Barton Stacey Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hampshire
founded 1844, demolished 1970s
Click on this image to find out more about the Chapel on the Barton Stacey Parish Local History Group website (see comment below)
Linda Moffatt
Return from Barton Stacey Primitive Methodist chapel in the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious Worship
Provided by David Tonks
The chapel was founded in 1844 and the Hampshire Record Office has its Meeting House Certificate from this date.
In 1940 it was described as a brick building, capable of seating 60 people, with forms not pews. There was no school hall or other building.
It fell into disrepair and the Record Office has documents relating to its sale for conversion into a bungalow in 1955-56. In fact, it was being used as a hay store by a local farmer before it was demolished, probably in the 1970s.
A local resident remembers that its walls were made of chalk and about 18 inches thick!
Does anyone have any more information about this Chapel?
Comments about this page
After closing, any records of the chapel would most likely have been passed to the Hampshire record office for safe keeping Linda. They might be stored under the chapel name – or along with other chapels, under the name of the circuit.
My 2nd cousin 4 x removed, Andrew Diddams, owned the chapel and an adjoining cottage prior to 1855. His brother George lent him the money for the purchase. In George’s will of 1855 he forgave him the loan. I’d be very interested to know if the chapel registers are available.
The date stone was still in the garden of the house to the left of the site of the chapel around 10 years ago.
There are some free versions available if you search on primitive methodist magazine.
Sorry to have been so long replying. I have been away on holiday. The Prim Meth Magazines are available at Englesea Brook museum (Cheshire) and at The Wesley Historical Society library in Botley, near Oxford. Many if not all are also on-line, but you have to pay to read them. I think the website is called britisharchivesonline.
David, I am presently compiling a history of the Chapel, as Chairman of the Barton Stacey Parish Local History Group. I have recently been given a photograph of the Chapel, taken I guess in the 1960s. I have the memories of a 90-year old resident of Barton and Chapel-goer. Her family lived in one of the four cottages, called Chapel Cottages (thatched and certainly pre-1891, now demolished). Can you advise me how to get hold of the article you mention from the 1841 Magazine? Linda
The 1851 religious census records an average of 18 Sunday school ‘scholars’ on Sunday mornings; a congregation of 90, plus 10 ‘scholars’, on Sunday afternoons; and an average Sunday evening congregation of 110. The man who signed the form was Edward Anthony, a local preacher and chapel trustee, who lived in Barton Stacey.
Mitcheldever Circuit committee meeting, November 1839, Minute 3: “That the Barton Stacey Society be allowed to take the room and that they raise the rent themselves.”
The name Barton occurs sometimes, without qualification, in Primitive Methodist literature concerning the Winchester area. The only other Barton in Hampshire is Barton-on-Sea, a long way away near Bournemouth. We should assume therefore that Barton = Barton Stacey. Sometimes the name appears in full.
In 1835 Barton Stacey was in the Mitcheldever Circuit (which is how they then spelled Micheldever). A chapel was built in 1844. Edmund Hancock reported in the Primitive Methodist Magazine 1851 (p. 306) that, in the Whitchurch Branch of the Micheldever Circuit, the Lord had been pouring out his Spirit upon them for several weeks past, to the conversion of many vile sinners. Extra services had been held. Local members and “our praying host” cooperated heartily in the work, “and the revival flame is still burning.” More than thirty people had professed faith at Canada (a hamlet in the New Forest), Barton Stacey, Hurstbourne Priors and Whitchurch.
In 1851, at the religious census, the chapel had 17 scholars in the morning, about 100 or slightly more people in the afternoon congregation, and 172 in the evening.
Barton Stacey lies outside the area I am currently researching, and I have not made many notes about it. The 1841 Magazine has a report by George Wallis about the work there, but I have not transcribed it.
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