We would like to share the story of Woodlands Chapel with readers of this newsletter. Many, I am sure will already know something about us, and many more will have noticed the building set in a field above the A57 on the Snake Pass.
We celebrated 150 years in 2018 and during that year were both looking forward and back. Forward asking what, if any, might be the future of the chapel and back to discover an amazing story.
It seems probable that the story of faith in this community dates back to the seventeenth century and to the work of the ministers who defied the Acts of Uniformity, gave up their livings and pursued an itinerant ministry braving great dangers, but forming congregations that met in remote locations for secrecy. Parallel to this the barn along the road at Alport is mentioned in William Bagshaw’s time as being ‘a well known centre of dissent’. Hutchinson, who visited the Woodlands in 1809, says of Alport, where the lovefeast is held : ‘It consists of two farm houses by the side of a rivulet, and at the foot of some high craggy rocks called Alport Castle. The Methodist preachers regularly attend this place every Sunday, where they collect a small congregation from the scattered houses in the Woodlands.’
It was because of the faith of his tenants that the then Duke of Devonshire made the land available and provided the stone with which the residents built the chapel themselves. This arrangement was made for the benefit of “members of the Wesleyan Methodist Communion”.
Sunday school records from the 50’s show around 20 children attending alternate Sundays regularly. The Centenary celebrations in 1968 show a huge marquee, a brass band, the Duchess of Devonshire and a throng of residents. By the time we moved here in 1989 services had recently moved from being monthly to only 4 seasonal services a year. These were still well attended and much was made of cleaning and decorating Chapel and putting on a tea for the many who returned for these occasions.
Over the next thirty years, the Chapel fell into poor repair and many of the regulars were no longer with us. The community rallied and repaired the building and to mark the 150 year anniversary we set up a facebook page and a blog so that people could find out when services are and keep in touch. However congregations remain small and for a number of years we have been looking for a way forward.
Before the pandemic we had generous support to enable us to make Chapel more accessible by making a proper path across the field and renovating the unusable toilet building. We were refused building regs. Then the pandemic struck and interest waned still further. We are prayerfully seeking a future path for the Chapel. We would be happy to try again to get the permissions that we need to be able to welcome people comfortably but feel that the building needs to have a purpose going forward beyond the 4 services a year.
In the meantime we would like to invite anyone who is interested to attend any of our 4 seasonal services. Looking back through our visitor’s book which was presented to Chapel in 1968 the Chapel has been been supported by members of other Chapels from as far away as Glossop, Sheffield and Bakewell as well as those in the Hope Valley. Our services tend to be quite traditional depending on who is taking each one and with tea and cake served afterwards.
The dates and times can be found on our facebook page and on our blog :
As we were preparing for this year’s Lovefeast, I looked back to see what I had recorded from last year. This is what I found :
Lovefeast 2022
Welcome
Normally this gathering is led by the Methodist minister for the circuit. Sadly we heard yesterday that Rev Julie has tested positive for Covid so our thoughts are with her.
I am personally very sorry that Julie isn’t with us as I always appreciate her gracious leading of our services and Lovefeast. However, the gathering is very much led by all those who come, and this year will be no different. We don’t have Julie to guide us through the format, but many are very familiar with the Lovefeast and I am sure that between us we will have a precious time together.
Opening Prayer : I wondered whether Norman, as one of our most faithful supporters of the Lovefeast and the Chapel would open in prayer for us.
Opening Hymn : The first hymn is traditional and so we always begin with 110Jesus Lover of my Soul 528
At this point there is usually a short introduction explaining the origins of the Lovefeast and maybe focusing on a particular theme or thought.
History first records the barn being used for religious gatherings following the Acts of Uniformity in 1662 when the barn is described as a well known centre of Dissent. In Dransfield’s History of Penistone there is this graphic description.
At Alport Castle Farm, remote and isolated amid the Derbyshire Moorlands, the Covenanters assembled to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, although the sleuthhounds of persecution were on the scent of the ‘Psalm singing rascals’ (as they were called) and an implacable soldiery followed them to the inmost recesses of the Peak.
It would seem that it continued to be used and it is quoted as being one of the remotest places in which John Wesley sheltered.
According to what we know, the custom of holding Lovefeasts in this form, came from the Moravians in Germany and was adopted in this country by the Methodist church. This is the only one to continue with an unbroken history. (even in lockdown the barn was held ready and a service was held on zoom) It was originally a whole day event where a preacher arrived to take a service in the morning, lunch was shared and then the Lovefeast took place at 1.30 when the sun comes through the barn window.
I shared on our Facebook page the description by Hannah Mitchell of the lengths to which her family went in the 1870’s to prepare for the event and the hospitality that they offered.
Over so many years, it will have meant many different things to those gathering here and as we gather today, it will probably have a slightly different meaning for each one of us. Over the years that our family have lived at Alport, we have found at the Lovefeast a space which offers peace and stillness to reflect and share. We share the words of the hymn writers, the experiences and thoughts of each other and we make a space in our lives to refocus.
