Great Gonerby Primitive Methodist chapel

Green Street, Great Gonerby, GRANTHAM, NG31 8LD

Great Gonerby Primitive Methodist chapel
Keith Guyler 1995
Chapels of the Grantham circuit
Christian Messenger 1911/22

The first Primitive Methodist chapel was opened in a rented barn in 1836. It was replaced in 1858 by a chapel on Green Street, with seats for 300 and at a cost of £350. It was rebuilt on the same site in 1873, this time costing over £500. The former Sunday School is directly opposite on the other side of Green Street.

Gonerby became a Methodist stronghold resulting in a Gonerby group introducing Methodism to Grantham and Lincoln.

W Carthy describes the background in the Primitive Methodist magazine of 1858. Despite the barn being improved in 1847 by the addition of a boarded floor, the society was only kept going “by the piety and perseverance of a honoured female, the wife of the clerk of the parish church and the village schoolmaster…Who ever might be absent, she although the mother of a numerous family was present.

In 1856 there was a revival. On October 14th 1857 the foundation stone of a new chapel was laid by John Bradley, mayor of Nottingham. At the tea and public meetings in the Wesleyan chapel speakers included Thomas Stevenson of Redmile, and Messrs W Carthy, JG Smith, W Barnsdale, Thomas Treadgold and David Dixon (Wesleyan).

The opening took place on Feb 18th 1858. Speakers at opening services and tea meetings for 160 and 120  included Rev JP Wright (Methodist New Connexion, Nottingham), John Bradley (Nottingham), Messrs W Carthy, B Slash (Wesleyan), R Robinson (Sheffield), Rev B Slack and Rev John Woodcock (Lincoln).

The chapel measured 36′ x 27′, had a schoolroom at one end separated by sliding doors, boarded floors, iron pallisades and an iron gate. It cost around £230. Named donors included John Bradley, A Wilson M.P.Rt Hon Sir John Trollope Bart MP. E Welby, and Thomas Emminson.

The 1886 Primitive Methodist magazine records the acquisition of a piece of land for the construction of a schoolroom.

Reference

Primitive Methodist magazine June 1858 pp.364-365

Primitive Methodist magazine April 1886 page 251

Comments about this page

  • O.S. Map, surveyed 1886, published 1889, Green St., Meth Chap ( Prim ), bottom of map :
    https://maps.nls.uk/view/114652254

    Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln :
    WW1 marble memorial, photo and names, Green St., Great Gonerby, Primitive Methodist :
    https://www.lincstothepast.com/MemorialDetails.aspx?objectid=1589820

    ..

    By Raymond E. O. Ælla (05/03/2022)
  • Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln:

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/J/3: Photograph c.1962 of Girls Choir.  

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/I/9/1: Garden Fete Summary, 1957.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/H/4/1: New Sunday Schoolroom Treasurers Account Book, 1885-1931.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/I/7/1: Choir Treasurers Account Book 1888-1925.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/I/7/2: Brief Notes on Organists, early 20th century.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/H/3/1: Sunday School Yearly Minutes & Trustees Minute Book, 1870-1891.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/J/2/1: Souvenir Book, Opening of New Rooms & Bicentenary of First Chapel. Book c.1990.

    Ref. Meth/C/Great Gonerby, Green Street/C/2/1: Trust Account Book & Trust Minutes, c. 1857, 1860, 1863, 1871-1890

    Other documents.

    By Raymond E.O.Ella (29/04/2018)
  • I’ve added the story of the dedication of one woman who kept the chapel going during thin years; who was she? There are good clues to enable her name to be tracked down.

    By Christopher Hill (26/04/2017)

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