Wigton Primitive Methodist Chapel, Cumbria

former Chapel and Sunday School

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  • Does anyone know how the various “John Scott” families of Wigton were related?  According the the 1841 Census, there were 3 John Scotts born circa 1781.  Who were the fathers, grandfathers of these 3 John Scotts?  Would love to see a family tree that shows all the branches.  

    By Jenny Stephenson (11/08/2016)
  • Does anyone know whether the Scott family mentioned here were related to the Architect WG Scott of Maryport who designed several chapels, mostly PM, and whose successors in practice were still designing Methodist buildings in the second half of the twentieth century? It seems to me that he made a significant contribution to local ecclesiastical architecture and the his career deserves further investigation.

    By GW Oxley (17/06/2015)
  • It was the Primitive Methodist Chapel in New Street, pictured here, that the Scott family helped to build. (The Chapel in George Street was the Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1828.) I was fascinated by your memories Margaret, and can add a little more.

    The first chapel was built in Wigton in 1864, ‘chiefly by the labours of Mr Jopling and his chief convert, James Scott, who themselves carted and handled the stones.’  It is said that the Scott family ‘never lost the memory of their Primitive ancestry of the earliest time and kept as mementoes the class tickets of their aunts, dated, Mary Scott 1839, and Eppy Steel 1844. (Primitive Methodist Church, Carlisle and Whitehaven District, O’er Hill and Dale and by the Solway Shore, A Centenary Souvenir, 1807-1907, p57)

    ‘It is related of the two Wigton sisters, Eppie Steel and Mary Scott that, when visiting a dying friend, the following conversation took place:  “It won’t be long now till you’re in heaven.”  “No.”  “And when you get there you’ll see our mother?”  “Yes.”  “Would you mind taking a message for us? Will you tell our mother that after she left us Eppie took the chest of drawers and Mary the chairs and table, Eppie had the clock and Mary the corner cupboard, etc, etc, there was no disagreement, and everything was done just as she would have wished.”’ (William Watson, Primitive Methodism in the Carlisle Circuit, Past and Present, Centenary Souvenir, 1807-1907, p33).

    Do you know any more about Mary Scott and Eppy (or Eppie) Steel. Were they John’s sisters? If they were members as early as 1839 and 1844, they were too old to be John’s daughters. And what was Eppie’s real name? John’s five daughters were Ann, Mary, Eleanor, Margaret and Jane.

    By Jill Barber (27/04/2015)
  • Hello Margaret – neither of the above buildings is in George Street Wigton. The one which is now a house, is in New Street, and the other, now the John Peel Theatre, is one street away in Station Road, which used to be called The Bog. I am chair of Wigton Theatre Club which owns and manages the theatre We believe it was built as a Salvation Army Chapel. We would like to know as much as possible about its origins and the people who used it. During our recent renovations we came across a memorial stone to W J Carrick 1888. There is a little more information on our website and facebook page. Please feel free to add comments: http://www.wigtontheatre.org

    (See last three pictures in the gallery.)

    By Connie Jensen (22/04/2015)
  • My Great Great Grandfather John Scott was converted by the preaching of an itinerant PM preacher Joseph Jopling from Wearside. His second son, John, was converted first and then John and Eleanor Scott and their 4 other sons and five daughters.

    In 1864 they built the above chapel in George St. James Scott and Joseph Joplin carried the stones with which the Chapel was built. James and Thomas Scott were put on the plan in 1863, James was especially known for his preaching even though he was illiterate. They lived in the East End of Wigton which was not a safe place to be. 

    Adam Dodds and Joseph Jopling were successful evangelists in this area opening new societies at Wigton, Aspatria, Keswick, Crosby and Ellenborough. Although I know this by word of mouth it is verified in ‘Northern Primitive Methodism’ by William Patterson. Family members worshiped at the PM chapels in Aspatria and at Ellenborough.

    By Margaret Hughes (19/01/2013)

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