I rarely choose a hymn but this year I found a list that I made many years ago with the numbers from my aunts old Methodist Hymn Book and I looked through it for one that captured this feeling. From my short list of 3, I chose
May the Mind of Christ my Saviour 739 Hymns and Psalms
And so we invite you all to reflect, share, pray, or to choose a hymn or a reading.
At a certain point, we will sing our second traditional hymn : 748Come and Let us Sweetly Join 756. We sing the first 4 verses and then share the spring water from the Loving Cups and the Fruit Cake. There are no words to accompany this sharing. It is a form of Communion, but feel free to do what is comfortable to you and to eat your cake and maybe say hello to those around you. When everyone has had the cake and water, then we will sing the last 4 verses of the hymn.
Collection?
The closing hymn is traditionally 914 God be with you till we meet again 651
Hymns chosen :
Ruth 492 Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
267 Love Divine all Loves excelling
Peter 617 Lord Jesus Christ, You have come to us, You are one with us, Mary’s Son
Norman 721 Stand up, Stand up for Jesus
Peter Miles 70 The Lord’s my Shepherd
Andrew and Annie What a friend we have in Jesus
770 Go forth and tell! O church of God, awake!
Thoughts / Themes : being willing for God to Breath, be willing for change, embrace change, recognise that change is part of life …
It would appear that some of the hyperlinks to photos on our facebook page no longer work, so I am including a link to all albums so that it is easier to browse … https://www.facebook.com/hopewoodlands/photos_albums
As we approach the Lovefeast this year in 2022, I realise that I never posted about last year’s Lovefeast. It was touch and go whether or not it would be a safe thing to do but in the event, we went ahead and as ever, it was a unique and precious time.
We had considered being out on the lawn instead of in the barn but with only a handful of people and plenty of ventilation, we moved indoors and it was just as well because the sunshine gave way to thunder!
Joanna Mackey and Jill Armitt ensured that though few, the singing was lovely. I asked Joanna after the service for the list of hymns chosen and am grateful that she noted them down, along with two themes that emerged from the contributions and thoughts of the afternoon.
Themes were ‘rainbows’ and ‘the way is narrow’ and the hymns chosen were :
574 Deep harmony (Sweet is the work)
Thank you Jesus for loving me (Mission Praise)
803 Teach me my God
11 Lord of all being
685 O love that will not let me go
559 What a friend we have
She also commented that it would be good to invite more singers. This is particularly relevant this year as Joanna herself is not able to be with us. Unaccompanied singing in the barn can be very wonderful, or quite the opposite, so as we approach this year’s Lovefeast do think about people who might like to come and invite them, and if they are singers then so much the better!
In 2020 when we were unable to hold the Lovefeast here at Alport (although there was a zoom gathering), I colated all the information that we had to date into a single blog post with links to text and photos on our facebook page. This is a link to that post in case you would like to know more about the history of this unique gathering : https://woodlandschapel.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/alport-lovefeast-2020/ (contains videos of the 3 lovefeast hymns being sung at the exhibition in the Angler’s in 2018)
This is the service which took place via zoom thanks to Julie Letts and Owen Roberts
Focussing on the Love Feast we explore the importance of story –
God’s story and our own stories, intertwined with His.
Welcome and Love Feast Introduction
A Love Feast is, in a nutshell, about sharing, belonging and fellowship, all carried out in an act of worship. We share faith stories, cake and drink all of which give us an awareness of belonging to and fellowship within the great God story of God. Owen is going to talk in more detail shortly but, for the moment, now is the time to make sure you’ve got a drink of some sort with you, fruit cake if you’ve got it or a biscuit will do just as well.
Prayer and Call To Worship (said together)
Father, Mother God, as I bring myself to worship you
I recognise that I am connected to people everywhere
who are bringing themselves to worship you.
We are joined together, by the Spirit of Jesus Christ
who has been writing your story through the ages.
As we come to worship you this day,
we do so with Jesus at our centre,
and delight that you delight in us.
We delight as you invite us to be your people
who continue, with your enabling, to write your story.
May all that we are bring only glory and honour to your holy name.
We praise and worship you.
Amen.
Hymn
Jesu, Lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah, leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou O Christ, art all I want; more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound, make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art; freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart, rise to all eternity.
Charles Wesley 1707-1788
The Jesus Story
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30, and then for 3 years he was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never went into a big city – not the kind you and I would recognise. He never travelled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between 2 thieves. While he was dying his executors gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth – his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
20 centuries have come and gone, and today he is the centrepiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of humanity on this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
What a story. What a legacy.
