The Evangelical Revival in Bedfordshire owed much to the work of the Rev. John Berridge, vicar of Everton, and it is likely that some early Biggleswade Wesleyans had formerly belonged to Berridge's societies. John Wesley's first recorded visit to the area, in January 1762, occurred when he was travelling to preach for Berridge at Everton.

Wesleyan Methodists

In 1782 Miss Elizabeth Harvey of Hinxworth became friends with John Wesley and opened her home for evangelical meetings. On Friday 19 July 1782 Wesley visited and preached to the villagers. In 1794 Mr Freeman, an excise officer, took up residence in Biggleswade. Not finding the 'gospel tone in the services at the parish church to his liking' asked Madam Harvey of Hinxworth for help. She sent the next Methodist preacher visiting Hinxworth to Biggleswade, where he preached in the Market Place. A week later a vacant shop in the High Street was used for preaching services. In 1794 a barn was licensed for Methodist services. In 1795 Miss Harvey built at her own expense a Methodist chapel and a preacher’s house in Biggleswade in Chapel Place on Cowfairlands. The Rev. Dr Thomas Coke preached at the opening service. The chapel was replaced in 1834 by a new chapel in Shortmead Street. It was opened on Friday 7 November 1834. In October 1889 the chapel was closed for major renovations to be undertaken. On 26 October 1905 a new Sunday school was opened.

Primitive Methodists

In 1847 Rev. John Guy (1811-1887) the PM minister in Baldock preached in the open air in Biggleswade at the invitation of Mr Cocking. A Society was formed with 4 members and soon there were 50. On 18 November 1848 'a room in the late dwelling house of John Gray held in trust for the Primitive Methodists' was registered by Rev. John Parrott, the Superintendent of the Bedford Mission. In 1853 a property was bought in Shortmead Street consisting of two cottages and an old schoolroom. The schoolroom was refurbished and used as the chapel. The chapel was used until July 1873 when part of the site was sold to pay off the outstanding debt. On the remaining site a new chapel and a commodious school room was built. On 3 September 1939 the former PM Society amalgamated with the Trinity Methodist Church with the vision of opening a new Bourne Methodist Church in Biggleswade, but this church was never built.

Methodist Church

At Methodist Union the Wesleyan chapel became known as Trinity Methodist Church and the Primitive Methodist chapel was named Bourne Methodist Church. On 20 September 1932 a united meeting of the Trinity and Bourne Churches was held in Trinity Methodist Church to hear the Methodist Union proceedings from the Royal Albert Hall, London. This was followed by a 'Methodist Union wedding breakfast' which took the form of a Love Feast. On Sunday 2 October a united service of Holy Communion was held in the Bourne Methodist Church. On Monday a public meeting was held in Trinity Methodist Church when speakers addressed the assembly on the subject 'Methodist Union: The Past, the Present, and the Future'.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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