A Background of Primitive Methodism
As noted in Chapter 2, grandad was brought up in the Primitive Methodist Church.
Chapel not Church
It is worth noting that mum and grandad almost exclusively refer to chapel and not church. This matter is discussed once mum’s diaries start – see Chapter 38.
However, it should be noted that Bourne chapel has the words “Primitive Methodist Church” on the front.
Attending Class
In May 1919, grandad noted that he started going to class again although he did not state clearly when or why he had stopped. His family took active part in chapel as did grandma’s.
Family Involvement with Chapel
John and Olive Smith Attend Synod in Long Eaton
In April 1922, grandad lent his sister Olive and her husband John his motorbike so they could attend the synod in Long Eaton.
Visiting Ripley with John Smith
In October the same year, grandad went to Ripley with John and they visited “Wesley’s chapel”. This is a dissenters’ chapel which local tradition identifies as the place where John Wesley preached when he visited Ripley.
Grandad and His Mother Visit Watchorn Memorial Primitive Methodist Church
In September 1929, grandad took his mother to see the recently completed Watchorn Memorial Primitive Methodist Church in Alfreton (see Chapter 15).
Bert, Doris and Peter Cirket Attend Chapel Anniversary
In May 1938, grandad noted that they attended the anniversary at chapel with grandma’s brother Bert, his wife, Doris, and their son, Peter.
Funerals and Weddings
Major family events were held at chapel including grandad’s mother’s funeral (see Chapter 15), and grandma and grandad’s wedding (see Chapter 16), both in 1930.
Bourne Primitive Methodist Church
The particular chapel they attended was the Bourne Primitive Methodist Church located on Lowmoor Road. The chapel was erected in 1876 and was the first Methodist chapel in Kirkby. According to Barrie Smith, in his book “Noah’s Ark – A Century Before and After” the chapel was built in 1876 by his great-grandfather John Brailsford, a Methodist local preacher and master builder.
Bill Clay-Dove in his book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: An Interesting Township” (p58) also states that John Brailsford was his great grandfather but presumably he is quoting Barrie Smith. The chapel took its name from Hugh Bourne, one of the founders of Primitive Methodism. However, it seems from Edith Searson’s book(let) “I Remember” that this name was given some time after 1917 when Edith and her family moved to Kirkby and joined the church.
The Chapel Reopened in 1924 After Restoration Work
Grandad noted in his diary that the chapel opened on 2 February 1924. This is not when the chapel first opened which was in 1876. It refers to when it reopened following restoration work. There is an excellent photo of the chapel’s re-opening in 1924 on p15 of the book “Kirkby & District from Old Photographs” by Frank Ashley, Sylvia Sinfield and Gerald Lee.
Mum’s photographs of the chapel are annotated to say mum attended this chapel until it merged with the church in Diamond Avenue in around 1959 or 1960 (see Chapter 69).
A Note on Diamond Avenue
According to Edith Searson, in her book(let) “I Remember”, Diamond Avenue was named after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Sunday School
Grandma especially had strong and extensive involvement in the chapel Sunday School. She became its superintendent in December 1938.
Special Events
Grandad particularly noted attending various special events, focused on those associated with Sunday School, such as anniversaries and the Whitsuntide procession(s).
Anniversaries
Within Methodism, chapels have often had a strong emphasis on celebrating the anniversaries of when the chapel opened or when the Sunday School started. Bourne chapel was no exception.
While they did celebrate the chapel’s anniversary, there was particular focus on the main Sunday School Anniversary, held over two Sundays in May. These often had a special speaker and grandad often referred to them as “sermons”.
In addition, there was a separate anniversary for the Primary Sunday School in June each year. From 1931, Edith Searson led Bourne’s Primary Sunday School and she describes it in some detail in her book(let) “I Remember” (p45). She also described the Primary Sunday School Anniversary in some detail and referred to it as a great occasion (p49).
Anniversaries at Other Chapels
Grandma also sometimes attended anniversaries at other chapels.