St Paul’s Story
Paul has an amazing story. Previously known as Saul, a Pharisee of the highest standing, his knowledge of Scripture was outstanding and, as a Pharisee, he fiercely upheld the ordinances of God Almighty and the religious regulations of the Pharisees; he fully expected others to do likewise. Hence, he was so incensed with the dialogue and actions of Christians. What they were saying and doing did not, to him and his fellow Pharisees, fit in with the story of God Almighty. He was commissioned to put a stop to this story and, for him, this meant gathering up Christians, having them thrown in jail or even put to death. The very mention of his name, Saul, put fear into Christians of that day. However, his personal story was to take a dramatic turn. I think we all know the story. On the way to Damascus, intent on gathering up Christians, Saul had an encounter with Jesus Christ. So profound was this encounter that, from that moment, Saul’s life was turned around and he moved from gathering Christians together to incarcerate and kill, to gathering Christians to promote and build up the Kingdom of God. He realised that the Jesus story is God’s story. The trait in his character that drove him to be dedicated to his previous cause, moved him to be dedicated to the Jesus cause. His story takes on a very different focus and it can be found in the many writings we find in the New Testament where we find Saul, now known as Paul, encouraging, exhorting, blessing, guiding and even reprimanding at times, but always loving people with the all-embracing love of God. In his writing to the church in Ephesus, we read his prayer for people to have a deeper fulness of God’s almighty love for them:
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The Love Feast Story
The Love Feast is an old Methodist tradition, although Methodists did not invent it! The first Methodists adopted it from the Moravian Church, and it has its origins in the Agape meal of the Early Christian Church, a ceremonial sharing of food and drink in a gathering of believers to express the love and fellowship shared between them. It is not the same as Holy Communion, although there appears to have been some overlap in the earliest days of the Church, but the two were understood as distinct from around the fourth century.
The Methodist Love Feast features the sharing of prayer and hymns before the sharing of fruit cake and water, served in large double-handed mugs, called loving cups, or lovefeast cups. Love Feasts were held regularly among the different branches of Methodism well into the 19th century.
After the cake was shared at a Love Feast, people would share testimonies. This was an extremely important part of the Love Feast, which was all about sharing experiences, and supporting one another in the collective journey of faith.
The practice of holding Love Feasts has been largely forgotten, but interest in them has been revived in the Methodist Church over the past few years, and indeed in some rural areas, the tradition has never ended. Here in the Hope Valley, at Alport Castles Farm, just off the Snake Pass, a Love Feast has been held in a barn on the farm for at least 250 years. It is held on the first Sunday of July in the afternoon; were it not for the virus, it would be being held today.
Hannah Mitchell, who grew up on the farm in the 1870s and 80s, wrote about the Love Feast in the 1930s. She describes the barn as ‘consecrated by the sacred memories of many generations of humble worshippers, this old Barn is as truly the House of God as the noblest cathedral in the land’. She talks about the rigorous sweeping, cleaning and whitewashing beforehand to prepare for the event, with even the stone water trough being ‘emptied and scrubbed, until when refilled it sparkled as if set with diamonds’. Of the service itself, she writes:
‘At one o’clock the Lovefeast began with the singing of a hymn, ‘Jesu lover of my soul’ being the favourite, and prayer followed by the breaking of bread. Baskets filled with substantial slices of cake were handed round by the stewards. Each person took a portion and a draught of water from the vessels offered, then the meeting was open for all to bear testimony to the faith they professed’.
Testimony has many different meanings and it might mean different things to each of you. You might think of law courts, or in a religious sense, testimony as something which belongs only to another era or a different form of Christianity to your own. It doesn’t just mean a dramatic story about becoming a Christian – although you might have a testimony like that – but that’s not the only type. The word comes from the Latin for ‘witness’. It’s about what you can say about what you’ve seen or experienced of God in your life. And it’s everyday life, not just one-offs. The small things as well as the big stuff.
You might feel you’ve got nothing to say, and your experience might be one of doubts and questions and dissatisfaction, rather than – or as well as – joy and conviction; but we all have a story to tell, and our stories are all connected. And we bring those stories together as we celebrate the Love Feast.
Hymn: Part 1
Come and let us sweetly join Christ to praise in hymns divine;
Give we all with one accord, Glory to our common Lord. Glory to our common Lord.
Hands and hearts and voices raise, sing as in the ancient of days;
Antedate the joys above, celebrate the feast of love. Celebrate the feast of love.
Strive we, in affection strive; let the purer flame revive,
Such as in the martyrs glowed, dying champions for their God. Dying champions for their God.
We, like them, may live and love; called we are their joys to prove,
Saved with them from future wrath, partners of like precious faith. Partners of like precious faith.
Our Story
If I said to you “Once upon a time” you would immediately know that I was about to embark on telling you a story.
If I said, “and he huffed and he puffed and…..,” or “Oh Grandma what big eyes you have…..” you would know the story I was re-counting wouldn’t you!
God has many facets about Him, and we know all of this – whilst still maintaining the mystery about Him – through His story and His work in our lives. God has what we would call a meta-narrative, the story of all stories. It begins with Genesis and ends with Revelation. You and I, have a story that fits into God’s story, sometime before Revelation! And our story began from the moment we came into the world – maybe before if you consider Psalm 139 which talks about God knitting us together in our mother’s womb – our stories have a beginning and will continue until we plant both feet into heaven – or if Revelation comes first. Whichever comes first, we start a new chapter then that will go on for ever and ever and ever …… into eternity!
