Primitive Methodism in Kings Lynn

First Kings Lynn London Road Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1902/66
Christian Messenger 1902/66
Litcham Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1902/66
Kings Lynn London Road Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1902/66

Transcription of Article in the Christian Messenger by A.T.W. (Arthur Temple Wardle)

The evangelistic movement which began in the neighbourhood of Mow Hill reached Lynn in June, 1821, and created a great sensation. The usually quiet town was greatly moved. There was a wonderful spiritual awakening, and many were converted. A sail-maker’s loft was secured in which to worship. In this upper room
“Was rocked the cradle of the infant church.
It was strong and flourished from its birth.”

In ten months the Lynn Mission had fifty-seven places on its plan and several hundred members on its roll. In 1824 Lynn was made into a separate Circuit, and in the following year the Rev. W.G. Bellham, a native of the town, was appointed the superintendent minister. During Mr. Bellham’s superintendency the first Connexional Chapel was built in Lynn. It was a plain but substantial structure, and was the birthplace of many souls. There are novel methods of raising funds for chapel-building now; there were unusual and amusing methods then. Mr. Bellham inaugurated a farthing-raising campaign. He succeeded in interesting the children in his novel scheme. Farthing collecting became a mania. The whole Circuit caught the contagion. Some villages were drained of their last farthing. In this way a considerable sum was raised for the chapel fund, and by the few that remain the farthing craze is spoken of to this day. During Mr. Bellham’s term Lynn extended its missionary activities to the villages clustering round the market town of Swaffham. In this aggressive work Mr. Bellham was the principal agent. It was during this mission that he visited Litcham, a populous village, formerly a market town, and some twenty miles south of Lynn. Standing on a borrowed chair he began to sing. A large crowd gathered around him. The service proceeded without interruption until the closing hymn was being sung, when the clergyman, the lawyer, and the constable appeared on the scene. Mr. Bellham was arrested and marched along the street, singing as he went, and lodged at a tavern, the constable keeping guard over him. Probably realizing that intemperate zeal had carried them too far, the parson and lawyer visited the missionary during his imprisonment and entreated him to go quietly away. This he refused to do until he had been brought before a magistrate and discharged in an open and orderly way. Seeing there was no help for it the parson ordered the constable to take the prisoner to Lexham Hall to be tried before the magistrate of the district the next day. A record of the trial has been preserved, which shows that the shrewd and fearless evangelist was more than a match for his persecutors and was acquitted, the parson having to pay the costs of his illegal procedure. As the result of this evangelism substantial sanctuaries have been erected, good societies established; out of these villages have come some of the Connexion’s most successful home and Colonial missionaries, and Swaffham Circuit is proverbial for having the largest village congregations in the whole of East Anglia.

In 1832, seven years after the mission to the south. Lynn turned its attention to the villages bordering on the sea-coast of North-West Norfolk. James Pole, the missionary, suffered many privations and some persecution, but after three months’ labours 186 persons had been gathered into the new societies. A second missionary was sent to assist in carrying on the glorious work.

George Lee, the new evangelist, preached in a blacksmith’s shop at Docking. A lady named Frost, a Wesleyan Class leader, went to hear him. She was interested and went again. Her Wesleyan friends resented this so bitterly that eventually Mrs. Frost united with our people. Having monetary resources she built the chapel we still occupy; she gave liberally towards the erection of many other chapels in the neighbourhood; at her death she bequeathed to the Circuit a house in which the minister still resides, and the bulk of her wealth was left for missionary uses. These coast Villages now form the Docking Circuit.

Two years later, in 1834, Lynn cast about for new fields of missionary labour, and sent the Rev. W. Kirby – “Father Kirby” – a native of Lynn Circuit, to mission the rising city of Peterborough and the adjacent villages more than thirty miles away. This mission began feebly and progressed slowly until it was placed under the care of the now venerable Jesse Ashworth, when a tide of prosperity set in, and the once struggling mission has grown into two flourishing Circuits.

While conducting these missionary extensions the Lynn Circuit was realising great spiritual prosperity under the Apostolic ministry of “Old John Smith.” Hundreds of souls were converted, the membership rising to 1,200. This prosperity continued for several years, when there came a period of discouragement and decline. Causes that neither ministers nor societies could control operated to bring about these results. In the early fifties “the gold fever” laid hold upon the English people. The Norfolk Circuits generally, and Lynn Circuit particularly, “had the fever bad.” Hundreds of Primitives emigrated from Norfolk to Australia and California. Several village societies ceased to exist, all their members having removed. Lynn Circuit sent its churches to Australia before the Conference sent missionaries. During this upheaval the town society was depressed and stagnant, if not declining. In a little while the depression wore away, the drooping church revived, and the congregations increased, until “the first chapel,” though twice enlarged, became too small.

For over thirty years the church had worshipped in “the first chapel.” But eventually the authorities were compelled to face the duty and responsibility of providing larger accommodation for their growing church. In the town and on a commanding site had stood “St. James’ Chapel,” duly consecrated in 1146. Subsequently the chapel became a hospital. Later still the hospital was made into a workhouse, and remained so until one Sunday forenoon it fell down with a great crash, killing two persons and maiming many more. Many of the inmates were at church at the time, or the loss of life would have been greater. By a remarkable chain of circumstances the workhouse, the property of the Crown, came into the possession of our people. There were many heart-burnings in certain quarters when it was known that the finest site in the town had been secured for a “Ranter’s Chapel.” The trustees had to face many obstacles. Alternately they were coaxed and threatened. Even after the site had been conveyed, and the new chapel was ready for the roof, the trustees might have sold the property at their own price to the Corporation – they being greatly troubled at the prospect of a Methodist Chapel in the most commanding position in the town. Now, however, things are changed. The Lynn Church has lived its way into public favour. The resentment of the Corporation has long since died away, and many of its members esteem it an honour to take part in our meetings.

In the front gable of the chapel is the town clock, which is a boon to the public both by night and by day. For 40 years the clock was lighted by gas, which has now given place to the electric light. When the Corporation terminated its contract with the Gas Company, the clock remained unlighted, but the public clamoured so loudly and persistently that as a matter of policy the Lighting Committee had the present illuminant installed. During recent years over £1,000 have been spent in improving and beautifying the chapel, but best of all it is the centre of manifold Christian activities and the gate of heaven to many souls.

The District Meeting has held its sessions in Lynn eleven times. Hugh Bourne was present at the assembly of 1832. Large and enthusiastic meetings, seekers of salvation, an addition of 1,020 to the district roll of members, were the special features of the occasion, and made it possible for Mr. Bourne to write in his journal “This has been the best district meeting I ever attended.” He attended the Conference at Lynn in 1836 and in 1844. The latter of these Conferences was signalised by the conversion of more than 100 people on the Sabbath Day, by Mr. Bournes offer to visit the

Churches in Canada though he was then 70 years old, and by his heading the out-door processions with two little girls dressed in white at either side of him. It is gratifying to know that Lynn is still a missionary church, and though it cannot now “break up new ground,” nor mission unoccupied villages, the missionary spirit still remains.

A.T.W.

References

Christian Messenger 1902/66

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