Kirkby Park
Kirkby Park was originally a Primitive Methodist chapel. It operated from 1905 to the 1970s.
Initially, I could not find any photos of the chapel. However, I did find a drawing in Gerald Lee’s book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Yesterday Remembered” (p105) and a picture of their Sunday School banner on the My Primitive Methodists website (see Chapter 79).
I did then find a photo in Barry Smith’s book “A Brief Record of the Ashfield Circuit (22/13) 1959-2010”.
It is also described in Barrie Smith’s book “Noah’s Ark – A Century Before and After” along with some key dates. It seems that locally the chapel may have been referred to as “The Park” and that (at least initially) the chapel may have met in a tin structure on Vernon Road (see “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Yesterday Remembered” from p104).
The chapel is mentioned in Edith Searson’s book(let) “I Remember” as she and her husband attended there from 1959 until 1975 when The Park amalgamated with The Hill Methodist Church. She says (pp62-63), “the year before Bourne closed, when it was known closure would be taking place, Ben and I were asked by The Park Church to go and assist them, when the time of closure came… We went as requested in 1959.” Before then, they had helped out at “The Park” over a number of years including selling produce at the Harvest Sale and attending the Sunday School Anniversary (p41).
The chapel is mentioned in Bill Clay-Dove’s book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: An Interesting Township” (p58).
Old Kirkby
I have struggled to find details of Old Kirkby chapel. The first issue is that it is not clear where grandad is referring to in terms of “Old Kirkby”. Grandad does use this term in his diaries, e.g. in relation to different Whit Walks and he seems to distinguish between Old Kirkby, on the one hand, and East Kirkby, on the other. I am presuming that he is referring to the western part of what is now Kirkby in Ashfield and might alternately be referred to as Kirkby Cross. Gerald Lee makes a similar distinction in his book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Yesterday Remembered”.
There was a Wesleyan chapel in that area, on Chapel Street (that is now a Snooker Hall). Grandad referred to attending the Old Kirkby Wesleyan Sunday School Anniversary in June 1929 and this may be where he went. However, he also referred to grandma taking the Primary Anniversary at Old Kirkby Prims in August 1926. I am not entirely sure where this was.
Mark Ashfield’s book “Horses, Herbs and a Cockatoo” includes material about the Wesleyan origins of the snooker hall (p5) and also explains in detail the Sunday School Anniversaries held at The Hill Methodist (pp21-25). In explaining the Whit Walks, he notes that The Hill Methodist Church was originally Wesleyan. From that description, it might be implied that Old Kirkby and Kirkby Park Primitive Methodists were the same place.
Victoria Street, Mansfield
The Primitive Methodist chapel on Victoria Street in Mansfield was referred to as Centenary Hall. It opened in 1910 and closed at the start of the 1950s. The building still stands and is used by the Salvation Army.
Nottingham Road, Mansfield
There were two Methodist churches on Nottingham Road in Mansfield. Grandad was referring specifically to the Primitive Methodist Chapel known as Bethel. This is still operational.
There was another Methodist Church (presumably Wesleyan?) on Nottingham Road. This was built in 1913 and is a listed building. As of 2019, it was unoccupied but with planning consent to convert to a bar and restaurant.
Ollerton
I assume the reference to visiting the Methodist church in Ollerton is referring to Ollerton Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel in Station Road. It opened in 1869 and probably closed in the 1950s. It is now a private house called “The Chapel”.
There was also a Primitive Methodist Chapel in New Ollerton and this was on Sherwood Street. It opened in 1928 and closed in 1975 and was used as a factory shop by Courtaulds. Currently, it operates as Lifespring church and centre.
There is an operational Methodist Church in (New) Ollerton on Forest Road. I don’t know much about its origins but the building looks relatively modern.
It Was Common to Go to Anniversaries in Other Chapels
According to Edith Searson, in her book(let) “I Remember” (p44), this was a common practice, particularly among young people. There is a detailed description of Sunday School Anniversaries at the Hill Methodist in Mark Ashfield’s book “Horses, Herbs and a Cockatoo” (pp21-25). Similarly, Edith Searson, in her book(let) “I Remember”, describes these as the “greatest [event] in the church calendar” (pp37-40).
