Wesleyan growth in Worksop

THIS week’s Archive Corner picture is of the Worksop Wesley Bazaar in 1908.

It was held at the town hall and much preparation went into the beautiful trellis flower displays and the immaculate stalls.

The town hall was a regular venue for church bazaars.

The Wesleyan Chapel on Newcastle Street was built in 1863 and could seat 700 people.

It was one of a number of churches and chapels built in Worksop between 1820 and 1920.

John Wesley visited Worksop in 1780, preaching on Lead Hill ‘in a lamentable place of dirt and dust’.

His impression of the townsfolk wasn’t much better. He described preaching to only ‘a small company of as stupid people as I ever saw’.

And yet, despite his unflattering comments, his message was obviously well received because Methodism flourished in the town during the 19th century.

The Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Bridge Street was built in 1813 and in 1845 it was enlarged, with a school room and vestry added.

The United Free Wesleyan Ebenezer chapel in Potter Street was built in 1837 with room for 500.

Then a new chapel was built in 1875.

In June 1969 a fire caused serious damage to the Newcastle Street chapel and a replacement Wesleyan church was built on the same site.

Related topics: