16. Cheadle Circuit

In the days when ministers were “travelling preachers” in a very literal sense, this Circuit was part of the Ramsor Circuit, though very many years have elapsed since the separation was effected. Some of the churches in which our people worship must be among the oldest in Primitive Methodism. The Onecote Sanctuary, which was a gift, bears 1822 as its date, but it was not transferred to our Connexion until over a score of years after its erection. Ipstones, the home of a virile society, claims 1823 as its date, and Hugh Bourne and his brother James, signed the deeds as trustees. At Whiston, where a new church was erected in 1907, the original building still stands, and is held by our people, the deeds of which were also signed by James Bourne.

The town of Cheadle was missioned about the year 1820, the first meeting-place being the residence of Isaac Hammond at Town End. Later, and for several years, services were held at the house of George Mellor, near Cheadle Mill. In the course of time, as the Society grew in numbers, James Allen, of Onecote, was moved to offer £100 towards the erection of a permanent place of worship. Others gave out of their small means, and in 1849 the present church was opened, the school being added in 1859. The crimson marks of sacrifice are clearly defined on the records of our societies, and the strain of heroism is still evident in the soul of our people.

The eleven societies, with 300 members, have their location at Cheadle, Ipstones, Waterhouses, Foxt, Kingsley, Whiston, Froghall, Onecote, Blakeley Lane, Kingsley Holt and Cauldon. At Waterhouses the name of Mottram is associated with our Society, this being the village where the late Rev. William Mottram spent his early days, and where his brother also was one of our stalwarts up to the time of his decease. Each Society has a Sunday School, our numbers being 89 teachers and 485 scholars.

Last year the District Synod was held at Cheadle for the first time in the history of the Circuit, and we believe that mutual benefit was the outcome.

Our preachers are loyal and zealous in the work of the Kingdom, among their number being Dr. J. Parker Oakden, M.A., a product of the Whiston Society, and Lecturer in English at St. Andrew’s

University.

Geographically we may be off the beaten track, but spiritually we are treading the King’s Highway in all our endeavours.

H.J.S.