Sunday School Anniversary as a Fundraiser
One of the key functions of the Sunday School Anniversary was to raise funds. Grandad was interested in the amount raised. For example, in 1927, he noted that the main anniversary raised £53 2 2d with the primary anniversary raising a further £16.
Sunday School Anniversary Programmes
Among mum’s papers were two Sunday School anniversary programmes, one from Kilburne in 1872 and another, from Bourne in 1931.
Kilburne 1872
The earlier one was for the Wesleyan Sabbath School Anniversary held at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Kilburne (now spelled Kilburn and also previously spelled as Kilbourne). Grandad’s maternal grandparents originated from there. According to the Places of Worship Database, the church was founded in 1891 and is still open. However, the date of founding may refer to the current building as that date is also visible on the church. National Archive records seem to start in 1887.
Bourne 1931
The programme from Bourne in 1931 includes the annual accounts for the Sunday School which showed that the two anniversaries combined raised a total of £58 2s 11½d out of a total annual income of £62 4s 7½d.
Whit Walks
I am not sure exactly when the Whit walks started in Kirkby but it seems they were common in many UK towns and cities from the end of the 18th century.
In June 1919, grandad noted that he attended two such walks. The first was in Old Kirkby on Monday the 9th while the second, in East Kirkby, was the next day, Tuesday the 10th. In later years, the East Kirkby procession took place on Whit Monday morning.
Gerald Lee notes in his book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield Yesterday Remembered” (Chapter 17, p86) that “there were two distinct Whitsuntide Walks, one down at the east end of the town in the morning and ours [in Old Kirkby] in the afternoon”.
In his book “Horse, Herbs and a Cockatoo”, Mark Ashfield (pp32-38) devotes a chapter to describing the Old Kirkby Whit Walks. There are photographs of the walks in the book “Kirkby & District from Old Photographs” by Frank Ashley, Sylvia Sinfield and Gerald Lee (pp96-100). One of the pictures also appears in Mark Ashfield’s book “Horses, Herbs and a Cockatoo” (p.34).
Over the years, it is clear that these remained a highlight of the year for both grandad and the chapel. They are also noted as a “great event” in Edith Searson’s book(let) “I Remember” (p37).
Other Highlights
Grandad also noted other highlights of the Primitive Methodist calendar including Harvest Festival, Temperance Sunday, mission and missionary services, Christmas services and watchnight services on New Year’s Eve. There were also services and activities put on by different groups within the chapel and grandad referred to these as “efforts”, such as the “choir effort” or the “married ladies’ effort”, which grandma was involved in.
Quarter Days
Grandma also attended quarterly church meetings which grandad referred to as “quarter days”. At the end of August 1932, grandad noted that grandma went to the last Primitive Methodist quarter day even though quarter days continued after the Methodist Union of that year.
Particular Speakers
Grandad also noted particular speakers at chapel. One of his favourites appears to have been the elocutionist Harrison Slater who came to the chapel multiple times over this period (see Chapter 38). Other speakers he noted included Rev John Bradbury, Rev Pickett , Rev Allen Lea , Mr Finn, Mr Holmes, G Cresswell and Mr Holes. He also noted, in July 1930, that grandma’s uncle Sam(uel) Cirket had been the speaker.
Rev Pickett
One of the noted speakers was Rev Pickett who gave a lecture on John Wycliffe.
Rev Allen Lea
In August 1932, grandad went to hear Rev Allen Lea from South Africa preach. Rev Allen Lea was at one time General Secretary of the South African Methodist Church and he was critical of independent movements within African churches as he considered they were “wounding the very people who have done most to help them – the missionaries”.