But what is your story with God? Can you say something and immediately people will know where you are leading? Would you be recognised as a person of God, someone who lives their life trying their best to be the Jesus person? Or do you sometimes wear a disguise?
We have perhaps slipped out of the habit of seeing God active in our lives on a daily basis. We have perhaps lost confidence in sharing our story with those who do not hold with our belief.
Perhaps, especially in this enforced time where so much has stopped, it would be good for us to stop as well and reflect on our particular story, recognise God at work within and around us, giving God thanks for his active presence in our lives. Seeking his Spirit of Truth to encourage us in our faith lives, in the continuing writing of our stories.
My hope and prayer is that people will be able to say of us, “what a story,” “what a legacy” not because we want glory but because we want to see others come and be part of the meta-narrative.
Let’s give God the glory, as we delight in his story. Amen.
Rev’d Julie Letts
Quiet time of reflection as we then share story and eat and drink.
Hymn: Part 2
Sing we then in Jesu’s name, now as yesterday the same:
One in every time and place, full for all of truth and grace. Full for all of truth and grace.
We for Christ, our Master, stand, lights in a benighted land:
We our dying Lord confess; we are Jesu’s witnesses. We are Jesu’s witnesses.
Witnesses that Christ hath died, we with him are crucified;
Christ hath burst the bands of death, we His quickening Spirit breath. We His quickening Spirit breath.
Christ is now gone up on high, thither all our wishes fly;
Sits at God’s right hand above, there with Him we reign in love. There with Him we reign in love.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Prayers
Hymn
God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet! Till we meet! Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet! Till we meet! God be with you till we meet again!
God be with you till we meet again,
‘Neath His wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you:
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put His arms unfailing round you:
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threatening wave before you:
God be with you till we meet again.
Jeremiah Eames Rankin 1828-1904
Blessing
Until we meet again, we remember that this time we are living through
will be written down in history.
May His-story be a golden thread woven through it,
offering peace and protection, food and freedom of body, mind and soul.
An overview of the information about the Lovefeast from the Woodlands Chapel blog and facebook page
It is the end of June 2020 when normally speaking we would be busy getting the barn ready for the annual Alport Lovefeast on the first Sunday in July. This year gatherings are still not permitted because of the pandemic and there will be no Lovefeast.
Worship in the barn dates back to the seventeenth century and the Lovefeast itself has been happening for over 250 years. I decided that as I wasn’t going to be preparing the barn and making the cake, I would instead use the time to collate the information that we have gathered over the years about the Lovefeast. Maybe instead of attending people may enjoy to read about the history of this extraordinary event and participate through the photos and videos.
We had become conscious over time that fewer and fewer people had long links back to the history of the Lovefeast and Chapel, and that we would need to try and record what was known whilst it was still possible.
The first history by Hannah Mitchell
Hannah Mitchell was asked to write a short history in the 1930’s and she researched what was known at that time and published a little booklet. In the 1990’s it was reprinted by Eric Cocking from Bamford and he added a forward which brought the history up to date at that time. This has been scanned and is available to view on our facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2362781560604402
We have been trying to collect information about the history of Chapel and the Lovefeast since Chapel’s 150th anniversary year in 2018 and we have received press cuttings saved by Sue Howe’s family (Eyres) describing various gatherings over the years:
As there have been no newspaper articles recording the service of late, I decided to write up last year’s Lovefeast to maintain the history for those interested :
Hannah Mitchell recorded the format of the Lovefeast, but fewer and fewer people still knew the traditional hymns. Mary Bradwell led the singing for many years and Joanna Mackey took up the mantel and also noted down the hymns that people had chosen over the years. As part of the Chapel’s 150th year celebrations, we had an exhibition at the Anglers Rest in Bamford and Joanna worked with a small group of singers to be able to sing the hymns on the opening night. Fortunately they were recorded (on a phone) and so we were able to put them on our facebook page so that those who are interested can listen and learn the ones that they are not sure of.
Another aspect of the Lovefeast is the sharing of cake and spring water. The natural water still flows into the old stone trough, but we now filter it for the house and this is the water that is shared. As for the cake, we suspect that various recipes have been used over time, but we have received one from Madge Marsden who made it for many years (now aged over 100). As I didn’t have a recipe to work from, for the last 15 years or so, I have been using a recipe that my mother used for large groups at church. Various recipes can be found at :
We began to try to collect information about Chapel and the Lovefeast in 2017. In 2018 we had an exhibition at the Anglers Rest which featured the photographs of John Beatty and Althea de Carteret. We tried to tell the story in words and pictures and the exhibition panels can be viewed at : https://www.facebook.com/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2079072735641954
Photos
Finally, there are various albums of photos of the Lovefeast over the years which I will link to :
In October 2017, we found ourselves asking whether our much loved Chapel had perhaps reached the end of its useful life. Its core membership was small and aging and we weren’t sure what its role in the community or the church was any more.
