05. Nantwich and Burland Circuit.

On Easter Day, 1819, great excitement pervaded the whole area of Nantwich, and this because of the announcement that “a great gentleman from the Potteries” would that day pass through the town on his way to the Four Lane Ends, Bulkeley, where he would hold an open-air service. The “great gentleman” was none other than John Wedgwood, of Burslem, the Pioneer Evangelist. It is now historic fact that this visit resulted in a great religious awakening in which the lives of hundreds of people were morally transformed. At the June Quarterly Meeting of the Tunstall Circuit reports were given of this extraordinary spiritual movement, and it was forthwith decided to take this district under its care and call it the “Cheshire Mission.” Preachers journeyed to Nantwich, among whom were H. Bourne, J. Garner, and Sampson Turner, and it was the visit of the latter that was of most importance, for he gathered the converts into small groups and thus laid the foundation upon which the Village Societies were formed.

In 1820, H. Bourne visited Burland to consult the brethren, it being thought that Tunstall Circuit was now too unwieldy to be efficient, as a result the March Quarterly Meeting divided the Circuit into five “branches,” one being called the “Burland Branch.’’ In September, 1822, Burland became an independent Circuit. The policy of the Circuit was that of extension through evangelism, and, under the guidance of George Taylor and Thomas Bateman—the latter of whom was twice President of Conference—this policy was carried through in the following remarkable manner. 

In 1821, T. Brownsword was sent to mission Chester, while at the same time John Ride missioned Wrexham and later missioned Liverpool. In 1822 T. Bateman, G. Taylor, and J. Smith missioned Whitchurch. In 1823, W. Doughty was directed to mission Oswestry, and in 1834, Rev. J. Hurd went forth to mission Northampton. Altogether, from 1824 to 1844, fifty new Societies were raised, and out of these Winsford, Tarporley, and Crewe became separate Circuits. 

By the time Crewe became a separate Circuit in 1875, Nantwich and Burland was reduced to its present area. Nevertheless, the old policy still obtained and since 1875 two new Societies have been raised and Churches built at Bunbury and Barony.

The Circuit how comprises 11 Chapels, 370 Members, 2 Ministers, 27 Local Preachers, 573 Scholars and 72 Sunday School Teachers, The Circuit will take into Methodist Union a great and glorious past and also the potentialities and promise of a golden future.

E.R.