G Cresswell
G Cresswell was a frequent speaker at chapel from the 1930s to the 1950s including at anniversaries in 1932, 1946, 1953 and 1954. In 1953, mum rated him v v v good, a rare accolade! He was also the speaker at the civic service for W Arnold as chairman of Kirkby Urban and District Council which was held in August 1959. Grandad noted that the church was full to capacity and that this was Rev Howells’ final service.
Rev Tolefree Parr
In October 1930, Tolefree Parr, a recognised leader within the Primitive Methodists, was due to speak at Bourne chapel. He had been President of the Primitive Methodist Conference in 1917 and had authored a number of books.
He was travelling to Kirkby and had just boarded his train in Clapham, Surrey when he collapsed and died. Grandad noted, “Tolfrey Parr who was coming to Prims for Sunday died on the way”.
Edith Searson noted, “the Rev J Tolefree Parr, an ex-President of the conference, was making his second visit to Bourne. Coming from London on the train he took ill and died at Leicester. I particularly remember this incident because Ben [Edith’s husband] was the steward at Bourne, and understandably he was very upset. He set about trying to get a ‘supply’ (it was Saturday) which he succeeded in doing”.
Synod
Grandma and grandad also attended special events within the Primitive Methodists including, for example, Synod in Mansfield in May 1925.
Christian Groups
They were also part of particular Christian groups within the church including, for example, Christian Endeavour or CE and Band of Hope or BoH.
Christian Endeavour
Indeed, according to a newspaper article, at the time they got married, grandma had been Christian Endeavour Secretary for ten years and was, at that time, its Vice-President (see Chapter 16).
Edith Searson also referred to Christian Endeavour meetings in her book(let) “I Remember” (pp33-34). She noted that the Christian Endeavour National Convention was held in Nottingham at the Albert Hall in 1927 and they were asked to give a tableau on the Christmas Story. She referred to it again (pp44-45) as her husband, Ben, went as a delegate from Bourne to the World Jubilee Convention in London in 1931.
It also seems that there were local Christian Endeavour groups. For example, there was an advert for the local group at the Baptist Tabernacle in the 1969 Kirkby Directory.
Grandad’s Attendance was Sporadic
Despite this background activity, grandad’s attendance was recorded somewhat sporadically creating the impression that chapel activities were not perhaps his highest priority! For example, in 1921, he did not record any entries related to chapel.
This changed markedly in 1925 and may have been related to meeting grandma! From around 1934, his attendance seemed to decline again and became limited to occasional attendances at chapel and noteworthy Sunday School activities.
I don’t know if grandad just stopped noting attendances even though he was still going or if this reflected a reduction in his attendance. As a child, I certainly do not recall my grandfather being an active churchgoer although both my mother and grandmother were.
Special Musical Events
Grandad appeared to particularly relish special musical events held at the chapel, such as the visit of a choir, performance of a cantata or an organ recital. In 1919, he won a book prize for some hymns he had written and sent to the Christian Herald.
Grandad’s love of music also took him to other churches and chapels. In October 1923, he specifically went to the opening of the organ at Kirkby Wesleyan chapel. Initially, I thought this related to the chapel in Diamond Avenue but it does not. The Hill had a new organ in 1923 and this is described in some detail in J Barrie Smith’s book “Light on the Hill” (pp22-24).
Grandad went to performances of “the Messiah” and “Elijah” in different places.
Other Activities
A great deal of grandma and grandad’s lives revolved around chapel. They did not only attend services on a Sunday but they went to other activities on other days, including recitals, concerts, socials and bazaars.
Recitals
While I was familiar with the term recital in the musical sense, these recitals seem to have largely been the spoken word – including, for example, extracts from Dickens or Silas Marner.
Bazaars
Grandad noted chapel bazaars in 1932 and 1934 and going to the Wesleyan bazaar in 1931. There were other bazaars during this period. For example, the Nottingham Evening Post reported that, on 30 November 1936, the Bourne Methodist Church held a Chrysanthemum Bazaar to clear the debt of £150 incurred for a new heating system. Mentioned in the article were Verlie Deakin, Olive (Mrs J W) Smith and Olive Evans (although her name was misspelled as Evens).