We decided to use 2018 – the year of Chapel’s 150th anniversary- to think and make contact with the community and to celebrate the Chapel’s history.
This anniversary year did give Chapel a real boost and it was wonderful to meet many people whose lives and families have been linked with Chapel over the years. In addition, we were given a generous gift to enable us to restore the defunct earth closet and reinstate an accessible toilet. This had become a problem over the years and it was the catalyst to thinking seriously about the future.
Although we were very keen to have a loo again after very many years (at least the 30 that I have been attending Chapel), there were other things to consider. The other problem for the elderly is the poor state of the path and the fact that the access along the Snake has become dangerous. If we were going to sort out the loo we would like to also sort out the path! However, to spend money making Chapel fit for the future, it was important to have a vision of what that future might be.
When it was built in 1868, by the local people, using land and stone gifted by the Duke of Devonshire, it was a meeting place that they owned and they chose to be affiliated to the Wesleyan Church. This makes it unique in that it is a Chapel that belongs to the community and not to the church.
After much deliberation, we have decided to go ahead and carry out the necessary building work to enable the Chapel to continue to be used into the future.
We would like to explore the possibility of the building being better used and more available to both the community and the local Methodist circuit who have supported us so faithfully and would love to hear from any who have ideas to share.
Richard Towell’s last
service with us and Jennifer Fox’s last Lovefeast as our circuit steward, both
having been a huge support and encouragement to us over the last 10 years.
Having recently typed up accounts of previous lovefeasts
from old newspaper articles, it occurred
to me that it would be a good idea to have a more recent account and so (with
help) I have tried to record the Lovefeast on 7 July. Hopefully by reading this account, people
will know what to expect and will perhaps come with thoughts to share or a
favourite hymn to request.
This year dawned fair, and we were able to assemble in the
garden and meet old friends and newcomers before the lovefeast started. Helen Moat and her husband Tom were the first
to arrive. She has just written an
article about Alport and the Lovefeast for Derbyshire Life. (details below) Anna arrived on her bike from Bamford and her
husband Daniel was walking over from Fairholmes. Norman and Annie, Peter and Denise and
friends from Glossop were in time for a cup of tea before the service. My sister Jo brought local historian and photographer
Richard Bradley from Sheffield and my other sister Billie brought my dad. Kate
from Edale chapel had stopped by to bring Susan and Meghan who were in a
caravan at Castleton to be on hand but not able to drive up as Brian was
unwell. Richard and Amanda arrived and settled
Amanda’s chair in the barn. It was so
brave of her to come as she was in considerable pain. Other visitors included Richard and Jill from
Heyridge farm, whose family have long supported the Lovefeast, Joanna and Peter
Mackey (Joanna has helped us to preserve the music and with a group of singers
sang at the exhibition last year giving us a recording of the hymns) Althea and
John de Carteret from Bamford (Althea photographed the Lovefeast two years ago
and her photos were exhibited at the exhibition) and Liz Marshall who
facilitated the exhibition. 26 people
signed the visitor’s book and there were probably between 40-50 people present,
including 4 children which was a joy.
Traditionally the lovefeast begins at 1.30 when the sun is
lighting the barn through the end gable window.
Richard Towell had found a reference to conducting a
lovefeast in an old book he had, and he read it out to us, reminding us tongue
in cheek of the responsibilities ascribed to the preacher. He has kindly typed it up for me :
Instructions on
running a Lovefeast from “Collection of Hymns for Camp Meetings, Revivals etc
for the use of the Primitive Methodists” by Hugh Bourne.
(his book is inscribed to someone, with the date 1847).
‘Lovefeasts usually open with singing and prayer.* A piece
is then sung by way of asking a blessing; after which the bread and water are
served out, the Lovefeast collection is made, and a piece sung by way of
returning thanks. The preacher makes a few remarks; the people rise in
succession, and speak their own experience; and distant comers sometimes say a
little about the work of God in other places. But none are allowed to run into
useless exhortations, drag out to tedious lengths, or to speak unprofitably of
others; and above all not to reflect upon or find fault either with individuals
or societies. And it is the preacher’s painful duty to stop all who attempt to
trespass. He has to preserve the Lovefeast in its clear and pure course, in
order that the people may grow into faith, and that the Holy Ghost may descend.Singing and prayer are occasionally introduced; and the
Lovefeast finally closes with prayer.
*It has been a custom to have preaching before a Lovefeast;
but this is very generally laid aside on account of its very great
inconvenience.’
Generally there is some form of welcome and introduction,
finding out where people are from, perhaps why they have come. This year there were quite a number who had
not been before.
