The ‘Old Wesleyans’ ….
After the split of 1849-1851, it appears that in Ilkeston the ‘Old Wesleyans’ were a very small group (of about three members?) who initially met in their Superintendent’s house in Pimlico, adjoining the Independent Chapel in the early 1850’s. In 1850 that Superintendent minister was the Rev. Alexander Hume and on the 1851 Ilkeston census he and his family are residing at this Congregational Manse in Pimlico.
Charles Woolliscroft
And one of the small group was Charles Woolliscroft, native of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire and draper of Bath Street.
Another was Eastwood-born John Steer, carpenter of Bath Street.
And also born in Eastwood was Senior Circuit Steward Daniel Hudson, warp lacemaker of Lees Yard in High Street.
Daniel was described as a “chivalrously loyal Wesleyan Methodist” who “during the disruption in 1849-1855 .. stood by the Conference with the most unblenching fealty. But for the valorous immobility of the two circuit stewards …. the whole circuit must have been a wreck, as almost all the other local preachers and leading men were carried right away. “ (William Smith)
This impoverished group had to ‘import’ preachers from the Nottingham circuit, as well as from Ripley and even Belper.
The new Chapel in Market Street 1855
By 1855 the old Ilkeston Circuit had about 200 members and five old chapels.
Adeline tells us that eventually the Ilkeston group of ‘Old Wesleyans’ built a new home — “when they found the upkeep of the South Street Chapel too heavy for them, they built a small chapel on the west side of Market Street, and the United Methodist Free Church took over South Street Chapel.”
Adeline is writing here about events in the mid-1850’s but again, this description of ‘musical chapels’ is condensed.
The Old Wesleyans did eventually leave the South Street Chapel, though for a few years they were a small group, looking for a new chapel home. Only in 1855 did they secure a piece of land in Market Street and the foundation stone of a new chapel was laid on July 12th of that year, by William Turner Shaw of Derby, after which there was an afternoon tea at the White Lion Inn, followed by a public meeting held in a large marquee erected in a field belonging to Matthew Hobson.
Market Street Methodist Church c1857 (courtesy of Ilkeston Reference Library). The passers-by are walking along Market Street
Once built — and standing opposite Extension Street — the chapel was described in White‘s Directory (1857) as ’a neat Gothic building’ costing £500, with sittings for about 250 persons. The same directory refers to the Wesleyan Reformers for the first time, occupying the South Street Chapel; there is no mention of the United Methodist Free Churches.
At the end of July 1866 a new gallery at the chapel was opened. And below is what the Local Board map of 1866 shows of that area.
1 = the Market Street ‘Old Wesleyan’ Chapel; 2 = the South Street Chapel of the ‘Wesleyan Reformers’
3 = Market Street; 4 = Gladstone Street (then named as Pledge Street; 5 = Extension Street; 6 = South Street
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We can continue the story of this chapel, and find out about the new Bath Street Wesleyan chapel, here ……………………………… or continue the story of the Wesleyans with the Methodist New Connexion
