Lichfield Circuit, Staffordshire

Brownhills Mount Zion Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1922/140

Transcription of Article in the Christian Messenger by Rev. E. Allport

EARLY in the nineteenth century Hugh Bourne visited Lichfield to secure a license for the Mow Meeting, and whilst there attended a service in the Cathedral. During worship he became greatly perturbed about the Spiritual condition of the inhabitants of the city. He saw lightness and sin among the parsons, their worship seemed idolatry, the people so it seemed to him had sinned away their day of grace. Judgment hung over the place and he trembled at the doom which threatened both the people and the place. The record makes no mention of any attempt on his part to promote a revival there, though he afterwards came to preach at several places in the circuit.

Some years later on Whit-Sunday, 1820, Sampson Turner, on his way to Burton, where he had been appointed, halted at Lichfield to preach to the show folk assembled at Green Hill. A week later he returned for another service, but was greeted with so much noise from an abuse of tinware that he was compelled to retreat to the centre of the city where he was allowed to finish his sermon in peace. As a result of his evangelistic efforts a blacksmith’s penthouse was secured as a place of worship, but after a time had to be abandoned. Burton Circuit made several unsuccessful attempts to establish Primitive Methodism in Lichfield.

In 1836, Darlaston and Birmingham Circuits combined to maintain two ministers in the city and surrounding villages, who were able to report progress, for after working some time in the open air, they rented a malthouse, and in 1847, the present chapel in George Lane was erected, which though one of the smallest churches in the city, is by no means the least effective. It is worthy of note that Lichfield Trust Treasurer still uses the account book in which the first treasurer has recorded in 1846, donations of fourpence and a sum of twopence collected for the new chapel: that the entries of seventy-six years’ income and expenditure have used up only about half the book is a testimony to the faith of  those who built the church.

In 1838, Lichfield became an independent circuit with Richard Ward as Superintendent, since when it has had no cause to be ashamed of its existence. Bloxwich and Cannock Circuits have been formed out of it and the parent station to-day contains fourteen churches, over 600 members and at least 2,000 adherents.

It has sent into our own ministry quite a number of men who are serving their respective circuits with distinction. Such as John Holland at Hammersmith, the Secretary of the Local Preachers’ Aid Fund, David Oakley at Blackpool, David Bradbury at Leeds, D.S. Lees at Southport, A.G.A. Lees at Earlestown, G.W. Lees at Wem, J. Nicholls at Fernando Po, W. Fidoe at Tadcaster, H. Aldridge at Driffield, R. Street at Skegness, W. Yeomans at Jersey, W.T. Edwards at East Kirby, also T. Clamp who settled down last conference after a very fruitful ministry, and the late W.H. Taylor, whose splendid career was closed too soon by premature death. It has given men to the ministry of other churches, e.g., the Rev. W. Hodson Smith to the Wesleyans – the Principal of the National Children’s Home – brother of our present Circuit Steward, who in grateful recognition of what our little church at Burntwood has done for him, has conveyed to us a site of land there for our proposed new church. It has given other men to the ministry of other churches, and two or three to enrich even that of the Church of England. Lichfield Circuit has had a glorious history.

And its present is worthy of its past, notwithstanding its rich gifts of men to other circuits, it still remains as vigorous as ever, a force in the redemption and cultivation of men for active service. It will have a future as well as a past, the wealth of young lives connected with its various institutions will see to that, and they are not content merely to boast traditions however glorious these may have been. Believing the best is yet to be they anticipate with confidence and hope to shape a still more glorious future for Lichfield Circuit.

Situated as we are on one side of Cannock Chase, our sphere of operations is largely among the miners, a class of people who have always furnished Primitive Methodism with a fruitful field of toil. It has done much for them and in turn received much from their consecrated activities. Colliers are not altogether as black as – well, their faces when they leave the pits, the dirt on some of them is all outside and quickly disappears in the tub when the shift is done. Of course, there are black sheep among them as even, alas! Among parsons, but they are not all of one type and that the worst. Some are musicians of a very high order, and our choirs in colliery villages – in solo and chorus – will not easily be surpassed, others are students whose acquired knowledge would do credit to a schoolmaster. Some are saints whose simple goodness compels the admiration of men. Not a few of them are among our finest preachers, who to the piety of the saint have added the learning of at scholar, both of which are consecrated to the service of our church. These gratefully acknowledge their indebtedness to the church which discovered their worth to God and humanity, and through their attempt to discharge their debt, Primitive Methodism has been greatly enriched. Apart from the service of miners, Lichfield Circuit would not have such a fine story to tell, and those of us who work among them are proud of our fellow-labourers in Christ.

