The Story of Glossop Methodist Circuit.
This
article is a transcript of one published in the Glossop Chronicle of
31 January 1908, itself taken from an original in The Methodist
Times.
In
"The Methodist Times" the story of the Glossop circuit is
told in a bright and interesting manner by the popular author, Mr. H.
Lindsay Hudson, of Glossop. The writer states:
Commercially,
Glossop may be said to be a suburb of Manchester, for the great
Cottonopolis lies only twelve and a half miles away and its business
people are in daily and close touch with the life of that great city;
Connexionally, Glossop is”in the Manchester District”.
But the twelve and a half miles, bridged by the Great Central
Railway, make a vast difference and lands us amongst the Derbyshire
Hills away from the fog, the smoke and the grime of murky Manchester.
Except one is on business bent and travelling by the “business
train,” it is a wearying journey, with many stoppages, from the
city to the little Derbyshire town, but it is magnificently
compensated for, soon after leaving Mottram, by the sight of the
everlasting hills and the taste of the clean, pure, crisp air that
blows from off the moors.
The
town itself is a marvel of beauty and cleanness. The High-street,
which is really an incorporated part of the high road to
Sheffield, divides the town into two parts, the one being chiefly
occupied by the working-class population, who are mainly employed in
the calico and paper mills, the other containing some fine public
buildings and villa residences. The town is surrounded by mountains
and lies in the valley between the Whitely Nab and the Devil's Elbow,
while the famous Snake mountain, a spur of the Kinder, is in the
neighbourhood.
No
town possesses a greater variety of lovely walks for the ardent
pedestrian, and one can spend a whole fortnight in the place
without travelling over the same ground - and yet finding new
delights every day. In the summer the town is visited by thousands of
people for the sake of the walks over the health-giving moors, and,
for this reason, Glossop may also be said to be a lung of the mighty
Manchester.
Speaking in a Connexional sense, Glossop is little and
unknown. Not one of its laymen has ever been honoured by a seat on a
Synod Committee, and only one or two in its long history have had the
privilege of acting as lay representative to the Conference. Yet
Glossop has its Connexional history and traditions, the beginning of
which dates from the visit of John Wesley in 1761, when he came over
to Glossop from Manchester and preached at Bridgefield.
The
entry in his Journal reads, "I rode to Bridgefield in the midst
of the Derbyshire mountains and cried to a large congregation, “If
any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” And they
did, indeed, drink in the Word “as the thirsty earth the
showers.” John Nelson also frequently visited Glossop and
preached from the Whitfield Cross, as also did John Pawson and
Alexander Mather, two men who were destined to fill the President's
chair.
Amongst
the earliest fruits of the labours of these itinerants was the
conversion of John Shaw, of Hill Top, Charlesworth, who at once
began to preach the Gospel with great power in the surrounding
villages. Subsequently, Mr. Wesley called him to the work of the
regular ministry, and for thirty-one years he did valiant service
for God. A few years later, in 1777, John Barber, a Hayfield youth,
also became a "travelling" preacher, and for forty-nine
years faithfully served God and Methodism. This John Barber was twice
President of the Conference, first in the year 1807 and again in
1815. Besides these more illustrious names Glossop Circuit has sent
into the ministry Peter and John Harrop both of whom went to the Gold
Coast, the former dying on the mission-field in 1837 after one year's
labour, and the latter travelling forty-one years; George T.
Aspinall; John Whewell, who went to the Friendly Islands; John Shaw,
to the West Indies; Ebenezer Taylor, Australia; Levi Harrison, Fiji;
Henry Smith, now in the Lincoln Cireuit; Joseph Nield, now a
supernumerary at Masham, father of Herbert Nield, of Bradford; John
Henry Cartwright, now at Carlisle; and H. Rosson Hudson, now at
Didsbury. Amongst the ministers who have travelled in the Glossop
Circuit are a few famous names, such as Thomas Hardy, Abraham
Watmough, John Randerson, Gervase Smith, John Raby, Frederick Payne,
William F. Briggs, Benjamin Frankland, Charles Nightingale,
William F. Slater, John Imison, Alfred Lockyer, Henry M.
Radcliffe, and in more recent years, John Nowell, S. Birt Coley, J.
T. Waddy, Robert Passmore, Campbell Jeffries, W. H. Coradine and
George Whitbread. The present ministers are Revs. Charles Bryant
and Herbert J. Birtwistle (See A Hadfield family of Whitfield).
To
give a list of the local preachers who have done splendid service
would occupy too much space, but Glossop Circuit bas always been
blessed by a band of willing and effective preachers who have been
signally honoured of God. The two top names now on the plan are those
of T. P. Hunter and W. H. Bowden, both Justices of the Peace, the
latter also being an alderman of the borough. Both of these honoured
brethren have laboured for many years in the circuit, and done yeoman
service. Just lately, W. Hall, a brother who has been on the plan for
well-nigh fifty years, passed away at a venerable age.
