Day 14 Halifax, Plumbing and Minutes

Central Buildings

We return to Manchester Central Library today, It is official so I can confirm that Anne can trace her Methodists roots back to the time of the Wesley's. Alice (nee Fielden) Wilson's father (Joshua Fielden) born in 1766 heard John Wesley preach many times and as a result became one of Wesley's Lay preachers in 1786 and continued to preach for 70 years until his death in 1855. Alice as we know continued supporting the Methodist cause, even after her marriage to Lawrence. We also read the minute books of Barton Moss Methodist Church & Barton UponIrwell - where Anne's grandparents met, they are mentioned several times in the minute books.

On the way back to the car passed Central Buildings in Oldham Street, David resisted the opportunity to call on TMCP!!

Mount Zion - Halifax

The Afternoon took us to Halifax ad to another "Mount Zion" Chapel . Unfortunately we were unable to get into the building. 

The present building dates from 1815, replacing an earlier one built in 1773 and in which John Wesley preached on 22nd April 1774. He records in his journal, “I rode and walked to Bradshaw House, standing alone in a dreary waste. But, although it was a cold and stormy day the people flocked from all quarters.”  Wesley returned for a final time at the age of 87 in 1790 however two friends needed to assisted him as his memory failed him. He died a year later.

The original sun dial and foundation stone of the original Chapel still remain as does cottage where Wesley stayed adjacent to the Chapel. In 1797 The Chapel was also caught up with the various disputes within the Church. Alexander Kilham one of the "reformers" was expelled in 1797 and founded the New Connexion. Many of those attending Mount Zion were sympathetic to Kilham and expelled the Wesleyan's, who then met in a barn across the road! The Chapel is oldest Methodist New Connexion Church in use.The New Connexion joined with the Bible Christians and the United Methodist Free Church in 1907 to become the United Methodist Church. In 1932 they joined the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Churches forming the Methodist Church we know today.

The graveyard is vast and contains many thousands of graves.

We had caravan drainage problems on our return, as David didn't have his drain rods with him a extra large plunger was purchased - problem solved! Tomorrow we move on to the Lake District.

I think this will do the trick!!