Day 11 - From the new to the old!

From the New ......Bolton Road, Methodist Church, Bury
Back to posting the blog at the end of the day again!

We visited Bolton Road Methodist Church after a trip around Bury trying to get there - As we were to find out later often one way streets proved to much for our Sat-nav! We arrived just as the service was about to start, a modern building with MHA complex next door. A lively church very much the same style of worship as Sheldon Rd, a complete change from last Sunday at Lichfield Cathedral. We  found a double A4 sheet on our seat a "User Guide" for morning worship - a bit disconcerting! a good service however led by Martin Goodman a Local Preacher, the Superintendent Minister was taking Junior Church. We had a good cup of coffee afterwards.. This new church was opened in 2002 replacing an earlier one just down the road, and was built on the church "sports ground"

To the Old .... Todmorden and Cornholme Methodist Churches

Part of our travels incorporate some of the Chapels built or attended by  Anne's forebears. So a trip to Todmordon, about 45 minutes Bury over the moors, the views were spectacular but the road had much to be desired. First stop was to  Cornholme Methodist Church, founded and built by Lawrence Wilson - Anne's three times Grandfather who also owned and founded the local bobbin mill. Whilst the mill no longer exists, Mount Zion United Methodist Chapel, as you can see is now a pile of stones surrounded by the graves of the Wilson family and other mill workers.

As you can see the graveyard is somewhat overgrown and the graveyard is now closed to new burials.

The ruins of the original Chapel

Grave and monument to Lawrence Wilson 
and his family



We continue our journey over the Moor stopping at Todmorden Edge Farm.

Todmorden Edge Farm

The very first Methodist 'Quarterly Meeting' was convened on 18th October 1748 at Edge Farm, bringing together the ministers, local preachers and stewards of the local Churches or "Circuit" - this continues  to be a feature of Methodism with 2-3 Circuit meetings a year.

Chapel House - far end group of cottages

We find our way to the town of Todmorden, both John and Charles Wesley were frequent visitors to the area; John came 21 times, and Charles fairly frequently. The early Methodists met at Chapel House from 1783. As the congregation increased the building became too small and they moved into a building on the site of the present town Hall until the new Church was built in York Street in 1827. records show that Lawrence Wilson and his wife's brother were both founding trustees. In 1837 a group disenchanted with the York St Church broke away to form the United Free Methodist Church in  Bridge St.  In 1942 Bridge Street Chapel closed and its members were once again reunited with York St Church and renamed the building Central Methodist Church. (Bridge Street Chapel  was demolished in 1965.)

Todmorden Town Hall

Central Methodist Church, Todmorden