Cheadle Circuit, Staffordshire

Foxt Chapel of Ease and later Parish Church which was used as a Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1902/98

Transcription of Article in the Christian Messenger by Asaph

Until the coming of the North Staffordshire Railway in January 1901, Cheadle, with its five thousand inhabitants, was one of the most secluded towns in England As the tourist visits the market town for the first time he is impressed with the fact that he has stepped into an old-world centre of agricultural and commercial life. The almost deserted streets, the gabled houses, and the antiquated shop-fronts, with their bay windows studded with small panes of glass, form a connecting link with the slow-going times of the past.

In 1785 John Wesley paid his first visit to Cheadle. Standing upon a horse-block, he preached a sermon “the like of which Cheadle had never heard before.” It created lasting influences, and consequently Methodism became deeprooted. For many years Mr. Shepherd Allen, of Woodhead Hall, and formerly member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been closely connected with the Cheadle Wesleyan Church. As a lay-preacher, Christian philanthropist, and Wesleyan legislator, he is well known in larger Methodism. The New Connexion church dates from the year 1821, and is included in the Longton Circuit. The Congregational Chapel was built in the year 1851.

The most noteworthy ecclesiastical feature of Cheadle is the stately Roman Catholic Church. At the time of its completion it is said to have surpassed all other Roman Catholic Churches in England. It was erected at the sole expense of one of the former Earls of Shrewsbury, the cost being over £40,000. It took over six years to build, and was formally dedicated in the year 1846.

Primitive Methodism is of long standing in the hamlets clustering around Cheadle and Froghall. They were included in the first missionary labours of Hugh and James Bourne, William Clowes, John Wedgwood, and the pioneers and makers of the Primitive Methodist Church. The following remarkable incident illustrates the cruel persecution of those early times. “John Buxton went to preach at a small village near Froghall, and a Mr. B., who kept a large bull, ordered his man to unloose him and turn him into the congregation. The man made three attempts to drive in the bull, but failed; while exerting himself with all his might the bull turned on him, and to escape he had to run with all speed. A few days after this circumstance the man was seized with a violent distemper, which terminated his life, and the farmer, his master, committed suicide.”

In 1872 Cheadle was made the head of a Circuit when it was separated from Ramsor of Deed Poll association, and one of the oldest Circuits in Primitive Methodism. The Circuit comprises ten chapels and one preaching house. One of the hamlets was on the first printed plan of 1812, and societies were established in nearly all the other places belonging to the Circuit before the holding of the first Conference of 1820. Two of the chapels and preaching-house are about six miles distant from the minister’s residence at Froghall. Two others are some three miles therefrom, and the rest are from one to three miles distant. It is a choice country circuit, composed of a cluster of villages and hamlets, closely connected with each other, and compactly lying “in a ring fence.”

Cheadle has a neat chapel and school premises attached. The opening sermons were preached by the Rev. Richard Jukes, whose ministry in the old Ramsor Circuit was eminently successful. It has a growing Endeavour Society which promises well for the future success of the church. The late Mr. Thomas Cooper, of Cheadle, was a Deed Poll member. His widow, who is still living at the advanced age of eighty along with her family, have carefully fostered the growth of the Cheadle Church.

Ipstones Chapel was erected in the year 1822. Hugh Bourne and his brother James were two of the original trustees. The deed dated 15th February, 1822, states that the Trustees for “the sum of £11 15s. 3d. of lawful money current in England,” did purchase a building site, “containing by admeasurement one hundred yards and three feet square measures, being the northwardly part of a close or croft known by the name of Miss Turner’s Croft, to the intent and purpose that a chapel or meeting-house, with suitable appurtenances, may be erected thereon, and for ever maintained and supported for the use and accommodation of the persons inhabiting and residing within the parish of Ipstones as shall be members of the Society or Connexion of Protestant Christians calling themselves Primitive Methodists, and who are sometimes called by the opprobious epithet of Ranters.” This interesting chapel deed, with its antiquated phraseology, is one of the oldest in Primitive Methodism. It was made under Hugh Bournes personal supervision, some years before the official Deed Poll was adopted by the Conference.

The village of Waterhouses lying beneath the shadow of Cauldon Low was visited by Hugh Bourne in April, 1809, where, according to his journals, he preached “on the Saturday night and Sunday with much power and liberty.” The chapel dates from the year 1836, and it is to be replaced by a new and more commodious sanctuary. Mr. Samuel Mottram, the Senior Secretary of the Circuit, is one of the leading officials connected with the Waterhouses Society. He has been delegate to the District Meeting and Conference. For two generations the hospitable home of the Mottram’s has been always open to the servants of the Lord Jesus. One of his brothers is the respected Steward of the neighbouring Leek Circuit. His brother, the Rev. William Mottram, is the indefatigable Secretary of the Congregational Temperance League. A special interest is connected with Mr. Samuel Mottram because of his honoured descent from the noted “Evans’ “ family – the “Adam” and “Seth Bede ” of George Eliott’s popular story. His mother was own cousin to the famous novelist, Marianne Evans. “ Dinah Morris” was a frequent visitor to Waterhouses. Her silk bonnet of Quaker-pattern is carefully treasured in one of the Primitive Methodist homes of the village.