In years past Eric Cocking used to do an introduction which explained some of the history of the lovefeast. This is printed in the reprint of Hannah Mitchell’s booklet. (We had photocopied a few copies for those who wished to know more.) Andrew has done the introduction in recent years and this year he broadened it to thank Richard and Jennifer for their support over the last 10 years, and we gave each of them a framed photograph of the barn (taken by Althea de Carteret). We had also made postcards of the same picture for those who wanted to take either to remind themselves or invite a friend. Andrew remembered Stanley Bradwell who died this year, and who had often chosen the hymn ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’ the last line of which speaks of a still small voice of calm. Andrew wished that both Jennifer and Richard would return to the Lovefeast physically but also that the pictures might embody a place of calm to return to in the mind.
Either Mary Bradwell or Joanna Mackey have pitched the note for us over the years and helped us to sing tunefully. Joanna has let me have a list of the hymns chosen this year in addition to the traditional three : Jesu Lover of my Soul, Come and Let us Sweetly Join, and God be with you till we meet again. (There are recordings of these from the exhibition opening night on our facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/videos/?ref=page_internal)
314 Old Methodist Hymn Book Come let us sing of a wonderful
love
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
What a friend we have in Jesus
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Psalm 91
Great is thy faithfulness
Let us with a gladsome mind
Trust and obey
Be thou my vision
And can it be
Love Divine
Joanna chose What a friend we have in Jesus in memory of
Maurice Cottrill who often requested it ; I think it was his mother’s
favourite. Sallie Cottrill had just
stopped attending when we moved here 30 years ago. The Lovefeast had also just stopped being an
all day event with a morning service and I believe, that it was also about the
time that chapel stopped having monthly services. Maurice asked Andrew to make a small table
for the front of Chapel in memory of his mother when she died.
Joanna had noted in 2006 that Maurice had broken Fanny
Waterhouse’s record. She had attended
for 73 consecutive years. We reflected
that Mary Bradwell, who can sadly no longer attend, being in her 90’s had also
come since she was a child.
Richard, Maurice’s son and his wife Jill from Heyridge farm
were with us this year and Richard explained to us all but particularly to the
children present how things had been when he was a child. The children used to sit up on a platform
accessed by an old Jacob’s ladder and once up there he remembers the problem of
needing to answer the call of nature. For
the children at the time it was also a social occasion, as outside of school
they didn’t see each other. The barn was pretty much unchanged apart from the
supports for the planks which he recalls struggling to position on the uneven
floor as year on year they were increasingly suffering from woodworm. (The planks are now on wooden blocks and
straw bails.)
My sister Jo read psalm 91 recognising that God had been
with us as a family in this difficult year.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the
shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and
my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
….
“Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will
rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
She also chose the Hymn, Great is thy Faithfulness which has been a comfort to
our family.
It was sung at the service of thanksgiving for the life of
our mother and I remembered how she had visited Alport with me and been very
encouraging and supportive as we were making the important decision to move
here. It was very special to have my dad
and two sisters with us this Lovefeast, 30 years on from our first Lovefeast
which happened very soon after moving in.
Maurice Cottrill arrived with all that was needful and set up the barn,
and Eric Cocking arrived on the day to help with the smooth running.
Daniel Wimberley told of his walk over from Fairholmes which
inspired his choice of ‘Let us with a gladsome mind (words by John Milton).
I am not entirely sure who chose the remaining hymns
although one of them was chosen by one of the children present.
We pause at a certain point and sing the first verses of
Come and Let us Sweetly Join before passing round the cake and water. We then finish the hymn and other
contributions are welcomed.
We forgot to take a collection this year, but put out the
chapel collecting plates at the end.
Apparently in the past, a knife drawer was used.
Last year Richard had been on sabbatical. During this time he visited Uganda and he told
us of some of his experiences especially being asked to pray for healing and
seeing those prayers answered.
As it was a good-bye to Richard and Amanda, I had baked an
extra cake to share in the garden after the gathering, and many people stayed
to talk afterwards.
Many thanks to all those who came and we look forward to welcoming all who would like to share with us next year.
The photograph by Althea de Carteret given to Richard Towell and Jennifer Fox
Richard Bradley took some photos this year which he shared with us and which are on our facebook page and various other people also shared photos
(Although this is the title, the article ranges far and wide. I have highlighted a few passages that refer specifically to the Lovefeast)
THE WOODLANDS
LOVEFEAST
Hayfield Man Who Was Converted at Alport
AND BECAME WESLEYAN PRESIDENT
By James Garside.
It has been said that
the Woodlands Lovefeast owes its inception to the period succeeding the passing
of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, when so many dissenting congregations were
formed, but no reliable data can be found in support of this assertion. It is true that a number of dissenting
congregations were formed at this time by the Rev. William Bagshaw, the Apostle
of the Peak, but in the diary of his preachings no mention is made of these
parts, although the place names of Hucklowe, Malcroft, Middleton, Castleton,
Edale, Chapel, Charlesworth, Chelmorton, Bradwell, Hayfield, Stockport,
Macclesfield, and Chinley occur again and again in his diary.