Glossop
Circuit is one of the most compact circuits in Methodism. There are
only eight places in the circuit, and they are all within easy
walking distance from the centre of the town. The first Wesleyan
chapel built in the neighbourhood was at Mottram-in-Longdendale, but
in 1808, from a variety of circumstances, the cause there came to an
end, and the next year, in 1804, chiefly through the generosity of
Mr. John Thornley, a mill owner, the first Hadfield Chapel was
erected. Before this the Society had worshipped in a room attached to
the Valehouse mills, fitted up as a preaching-room and for Sunday
school purposes by Mr. Thornley. A somewhat remarkable incident led
to the building of this chapel. While Mr. Thornley was transacting
business one day in Manchester a violent thunderstorm passed over the
town, and men thought that the final reckoning day had come. Mr.
Thornley was greatly terrified, and, in prayer to God, promised that
if his life were spared he would build a chapel at Hadfield. His life
was spared and the chapel was built.
The
Padfield (1828), Tintwistle (1830), and Broadbottom (1858) chapels
are all out-growths of the vigorous cause at Hadfield. In reference
to Padfield, tradition says that John Wesley once preached there in
the open air on the piece of ground now covered by Mr. Thomas Platt's
mill-dam, but no proof of this can be obtained. Long before the
building of the chapel, however, there was a Methodist cause at
Padfield. Phineas Siddall (See The Syddall family of Glossop),
a native of the village, probably heard Wesley preach at Bridgefield.
He became a local preacher and a class-leader, and travelled from
Padfield to Mossley every week to lead his class. He also preached in
the open air at Wednesough Green, Hollingworth, and other places, for
which he was persecuted most cruelly. He was the pioneer of Methodism
in Padfield, died in 1784, and was buried in the Glossop churchyard.
William
Lockwood was the founder of Methodism at Tintwistle, anciently called
Tingetwizzle. With Lockwood were associated Joseph Harrop, who had
been connected with the Methodists at the Valehouse preaching-room,
Thomas Warhurst, Peter Taylor, John Lawton, David Dearnaley, James
Robinson, and Robert Woodhouse. Tintwistle is the smallest place in
the circuit, but the cause is vigorous and thriving. At Broadbottom
Methodism owes its existence to Mr. Peter Harrop, who afterwards
became a missionary. At that time Mr. Harrop was a local preacher,
and he made it his business to hold open-air services at Broadbottom.
He met with much opposition, but eventually a small chapel to seat
150 people was erected at New York. Near New York is the famous
“Glory Hole” where in the days of the second Stuart, the
dispossessed nonconforming vicar of Glossop was wont secretly to
meet his scattered flock for worship. The present chapel was built in
1858. With Broadbottom the name of Mr. John Clayton will be for ever
associated. He was not only a tower of strength while living,
spending himself and his substance freely, but he left a small
endowment after his death to carry on the good work. Lately Mr. A. E.
Stanton has come to reside at Broadbottom in the very house occupied
by Mr. Clayton, and already he has proved a worthy successor to that
grand old man. Mr. Stanton had not been long in Broadbottom before
the chapel was transmogrified. being repewed, redecorated, and made a
place of beauty. Though Broadbottom is but a village chapel it
possesses a two-manual organ, of which Mr. Joseph Robinson is the
capable organist. Chisworth Chapel lies on the Marple road about
three miles from Glossop. The cause there was first started, like
many other Methodist causes, in a cottage, after which an empty room
was taken in the Chew Factory and fitted up as a preaching-room. From
there the Society moved into the present chapel, which was opened
in 1833 by Rev. George Marsden. Amongst the honoured names James
Coup, James Clayton, George Cooper, Wright Harrison, and John Goodwin
must be mentioned, while in later years the Brothers Clarke, both
happily still with us, have done much to forward the work.
The
first place of worship at Glossop proper was known as Old Jonathan's
Garret (Jonathan Wadsworth) in a three-storey house in Hall Street
near the church gates. Many famous ministers preached in this garret
from time to time, amongst whom may be mentioned the late James
Everett, well known for his connection with the Fly-sheets. The
present chapel was built in 1813, but has since been enlarged, and
later modernised. Amongst the earliest workers at Old Glossop were
Isaac Linney, a local preacher for fifty years; John Harrison, a
magnificent class-leader and a man who did splendid work for the day
and Sunday schools; John Goodwin, a quaint local preacher; the
Brothers Jonas and James Wood, and John Sellers. Old Glossop has
suffered greatly by the growth of the town outwards in a westerly
direction and the building of Wesley Chapel at Howard Town.
