New Wesleyan Chapel

zoom

Drawing of Chapel C1930

zoom

Methodist Chapel, High Street

zoom

Interior of the Methodist Chapel

The new Wesleyan chapel was built in the High Street in the 1880’s. Membership included a school mistress, who was the organist, several wheelwrights, a butcher, a baker and a number of working class people.The minister was responsible for a circuit of several chapels. Other dedicated men in the area, known as local preachers, conducted morning and evening services at their own or other chapels in the circuit.

The singing at the services was loud and went with a swing, compared to the parish church where the singing was slow and deliberate.

After 1945 church attendances were in decline, and with the building ageing and the cost of repairs rising it became more difficult to maintain the chapel. In 1977 the membership decided to amalgamate with the Ashwell United Reformed Church, so in 1979 the chapel was sold, pulled down and houses built on the site.

Up the footpath, twitchwell, from the High Street to Silver Street you can see part of the chapel wall and some of the commerative stones.