Coates Methodist Chapel
A selection of Coates Chapel images can be found on Blosslyn's Blog HERE
Coates Methodist Chapel (once the Wesleyan Chapel) is the building in the photograph at the top of every page of this website. My aunt, Lois Chapman, wrote to me in 1988 telling me this:
'On Sundays we went to the Methodist chapel situated in the middle of the village green; Granddad had a pew right at the back, and it had a little door. The chapel was lit by brass oil lamps hanging from the ceiling; Dad’s [James Thomas Ashworth] mother, Grandma Ashworth [Eliza Hall] was chapel cleaner. I expect she was glad of the little extra cash to help bring up the family, especially as Granddad Ashworth [William Ashworth] died so young.'
Coates Methodist Chapel (once the Wesleyan Chapel) is the building in the photograph at the top of every page of this website. My aunt, Lois Chapman, wrote to me in 1988 telling me this:
'On Sundays we went to the Methodist chapel situated in the middle of the village green; Granddad had a pew right at the back, and it had a little door. The chapel was lit by brass oil lamps hanging from the ceiling; Dad’s [James Thomas Ashworth] mother, Grandma Ashworth [Eliza Hall] was chapel cleaner. I expect she was glad of the little extra cash to help bring up the family, especially as Granddad Ashworth [William Ashworth] died so young.'
I attended the final service at the Methodist Chapel on Saturday 4th August 2012. I took a short video before the service to show the interior and a picture of the pulpil and altar. There was not really time to take more shots of a higher quality and there were about 60 people there; it will not be possible to visit again so I thought I'd do what I could. There was a short Peterborough Telegraph report and photo (on which I appear!) but it has been taken down.
The hymns were "There's a quiet understanding", "Praise to the living God", From all that dwell below the skies", Lord for the years" and "Love Divine".
The readings were Ephesians 1:3-14, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Matthew 28:16-20.
The sermon (which was quite long) was given by Revd Julian Pursehouse. In it he said that there is a time for everything and that the chapel had had its day. It had served the community well, but a restructuring of the circuit was due. I felt he was trying to explain the closure (although it is clear that the congregation is no longer a viable one) as being part of God's plan. As I say, it was a long sermon and I could not follow all the arguments or retain the essence of the message.
The hymns were "There's a quiet understanding", "Praise to the living God", From all that dwell below the skies", Lord for the years" and "Love Divine".
The readings were Ephesians 1:3-14, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Matthew 28:16-20.
The sermon (which was quite long) was given by Revd Julian Pursehouse. In it he said that there is a time for everything and that the chapel had had its day. It had served the community well, but a restructuring of the circuit was due. I felt he was trying to explain the closure (although it is clear that the congregation is no longer a viable one) as being part of God's plan. As I say, it was a long sermon and I could not follow all the arguments or retain the essence of the message.
Looking Back:
Another speaker said a little about the building of the church. Apparently the Holy Trinity people would creep up at night and destroy the brickwork the Wesleyans had erected. Eventually the Wesleyans took to sleeping on site. |
Looking Forward:
We were played a video of children at the Friday night meetings saying what a great place the chapel was and how they had fun. This was expected to continue in the Primary school. |
A Memory
The short piece is from Alan Johnson, Archivist - Peterborough & District Family History Society.
It concerns Barclays Bank which used to have a 'pop-up' branch (as it would be called now!) in the back of the Methodist chapel.
Alan wrote (on 10th January 2014):
I worked for Barclays Whittlesey (not the current building) 1964-1966. Every Thursday morning (I think) the Manager Mr. Hammerton drove me and a bag of cash to Coates where I set up a "bank counter" in the room at the back of the Chapel on the green. It was in fact a desk which had a cupboard at one side - that is where I kept the cash. It was used in the afternoon to put the baby scales on for the welfare clinic. I do not think we had any sort of alarm.
Customers came and transacted their business until 12 when Mr. Hammerton arrived to take me back. If Mr. Hammerton was not available either another member of staff took me or a taxi was arranged. The guard was Mr. Jessie Kisby, a retired gentleman of the village, who always sat in the other room so customers would not be embarrassed when transacting their business. I do not know when the arrangement stopped but suspect sometime in the 1970s.
The short piece is from Alan Johnson, Archivist - Peterborough & District Family History Society.
It concerns Barclays Bank which used to have a 'pop-up' branch (as it would be called now!) in the back of the Methodist chapel.
Alan wrote (on 10th January 2014):
I worked for Barclays Whittlesey (not the current building) 1964-1966. Every Thursday morning (I think) the Manager Mr. Hammerton drove me and a bag of cash to Coates where I set up a "bank counter" in the room at the back of the Chapel on the green. It was in fact a desk which had a cupboard at one side - that is where I kept the cash. It was used in the afternoon to put the baby scales on for the welfare clinic. I do not think we had any sort of alarm.
Customers came and transacted their business until 12 when Mr. Hammerton arrived to take me back. If Mr. Hammerton was not available either another member of staff took me or a taxi was arranged. The guard was Mr. Jessie Kisby, a retired gentleman of the village, who always sat in the other room so customers would not be embarrassed when transacting their business. I do not know when the arrangement stopped but suspect sometime in the 1970s.