( In the book William Bagshaw The Apostle of
the Peak by John Brentnall, 1970, on p44, it says ‘ The meeting house on
Charlesworth Hill, which remained in Presbyterian hands after the Great
Ejection under the enlightened patronage of the Howard family, also became
under Bagshawe a well-known centre of Dissent, as did the famous barn attached
to Alport Castles Farm, beneath the wild slopes of Bleaklow.)
The Rev. William
Bagshaw was for ten and a half years vicar of Glossop, and when the Act of
Uniformity was passed in 1662 Mr. Bagshaw was one of the 39 ministers of
Derbyshire who resigned their homes and their livings. Higginbottom, the minister of Hayfield, was
at heart one of them, but in the face of difficulties, conformed. Bagshaw did not give up his work for the
Gospel, but continued to preach throughout the Peak among the poorest and most
neglected in the wildest parts of the district.
No fewer than eight distinct congregations were formed by him, some of
which still remain, and 150 years after his death the Vicar of Bakewell (the
late Rev. H. Cornish) told Lord George Cavendish that whatever religion existed
in the High Peak was due to Mr. Bagshaw.
He undoubtedly prepared the way for the 18th century
Methodists.
But while the
Woodlands Lovefeast may not be the direct result of the labours of the Rev. W.
Bagshaw, yet in a way it is linked with the dissenting congregations formed in
the seventeenth century for among the worshippers who assembled at Kinder
during the ministry of the Apostle of the Peak, were the Bradburys of Coldwell
Clough, who afterwards joined the congregation worshipping at the Chinley
Independent Chapel (where Grace Bennett, whom Wesley would have liked to have
married, lies buried). From that time to
this the Bredburys have remained members of this church.
But the most singular man perchance of a singular race
‘saysJohn Tilley (author of ‘the Old Halls of Derbyshire’)’ was Thomas the
Nonconformist.’
SERMON ON QUEEN.
Thomas Bradbury in Queen Anne’s reign occupied the pulpit
and the chapel known then as the New-street Conventicle. It lay secretly in a high-walled court behind
Fetter-lane, London. Its foundations and
the east wall of the chapel belong to an earlier building of James I time,
which succeeded a wooden building that was erected as a meeting-house for a
small protestant sect, which in the days of Mary’s persecutions met in a saw
pit there. Bishop Burnett, who was a
friend of Bradbury, promised to send him the first news of the death of Queen
Anne, and it was agreed that the messenger would inform the preacher of her
death, by dropping a handkerchief over the gallery. The expected event happened and Bradbury
preached, so it said, from the text ‘Go, see now this cursed woman and bury
her, for she is a king’s daughter.
The chapel in Fetterlane came into the possession of the
Moravians. In 1738 John Wesley attached
himself to the Moravian community in Fetter-lane. He met with them daily in their conferences
for reading the scriptures and prayers.
At length the hour of what he always regarded as the great crisis of
life was at hand. At a meeting to which
he went unwillingly some one read Luther’s preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the
Romans. All at once, as he supposed, the
scales fell from his eyes, and he rose a ‘converted’ man. His ‘conversion,’ the primal fact in the
history of Methodism took place, according to his own reckoning, about a
quarter before nine on the evening of the 24th of May 1738.
John Wesley, John Hutchins and George Whitefield were
present at a wonderful Watchnight and Lovefeast at Fetter-lane, London, on
January 1, 1739.
‘About three in the morning as we were continuing instant (intent?)
in prayer,’ says Mr. Wesley, speaking of that meeting when there were about
sixty others present, ‘the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that
many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from
that awe and amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one
voice, ‘We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.’
‘It was a Pentecostal season indeed,’ says Whitefield, and
adds, respecting these ‘society meetings,’ that ‘sometimes whole nights were
spent in prayer.’
Thus began the year which was to prove such a crisis in
their lives, and in the history of Methodism.
The Lovefeasts which
had been instituted by the Moravians in invitation (imitation?) of the Agapae
or lovefeasts held in the early Christian Church, in some places as late as the
fourth century, was adopted by the new Methodist societies. In the early Church these feasts had
sometimes been spoiled by selfishness and gluttony. In their revived form this was impossible. A little plain cake and water, the elements
of a simple meal, were distributed to all present and taken by them as members
of one family united by love to Christ.
This was followed by testimonies concerning His love to them and theirs
to Him interspersed with songs of praise. And one reading early Methodist literature
will find frequent mention of these lovefeasts which were held quarterly in
most circuits. Thus in the Memoir of
William Bramwell, who was stationed in the Sheffield Circuit in 1795-1797, and
again in 1810-1811, there are references to the lovefeast at Mansfield, at
Garden-street, Chapel, Sheffield, and at Rotherham. Sheffield circuit comprised in those days
what are now the Doncaster, Worksop, Redford, Mansfield, Chesterfield,
Bakewell, Bradwell, Barnsley and Rotherham Circuits. So it was impossible for the travelling
preacher to conduct all the lovefeasts in the circuit, and in Bramwell’s memoir
there is a letter requesting a Miss Barret to go to a lovefeast at Mansfield in
his place.
