Sileby was involved in the development of Primitive Methodism chapel very early. The first chapel was in existence in 1820. George Hanford, a lace manufacturer living in Sileby, became the President of the first Primitive Methodist Conference.
See Philip Thornborow’s comment below for an overview of the development of the Sileby society. The schoolroom was built in 1931.
The church is still active.
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Leicestershire Record Office :
ref. DE 6214, Sileby Primitive Methodist Chapel, accounts, etc., 1865-1917, baptisms 1851 onwards.
ref. 19-5, item 59, newspaper cutting, Loughborough Echo, 21st July 1978 ( Local Studies Biography files ) .- Albert Shakesby, a Primitive Methodist preacher, late 19th century to—-?, Sileby. He had a crippling incapacity and apparently was healed by a miracle.
The first chapel was actually opened in July 1818. Hugh Bourne made the Loughborough Circuit plan there on 25th September 1818 according to Kendall. The second chapel, on King Street, was purchased in 1834, and the move to the current chapel was made on 30 June 1867. The site was redeveloped in 2010, financed by the sale of the schoolroom. I have posted more recent photographs of the buildings.
Sources:
Kendall, H. B. The Origin and History of the Primitive Methodist Church. London: Edwin Dalton, [1906], Vol.1 pp277-280
Protestant non-conformity in Sileby (unpublished chapter of the VCH for Leicestershire, available at https://victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/sites/default/files/work-in-progress/protestant non-conformity in Sileby)
King Street Methodist Church Sileby 1866-1966. Centenary celebrations souvenir booklet
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