During the last few years, Lichfield Circuit has courageously faced the question of week-day institutions and made generous provision for the recreational needs of our young people. Six army huts have been purchased and furnished with various forms of amusement – in one case plus a library, where our young folk foregather during the week for social fellowship, and the numbers present every night show that they supply a want. I do not wish to dogmatise, but merely to state a fact when I say that hitherto it has not been our experience to find the institutes crowded for billiards whilst the religious services are neglected, but rather that our week evening attendances are increasing as well as the Sundays; service from the huts, and in addition several Bible Classes and Improvement Societies have been formed among the members of our institutes. To say the least, our weekday institutions have proved a counter attraction to the pubs and drinking clubs, of which we have too many about us; yea, more, they have given us a chance of contact with men, who before the huts were opened stood aloof from our ministration, some of whom are now in our religious fellowship.

The missionary zeal of Lichfield Circuit is its most prominent trait. Last year we raised over £270 for the Missionary Fund, and still hope to do better. In this we are greatly helped by the number of boxes we have in the homes of the people, also by our collectors who are splendid home base supporters of those at the front, e.g., Willie Fearn of Chasetown, a youth in his teens who tramps miles to gather this year a total of £15, a 50% increase on his last years’ total, and little Reggie Cliff of Norton, who brought £10; we have many others who render our Missionary Society no little service.

But the chief credit is due to our Branch of the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary, which is one of the livest institutions in Primitive Methodism, and does much through its monthly meeting to stimulate our enthusiasm in this cause. Its Secretary, Mrs. John Booth of Aldridge, possesses the grand passion for missions and is a genius in the art of keeping the interest of the members alert and expectant for the next meeting. Month after month she secures speakers from near and far, from our own and other fields, who, in bringing us news from the front, keep us alive to the spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters in far-off lands. Our average attendance is remarkable, most of the churches in the circuit are usually represented at each meeting, and the holy zeal of each Society to provide the best tea and secure the biggest collection, plus the generosity and hearty co-operation of all to make each meeting better than the one before, makes all our meetings a monthly joy to all. During the coal dispute when we were right in the area affected, and had to postpone Sunday-school Anniversaries and other special efforts for our own funds, we carried on the monthly meeting of the W.M.A., our attendances increased by the presence of the men out of work, who helped us to bigger collections than usual. Other causes suffered, the missionary cause did not.

To deal adequately with each of the fourteen churches which constitute Lichfield Circuit, and all the leaders who have helped to shape their destiny would require more space than I have at my disposal. Each Society has had a succession of capable officials devoted to the interests of the church, and when a vacancy occurs we have usually another man to fill the place. Each church has excellent families connected therewith, who can be depended upon to meet all demands, and who are fine samples of the type Primitive Methodism produces. But where all do well it is difficult to select any for special mention. Besides we are democrats in this area, who believe in the doctrine of the right to work for every able-bodied member of the church. We appoint men to be leaders not as professionals, to save others from sweating, but to set the pace, and when they call for an advance, the rank and file readily respond, yea, at times the latter urge the former to get a move on, hence when we advance it is all along the line: “one star differeth from another star in glory,” and our people each way makes his personal contribution to our success. Our Circuit and Society Stewards know their duties, and the various demands are always met. Our preachers on the whole are a loyal band of men, while our choirs render no little service in the worship of praise. We are well served in most departments of the church’s activities, and our contributions to Connexional causes reflects very creditably on those who conduct the outer business of the House of God.

Lichfield Circuit has done well in the past; it is more than holding its own the present. With such resources it should go even farther in the future and achieve far-reaching victories for the Kingdom of God.

References

Christian Messenger 1922/140

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