The Methodist Church - a 150 year history.

 The Methodist Church held a Spring Fair in April 1961 and at its opening, local historian, Marjorie Hobson, told of the church's history.

 Miss Hobson said the Methodist Church was an integral part of Furness Vale and had been for almost 150 years.
She spoke of the time, over 200 years ago, when the village had no main road,no canal, no railway, no printworks - a small place with Yeardsley Hall and a few houses.
Added Miss Hobson, There was no place of worship here in those days, apart from a small chapel, probably at Yeardsley Hall. People had to walk to church at Disley, Whaley Bridge or New Mills.
At that time there was a great Christian revival. Methodism in the area started at Bongs, between New Mills and Mellor. John Wesley visited Bongs about 1740, and probably some Furness people went to hear him.
Wesley visited the district many times afterwards until 1788 when he was 85. From those visits, Methodism started in Furness Vale.
By 1797 Furness Vale had a printworks, and two years later a canal, after which the village began to grow. There was work in the printworks and on the canal, and houses were built.
The people wanted their own place of worship. One was started in 1812-no one seemed to know for sure where it was, but it was probably at  Gow Hole Farm, and had 11 members.
Membership grew and in 1822 a chapel was built in Yeardsley Lane by Mr James Mellor of Diglee who rented it to his fellow members for £5 a year.. This might not seem much but in those days the annual collection was 5s, so £5 needed a lot of finding.
In 1835, said Miss Hobson, New Mills Circuit was formed and a Mr William Ince, first minister was appointed in  1837. There was great activity in the Yeardsley Lane Chapel, where there were not only services on Sunday but school on many weeknights.
There was no other school in the village, except perhaps a dame school where people had to pay one penny or twopence a week, which was difficult to find. In addition, children started work at six or seven years and had no chance to learn.
So the Yeardsley Lane Chapel taught reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, not only to children but to grown-ups.
She added: "This chapel was fulfilling a great need in the village-educating the people. Throughout the history of this chapel it has been helping people to educate themselves.
Miss Hobson said that in 1838 the scholars from Yeardsley Lane Chapel walked in procession to New Mills to join in celebrating Queen Victoria's Coronation and were regaled with buns and ale.
Their next procession was in 1840 when the first church on the present site was built. They walked from Yeardsley Lane carrying bibles, spelling books, copy books and slates. Among them were John Gregory, Richard Fox and William Bradbury. She could not mention all who had played their part in the church's life but John Gregory and Richard Fox celebrated 50 years selfless work in 1889.  Fox was a boatbuilder whose wife started Bridgemont Mission.
There were James and Denis Johnson, members and local preachers for  over 50 years. William Bradbury had two sons, Benjamin and William, who worked for the church for over half a century.
Miss Hobson related that in 1847 at a revival meeting, the church was so crowded that people had to climb over the seats to reach the penitent form. In 1857 the church left the United Methodist Association and became the United Methodist Free Church.
She added: There were few wealthy members in  those days. Most people were employed in the printworks and in pits, but they gave what they could.
In the 1860s came the cotton famine, which caused people to be in great need. I am not going to mention names-there are probably relatives still in Furness Vale-but, according to Disley rate book, a man, with a wife and child, had 3s 6d a week wages. Another with a wife and three children,got 7s.
But these people gave what they could, If they had not got the money, they gave their time, and this church was enlarged and a harmonium bought. This seemed a pity, because, until then, there was an orchestra of trombones, violins, cellos, a double bass, clarinet, cornet and ophicleide, and the orchestra probably played in the singing gallery. The church was lit by tallow candles, and that was Richard Fox's job to go round and snuff them out.
Miss Hobson said that exactly 95 years ago to the day in April 15th 1866, was the first recorded baptism of John Smith, In 1867 the church bought a second-hand organ from Sheffield.
There was a bazaar in 1884 to raise money for the building fund, and money making events continued. In 1884-5 the school and church were remodelled at a cost of £1050 and all was paid except £450, the debt being cleared later.
Other interesting points mentioned by Miss Hobson were a team meeting for cleaners and lighters-up in 1891, and the licensing of the church for marriages in 1909.
To celebrate the centenary in 1912, a new organ was bought, and there was a procession of 400 people through the village.