STATHERN METHODIST CHAPEL

BROCHURE FOR THE DEDICATION SERVICE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH 1957

by Rev. K L Waights

Doors to be opened at 3 o’clock by the oldest surviving scholar, Mrs Goodson

Opening Service Conducted by Rev B Barker whose ancestors have been connected with the chapel since 1827.

Tea 1/6    [one shilling and six pence]

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STATHERN METHODIST CHAPEL

For many years since 1825 the renovated old Dovecote has done duty as a Methodist Chapel. From time to time efforts have been made to improve the conditions. Now the opportunity has come when the members and friends can show their appreciation of the work that has been done, and look forward to even better work being done in the future.

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A small bit of land has been secured, and plans made, to extend the present building, and to divide it into a room for the preaching of the Gospel, and to form a suitable room for the use as a Schoolroom and meeting place for the younger portion of the friends, and for the Social, as distinct from Devotional side of the religious activities of the Church.

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We are publishing this brochure with the hope that you will be interested in what is being done.

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Various friends in the past have made efforts to provide funds to cover the cost which is expected to be about £2,000, a considerable portion is in hand, and further gifts will be thankfully received towards building and furnishing.

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It is now about 130 years since the present building was first used as a Methodist Chapel.

We trust you will be interested in what we are doing, and because of old Schooldays associations, and for old time’s sake at the Old Chapel, we shall be delighted to see you at the openings, or any other Services you can get to.

 

METHODISM IN STATHERN  from 1825 to 1957

The village stands about 4 ½ miles from Belvoir Castle, under the shade of the wooded hills which reach from Belvoir to Stathern point.

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As far back as 1793 preachers came and conducted non-conformist services in various cottages in the village, much against the wishes of the landlords, and in more than one case the tenants were turned out of their homes for so doing. This, however, was no deterrent and non-conformity prospered.

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David Aston came into the neighbourhood to act as bailiff to the owner of landed estates but his preaching soon caused his discharge. He then went to reside at Mr Wilford’s; some of Mr Wilford’s family are still in the district

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A place of greater security was found when Mr Guy, of Plungar, gave a piece of land upon which stood an old dovecote, and in 1825 this building was transformed into a Chapel at a cost of £110. The opening ceremony was a red letter day for Stathern Methodists, the collection realised £16/16/-

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The seat holders were Bampton, Mason, Shipman, Gratton, Girton, Selby, Smith, Scampton, Wilford, Ingleton, Cobley, Whittle, Haskard, Barker, Jackson. The descendants of two of the families still worship in the present Chapel, namely Jackson and Barker.

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In 1832 the Chapel was enlarged at a cost of £75. The re-opening sermons were preached by Rev. M Armitage, of Leeds, and the collection was £17, a considerable sum for those days when a man’s wage was 2/- a day. Special gifts were made by Mrs Guy, Mr Smith, Masons, Thomas, William and John Shipman, William, George, John and Benjamin Braithwaite, John Watchorn and Richard Bailey.

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A Sunday School was established in 1833 and soon had 80 children attending and further Chapel extensions were necessary at a cost of about £50.

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The first Trustees were: Richard Guy, William Edlin, William Lewis, William Shipman, Richard Bailey, John Christian, John Rogers, William Hillam, Thomas Handley and Thomas Dixon.

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In 1841 Mrs Guy determined that the financial burden should no longer be a trouble to the members and paid off the whole of the £60 debt.

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The first Chapel account book was in use for nearly 100 years and has some interesting entries:

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December 1st, 1825: Paid a man for serving the thatcher for the Chapel, 4/6d

January 1st, 1826: Paid Mr Barnes for all that the men had when the Chapel was being built, 4/-

Paid for one gallon of oil, 4/6d

January 17th: Paid for coles, one tun, 14/-

Paid for one cole pan, 4/-

December 24th: Paid oil and weks, 5/6d

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The membership has fluctuated a lot during the years, in 1830 it was 23, in 1909 it was 49, now 1956, 27. Amongst the earliest preachers was Richard Mason who was converted through attending a service at Croxton and was one of the first to have his name on the Local Preachers plan, he died in 1830 at the age of 74. Thomas Barker was a Local Preacher, Class-leader and Sunday School Superintendent for many years. Some of his grandchildren are still members with us.

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The Braithwaite family has been connected with Stathern Methodism nearly from the beginning and the Barker-Braithwaite families are united in Mr Wilfred Barker, a local preacher at Barnsley, and Rev. Bernard Barker at Oswestry.

William Braithwaite was Chapel Steward, Sunday School Superintendent and in 1840 Circuit Steward at a time when Stathern was in the Grantham Circuit.

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Several revivals have taken place in the village and in 1880 and 1881 two Salvation Army girls came and many were gathered in, some of the young men begged the material and built a small vestry, much to the consternation of the Superintendent minister when he came and found out what had been done.

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Mr Joseph Hall joined the Methodists at that time and for many years was a very active worker in the cause as Sunday School Superintendent and Organist, and was the leader in getting the present organ established in 1897.

A later revival under the preaching of R M Seager, 1899-1900, resulted in an increase of about 20 members. Some are still members with us, and later Mr Geo Wilkinson conducted special services, when many joined.

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The late William Newton who came to reside and worship here on his retirement, having married into the Braithwaite family, felt the need of better accommodation and started to raise a fund for a new Chapel. A considerable sum had to be collected and building was likely to commence when World War II came and put a stop to further activity.

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Now in 1956 a further extension is being made, to the old dovecote which is believed to date back to about 1200. It is thought to be part of the old monastery and other traces of the old monastery can be found in the nearby houses.

Now a move on a more modest scale is being made to provide a more suitable place of worship and also a Sunday School room and youth club accommodation, this time the cost will be around £2,000 and will include a new floor throughout and seating accommodation, also a partition to divide the Chapel from the school and club room, with internal decorations.

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Acknowledgment and thanks are due to the late Josiah Gill who hunted out a lot of old history of Methodism in the district, in and around Melton.

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Today, 1956, the offices are filled by: Society Stewards, Mr J Mapletoft, W H Braithwaite and Mrs F Singleton; Chapel Stewards, Mr F Singleton and Mr G Hoyte; Sunday School Superintendent, Mr H Singleton; Guild Secretary, Miss A Barker.

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The trustees: Miss A M Braithwaite, Mr H Singleton, Mrs Thraves, Mr J Mapletoft, Mr W H Braithwaite, Mr W Maule, Mr James Kirk, Mrs Anne Newton, Mr J Hall.

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Trust Secretary: Mr H Singleton Trust Treasurer: Mr F Singleton Class Leader: Sister Marion Braithwaite. The Ministers are Rev. G F W Sowden, Superintendent, and Rev. W H Mountford.