Chapel on Holiday
Grandma and grandad attended chapel when they were on holiday. For example, when they were on holiday, in Llandudno in 1927, they went to the Wesleyan Chapel and, in 1928, they attended the Primitive Methodist Chapel in St Anne’s.
Llandudno
There are currently two English-speaking Methodist churches in Llandudno, St John’s and St David’s. Both were originally Wesleyan with St John’s established in 1866 and St David’s in 1897 . St John’s includes something of its history on its website. I am not sure which of these chapels grandma and grandad attended but perhaps St John’s seems more likely.
St Anne’s
The King’s Road Primitive Methodist Chapel in St Anne’s opened in 1911. In 1967, it amalgamated with the Drive Methodist Church and the building closed the following year. The building was demolished and the site was given over to housing.
Edith Searson’s Recollections
In her book(let) “I Remember”, Edith Searson explained what it was like when she and her family first attended the chapel and what an average Sunday was like. She noted, “I went each Sunday afterwards. I could almost say I went for the day; morning Sunday School and Service, home for dinner, afternoon Sunday School, then back again for tea, ending with the Evening Service”.
Special Events at Other Churches
Grandma and grandad also sometimes attended special events in other churches. These included the Wesleyans who had (at least) two Wesleyan chapels in Kirkby – the one in Diamond Avenue that became Trinity and one in Old Kirkby that became the Hill. They also sometimes went to the Baptists (see Chapter 54) and the Free Church. I think the Free Church may refer to Kirkby’s United Methodist Free Church. There was a United Methodist Chapel in East Kirkby in 1898. According to Bill Clay-Dove’s book “Kirkby-in-Ashfield: An Interesting Township” (p57), it was known as Bethel and became the Spiritualist church.
They went to other churches particularly for Sunday School-related events and also for other special events, such as Harvest Festival or fundraising activities, such as a bazaar. When they visited Elstow in 1928, they went to a “Bunyan meeting”. Grandad also noted hearing a number of renowned preachers.
Gipsy Smith
Grandad noted hearing him speak in June 1925. In her book(let) “I Remember”, Edith Searson noted walking with Ethel to hear Gipsy Smith at an open-air meeting and this may have been the same occasion as the one noted by grandad.
Dr F B Meyer
Grandad noted hearing Dr F B Meyer speak at Mansfield Baptist Church in November 1925.
Dinsdale Young
Grandad also noted hearing distinguished preachers on “the wireless”, such as Dinsdale Young in January 1928.
Social Lives
Much of grandma and grandad’s social lives revolved around chapel. Evening trips to chapel were often preceded by tea with a relative or friend, including Annie Holmes, Eva, Auntie Bertha and particularly grandma’s parents. Sometimes, grandma and grandad hosted and there might have been “several” for tea, particularly ahead of anniversaries or other special occasions. They were friends with, and supported by, several of the ministers at Bourne, including Rev Trevvett and Rev Rogers. Rev Rogers came to Bourne in 1929 and it was he who married grandma and grandad in 1930 (see Chapter 16).
Mum was Immersed in Chapel from an Early Age
Given this background, it was perhaps therefore unsurprising that mum was immersed in chapel activities from a very early age. Before she was two, grandma took her to the Sunday School Anniversary in May 1936. In 1938, at the age of three, grandad noted that mum walked with grandma on the Whit walks. She was on the platform for the Primary Anniversary in June 1938 and, in October 1938, at the age of four, she took part in a concert at chapel.
Methodist Union in 1932
A very significant event for Methodists occurred on 20 September 1932, at a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Three churches – the Wesleyan Methodist, the Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist – joined together as one church. The ceremony was attended by the Duke of York. Grandad listened to the event on the radio at his shop. According to Barrie Smith’s book “Strangely Warmed in Ashfield”, this union was celebrated in Sutton by a public meeting at the Outram Street Methodist Church (see Chapter 69) on Monday 3 October 1932. However, he also noted that it was another 27 years before the different circuits joined together as one Ashfield circuit (see Chapter 69).