The hamlet of Foxt is pleasantly situated on a plateau at the foot of Ipstones Edge. Foxt Chapel of Ease was built by the Rev. John Sneyd, M.A., of Ashcombe Hall. It has the unique history of having been used for some time as a Primitive Methodist Chapel. It is a neat stone-built structure with massive tower, and standing in its own burial ground. The sacred edifice provides accommodation for one hundred and fifty persons. Owing to a disagreement with the Anglicans this sacred building was lent by the owners to the Foxt Primitive Methodist Society for the nominal rental of one shilling per year. In the more demonstrative days of the so-called “good old times” many a stirring prayer meeting has been held, and sinners converted therein. Several numerously-attend quarterly meetings of the old Ramsor Circuit, and also of the Cheadle Circuit, have been held within its walls. In the adjoining burial ground the annual camp meetings were regularly held. Owing to the increasing working expenses, and the financial difficulty in keeping the fabric in repair, the Foxt Society relinquished it. Since then the Consecrated Church of Foxt has become the head of an ecclesiastical parish, with a resident Vicar. During last year the Foxt Society was favoured with a gracious outpouring of the Divine Spirit, which reached nearly every house in the scattered neighbourhood. A number of persons professed conversion, and were added to the church. As a result of this remarkable visitation, the chapel was considerably enlarged in the autumn of 1901 to meet the requirements of the increased congregation, and the growing school.

Kingsley is a large mining village, principally populated with colliers, stone-hewers, and wire-workers. Years ago it had the unenviable reputation of being one of the most degraded villages in North Staffordshire. It was noted for bull-baiting, cock-fighting, and other pastimes of a demoralising character. Drunkenness and immorality were prevalent. The village was the resort of the worst characters from the neighbouring towns and villages. Largely through Methodist agency and example, these debasing scenes have become a thing of the past. As early as the spring of 1808, and the year following the formation of our first class at Stanley, James Bourne was successful in “raising” a society at Kingsley, “ which was joined to the Leek Wesleyan Circuit.” In the formative days of our church, there was much persecution at Kingsley. Hugh Bourne writes: “This was stopped by the law. The persecutors were forgiven on paying expenses, and acknowledging their fault in the public papers.” On Sunday, June 25th, 1808, Hugh Bourne preached at Kingsley. On the Monday following the Burslem Quarterly Meeting expelled him from the Methodist Society. Writing under date of February 18th, 1809, Bourne says: “I set out for Kingsley, much persecuted, but eight new converts have joined the class.” Through the agency of the Kingsley Society a good work has been accomplished in the neighbourhood, and the church is still in a flourishing condition.

Whiston was supplied with preachers in the days of written plans, and was one of the places that was on the first printed plan of 1812. The chapel was erected in 1836, James Bourne, of Bemersley, being one of the original trustees. The trust deed declares that “an edifice calculated for a chapel or meeting-house or school-house may forthwith be erected by the members of the Primitive Methodist Connexion residing at Leys Heath and in the neighbourhood of Whiston.” A further curious clause of the deed provides that in the event of the proposed sale of the chapel a joint meeting of the members and trustees shall be held to decide thereon. In the event of selling the members, conjointly with the trustees, shall allocate the money derived from the sale of the property.

Froghall has a well-built chapel and a good congregation. The Society is under the prayerful care of Mr. W.S. Birch, who takes the deepest interest in all Circuit matters. His family have been closely attached to our church at Froghall for many years. At great sacrifice they have been its stay and support. In addition to the flourishing Sabbath School and other agencies, there is a newly-formed Christian Endeavour Society, which is exercising an influence for good.

The chapel at Blakeley Lane is the newest erection in the Circuit. It is some four miles distant from Ford Hay, the birth-place of Hugh Bourne, and only two miles from Werrington School, which he attended during his youth-hood. Mr. A.H. Mear, the energetic Circuit Steward, is the Sunday School Superintendent and Society Steward at Blakeley Lane. He became a member in 1861, and has twice represented his Circuit at the District Meeting. His family are of long standing in Primitive Methodism, and of good social position.

The chapel at Onecote is one of the oldest in our Zion. It was built in the year 1822, and was the gift of Mr. James Allen,a yeoman. The hamlet of Kingsley Holt has a small chapel. For many years services have been regularly conducted at a preaching-house at Tickhill.

The chapels have cost £2,703, the debt at present being £392. Six of the chapels are debtless. There are six Sabbath Schools connected with the Circuit. A great amount of spiritual good has been accomplished in these wayside sanctuaries. The congregations are fairly numerous, and the services are characterised for religious fervour. A great number of enterprising young men and women have gone from these moorland hamlets. Some of them are prominently associated with our churches in the Staffordshire Potteries, and the industrial centres of the North of England.

Four ministers have been called into the higher work of the Church from the ranks of the Circuit. The Rev. William Mottram, after spending several years in our ministry, became a congregational minister. The Rev. F. Ash, of Scarborough, is a native of the Circuit. The late Revs. George Austin and John Harvey, author of Echoes from Calvary, were originally from the Kingsley Society.

The Circuit, since its formation, has been manned by a succession of able Superintendents, including the Revs. C. Dudley, George Newman, N. Wardle Stafford, Maurice Nicholas, Dr. Peach, B.A., J. Lambert, J. Redhead, W.M. Kelley, and R.W. Russell. The Rev. F. Morgan Ridge came to the Circuit at the Conference of 1900, after spending the whole of his four years’ probation in the Ipswich and Hadleigh Circuit. By birth Mr. Ridge is a Welshman, be having been born at Machynlleth. His brother, the Rev. Richard Ridge, B.A., is an able minister of the Calvinistic Methodist Church. His younger brother, Mr. J.M. Ridge, is a candidate for our ministry.

Cheadle Circuit has had its “good times” and refreshing seasons. It is still looking for greater blessings in the days to come.

References

Christian Messenger 1902/98

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