Brabbs. As a small child I remember going with my dear grand-parents, Lois and Stanley Dowson, to chapel, sometimes three times on a Sunday. I have a lot of happy memories – attending Sunday School anniversary celebrations when a large stage was constructed to accommodate the large number of children participating – Harvest Festival – and the auction afterwards! The singing in chapel was, to say the least, loud. They sang those those wonderful, strong Methodist tunes such as ‘Sagina’ and ‘Diadem’ – and the tradition, I’ve never heard it anywhere else, of the organ holding the final chord of a verse in case anyone felt moved to sing the verse again. I live in the West Midlands and haven’t been to Redbourne Street now for 20 years. I was there in 1992 for my grandmother’s funeral and, the year after, for the funeral of my grandfather but I often think about the little chapel on a Sunday morning and wonder how many of those names I remember from the past are still worshiping there. Redbourne Street was important in my formative years and I am grateful to that generation of Primitive Methodists who nurtured me as a small child.

    By Dr. Stephen Lansberry (18/10/2012)
  • In September 2011 we visited the Primitive Methodist Society in Redbourne Street. They were meeting in an ex Anglican Mission Hall.The pastor we spoke to stated that the other groups were becoming smaller and that the Driffield group would probably be closing. The pastor also indicated that he was more concerned for “today” rather than “yesterday”.

    By Elaine and Richarch Pearce (23/07/2012)
  • Since I moved from Yorkshire 16 years ago I have had little contact with the Primitive Methodist (Continuing) Churches of the Hull area. I was at Redbourne Street in 1982 for an anniversary celebration and the zeal and spirituality of the people present made quite a mark on me which I still value. At that time I believe the number of chapels had reduced from four to three; these were probably at Redbourne Steet (an otherwise unchurched area) Hull, Patrington, Holptom (?) and Driffield. But this is purely from memory. I think that it is possible that Englesea Brook will have in its archive a post 1932 plan giving the places. Of course at Methodist Union these people lost the buildings in which they had previously worshipped and these were new centres of Christian activity established from 1932.

    By Stephen Hatcher (17/07/2012)
  • Do any such churches remain to this day?

    By David Young (13/07/2012)

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