Morecambe is a town on the Lancashire coast, facing the Irish Sea. It was created in 1889, from the townships of Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme. Linked by rail to Scotland and to the Yorkshire mill towns, these scattered fishing villages grew into a seaside resort which flourished from the late nineteenth century until the 1970s.
Wesleyan Methodism: There were occasional visits to Poulton Beach in the first quarter of the 19th century by Local Preachers on the Lancaster plan. Roger Crane (1758-1836) a Local Preacher from Preston, preached from the fish stones in Poulton Market Place. On his first visit, Crane was attacked by a mob and dragged to the nearby pond where they intended to drown him. He was rescued by a bare knuckle boxer who recognised him as the person who had shown kindness to him in Preston. Other visiting preachers at this time were William Bramwell (1759-1818) and Ann Cutler (1759-1794) known throughout the Fylde as “Praying Nanny”. When Moses Holden (1777-1864) was sent to the village in January 1811 there were 10 members in the society. In 1819 a chapel was built in Poulton. One of its members was John Stirzaker (1813-1854), who became a Wesleyan Minister. In 1836 when stationed in the Lancaster Circuit Rev John P Sumner (1809-1871) preached in Poulton le sands.
Worship and a Sunday school started in Morecambe in 1852 in the home of Henry Gorton (1827-1870) architect, builder and surveyor and his wife Ann (1828-1906). A wooden chapel, accommodating around 60 people, was opened in August 1853 by the Rev Joshua Hocken (1799-1853) Superintendent of the Lancaster Circuit. Plans were soon laid to build a permanent chapel, and the foundation stone for a chapel in Pedder Street was laid by Robert Bickerdike (1805-1881) of Lancaster in February 1855 The chapel was opened four months later and the seating was increased by a gallery in 1860. An organ was installed in 1863. In 1867 Sunday school premises were built behind and attached to the chapel. The chapel west wall and gallery was removed so that the Sunday school’s lower hall could be used during the holiday season as an overflow. The Sunday school superintendent was Henry Gorton. When these premises became too small for the congregation Mrs Kussep of Newcastle upon Tyne proposed a scheme to build a new chapel and promised a gift of £200 to the project. At a trustees' meeting in April 1874 to discuss the new chapel project there was a split vote. The majority were in favour of the scheme and the estimated cost. As a result of the vote several of the dissenters left the Wesleyan chapel and started the Morecambe United Methodist Free Church. The memorial stones for the new Wesleyan chapel in Green Street were laid on 19 July 1875. The first stone was laid by Miss Waller the daughter of Mr Charles Waller (1820-1893) of Bradford, and the second by Mrs Richard Crabtree (1824-1903). Special trains ran from Bradford and Leeds bringing friends to the ceremony. The land was given by Charles Waller and an extra adjacent plot was bought and donated to the scheme by Richard Crabtree (1811-1896) a Wesleyan in Bradford who was the contracted stone mason. In 1884 a Sunday school was added.The architect was Samuel Wright (1852-1929)
West End Wesleyan Chapel
On 25 April 1883 4 memorial stones for the West End Wesleyan chapel were laid on the site given by Richard Crabtree. A Sunday school had been started some years earlier. By 1886 an extension was added. With a growing congregation and increased summer visitors this building became too small. In 1895 a new chapel was planned with the 1883 chapel to be retained as the Sunday school. On 11 August 1896 the first foundation stone was laid by Sir Henry Mitchell in memory of Richard Crabtree who had donated the site and was affectionately known as the Father of West End Wesleyanism. The church was designed to seat 830 by Samuel Wright. Morecambe became a Circuit in 1894
United Methodist Free Church: The society was formed in April 1874 with 44 members who had seceded from the Morecambe Wesleyan chapel. They held their first service in the Music Hall on 12 April 12 1874 which they continued to use for worship and a Sunday school until October 1875. Mr Gallimore of Sheffield, a summer visitor to the chapel, promised £300 towards the cost of building a new chapel if the local people could raise an equal amount. Immediately a building committee was formed. A site in Clarence Street was purchased for the new chapel. On 18 October 1875 the foundation stones were laid, and the partially built chapel was opened on 18 October 1876. By 1881 enough money had been raised to complete the project which had 700 seats and a school room to accommodate 300 scholars.
Primitive Methodists: On 25 August 1862 Edward Dawson J.P.(1793-1876) of Aldcliffe Hall, Lancaster, laid the foundation stone. On Sunday 19 October 1862 a gale severely damaged the building which delayed the opening till Sunday 15 February 1863. As part of the celebrations on Monday 23 August 1863 there was an open air demonstration on the water front which attracted over 2000 people, many coming by an excursion train from Bradford and West Yorkshire. In 1864 the Sunday school was started. In 1883 the trustees bought the former Wesleyan chapel and schools in Pedder Street for £1200 and spent £400 on repairs and alterations.
West End Primitive Methodist chapel, Parliament Street. The congregation worshipped in a room over a shop in 1893. The following year they hired the Central Hall. A site for the chapel was secured in 1896. On 5 July 1897 memorial stones were laid for the Assembly Hall. On Monday 13 September 1897 the memorial stones for the chapel were laid. The chapel was opened on 4 May 1898 when the preacher was Rev James Travis (1840-1919), President of the 1892 Conference.
Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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