Alderman
W. H. Bowden, J.P., F. J. Hall, James Rose (each ex-circuit
stewards), John Rowbottom, W. Houseman, E. Winterbottom and others
still stand by the old chapel and good work is being done. Through
the liberality of a good brother who loves to hide his light under
a bushel, a deaconess in the person of Sister Maud Seanor has been
employed at Old Glossop during the past two years, and is rendering
invaluable service. Old Glossop has had the honour and the privilege
of being the head of the circuit since the circuit was first formed,
while the Whitfield Chapel, which was built in the same year, has the
identical pulpit occupied by John Wesley at New Mills and from which
he often preached.
Wesley
Chapel is by far the largest chapel in the circuit and on gala-days,
such as the school sermons or the annual rendering of “The
Messiah,” it is a fine sight to see the venerable chapel
crowded in every part with a congregation of almost twelve hundred
people. The first services in connection with the Society at Wesley
were held in a cottage at Wren's Nest; then a room was taken over
come stables; this place in turn soon growing too small, the bottom
room of Shepley Mill was taken and converted into a preaching-room
and Sabbath-school. It was not long before the necessity of a proper
chapel was felt, and on Good Friday, 1844, the foundation-stone of
the first Wesley Chapel was laid at Howard Town. This chapel
accommodated only 500 worshippers, and, the congregation rapidly
increasing, this chapel was also soon too small. On Good Friday,
1858, the foundation of the present commodious building was laid on
the same site as the old chapel, the Superintendent-minister, Rev.
Benjamin Frankland, being the architect. Amongst the earliest workers
at Wesley were Richard Huntingdon, Matthew Walton, John Shaw, George
Parkinson, George Fielding and Paul Woodcock. Thomas Swindells, James
Shallcross, Joseph Stafford (an ex-Mayor of Glossop), Samuel Wragg
and James Hadfield must also be mentioned. These have all passed away
to their reward, but “God burses His workmen yet carries on His
work,” and there has ever been a succession of good men to
continue the work. The workers and standard-bearers at Wesley have
been legion, and it is worthy of note that William Robinson (See The Robinsons of Gnat Hole)
took an active part in the building
of both the first and second chapels, and his sons at a later period
have rendered good service. Mr. T. P. Hunter, J.P., and his family
have been most active workers for years. Mr. Hunter has five times
been circuit steward and has twice represented the circuit at the
Conference. For fifty years he has been a local preacher and,
besides this work for the Church, has served the town on the Borough
Council and on the Board of Guardians. Alderman W. Holdgate has also
rendered good service. He is an ex-circuit steward and has been
treasurer of the Sabbath-schools and Foreign Missionary treasurer for
the circuit for years. As a public man he has had the honour of
serving as chairman of the Board of Guardians and as Mayor of
Glossop.
Wesley
has been a church of families, and amongst these the Leech, Wood,
Dearnaley, Castle, Holdgate, Hadfield, Nield, Broadbent, Fielding,
Woodcock, Bowden, Thom, Oliver, Hyde, Darlington, Stafford, Platt
and Atkin families may be mentioned. From these the names of Abel
Dearnaley, Matthew Woodcock, Vincent Woodcock and George Woodcock
have all been prominent workers, as well as Mr. John Hyde, the
energetic secretary of the Co-operative Stores. Mr. Thomas Nield, now
deceased, was also circuit steward for several terms. Mr. H. Lindsay
Hudson is the master of the day-school.
The
Fieldings, a gifted musical family, have for many years given
splendid service to Wesley. Their connection with the choir is
probably unique in Methodism if the length of service be considered.
From the very commencement they have practically had the sole charge
of the musical arrangements. Mr. Enoch Fielding played the seraphine,
that wonderful precursor of the harmonium, in the old chapel, and was
the first organist in the new chapel. This position he retained up to
the year 1880, when he was stricken with paralysis while playing at
the organ. His son, Mr. Henry Fielding, was straightway appointed in
his place at the age of seventeen and is still organist. Nearly
twenty years ago Mr. Fielding arranged a public rendering of “The
Messiah” in the chapel on a Sunday afternoon, and each year
since this service, has been repeated in the month of December to
tremendous congregations. It is one of the great events of the year
in Glossop, and an hour before the service, crowds of people, with
their vocal scores under their arms, can e seen making their way
to “Old Wesley”, as it is lovingly called, from. every
quarter of the town and district.
At
the present moment the circuit is all alive with schemes, the most
important of which, perhaps, is the big effort which is to be made
in the month of June at the Hadfield Centenary celebrations to
materially reduce the debt on the chapel, and altogether the future
is full of hope.
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Last updated: 17 August 2025