At the Woodlands,
Henry Longden, of Sheffield, for over twenty years was the leader at the
lovefeast.
The conference of 1798 appointed Mr. Bramwell to
Nottingham. A great number of members
had left the old Methodist Connexion, and joined the Methodist New
Connexion. The trustees of the large
Methodist Chapel had given it up for the use of the Methodist New
Connexion. Consequently, the old members
who remained true to the old body were without a place of worship. In their extremity they appealed to Mr. Henry
Longden, who was the means of them securing a plot of ground from Mr. John
Fellows to build a chapel thereon. For
nine months they had tried to secure a plot of ground, but every application
had been turned down. Mr. Longden died
in 1811, and his funeral service was conducted by Mr. Bramwell.
LOVEFEAST MUGS.
I may mention that at
many of these lovefeasts fair sized pieces of fancy seed loaf were handed round
and large mugs with a handle at each side were carried round out of which
everyone was expected to take a drink of water.
There are still in use at Walk Mill, schoolroom, Hayfield, a few of these
old mugs.
Hutchinson, who
visited the Woodlands in 1809, says of Alport, where the lovefeast is held :
‘It consists of two farm houses by the side of a rivulet, and at the foot of
some high craggy rocks called Alport Castle.
The Methodist preachers regularly attend this place every Sunday, where
they collect a small congregation from the scattered houses in the Woodlands ;
in fact the whole of the inhabitants in this neighbourhood are of that
persuasion. I was willing to give my
tribute of applause to the zeal and labour with which these sectarians have
endeavoured to propagate the Gospel and recommend the worship of God. Religion never appears more unaffected or
more lovely than when she addresses the great Creator of the universe in these
solitary places –‘tis here she is clothed in her simple and unassuming
garb. No artificial grandeur strikes the
eye or captivates the senses – ‘tis the pure breath of adoration that offers
its incense to the Divinity. The summits
of the lofty hills seem to point to the Creator ; the great volume of nature
lies open on every side, all around is the awful grandeur and majesty of
God. Who is He that will not read, that
will not adore? The stubborn atheist
himself must stand appalled, and tremble for his tottering theory.’
The third of these lovefeasts is thus described in ‘The
Rommany Stone’ by J. H. Yoxall, M.P., published in 1902 : –
‘Encaustie with daisy and buttercup was the meadow grass
that flooded the nave and chancel of the natural fane ; topaz-hued the stream
that wound for font and aspersorium through the encircled valley. Grey hills around were wall and buttress, and
hillocks rose for pillar and pier ; the trees were screens and tapestry, the
tors the clerestory, and the mass of Kinder Scout was the high cathedral tower
; for vaulted roof and groining the magnificence of the firmament hung over
all… A rocky mould (mound) was the pulpit, and upon it Lawrence Yewdall
stood, his whitening hair blown round his ugly visage, and yet was as the face
of saint, or angel, suffused and sublimated by the radiance of the soul.
A THOUSAND LISTENERS.
‘A thousand listeners hung upon his words. From Edale, Castleton, Tideswell, Buxton,
they had come, and some from Glossop, some from Stockport, Manchester,
Sheffield, many a moory mile. Pursy
shopkeepers, puny websters, and miners, sturdy
farm dwellers, Quakerish women and quiet children, they stood or sat within the
crescent of covered wagons and spring carts which had brought them, the lines
of drab and grey, with here and there the sheen of silk and broadcloth, and the
flash of a golden watch chain. These
Methodists of Peakland and its towny borders gathered to the third of the
annual lovefeasts that have lasted to this day.
How they wept, prayed, rejoiced, lamented with their eyes closed, and
lifted their voices every now and then in the stanza of a hymn. A cornet player led the singing, his loud,
clear blasts pitched the note, started the time, marked the rhythm, lifted the
chorus to the true tone when the trebles flattened and swelled triumphant in
the lingering refrains. The congregation
shouted, to inflame the preacher and redouble their own fervours with sobs and
beseeching they called upon the unconverted, the children, and the careless who
had come to stare or scoff, to flee from the wrath to come.’
This district has produced many notable local preachers,
among whom may be noted Joseph Dakin, a native of Castleton. After serving the circuit as a local
preacher, he entered upon the work of a travelling preacher, and for six years
he served the Connexion in this capacity.
His last appointment was to the Barnard Castle Circuit in 1816. He died at Thirsk, January 8th,
1818, aged 31 years. The Dakin family
have attended the Lovefeast for many generations.
Another notable local preacher was John Longden, of Lady
Clough House (Snake Inn). When the
bridge called the Old Oak Bridge which spanned the Derwent broke down and
killed several poor fellows, they were taken to the farm house which was then
on the Wesleyan plan as a preaching station, and as the bodies lay in the
dwelling – a moving sermon in themselves – Mr. Longden preached a special
discourse from Christ’s words in reference to the tower of Siloam. ‘Think ye that these men were sinners above
all men,’ and its powerful effect was marked by converting power in the crowded
company gathered beneath the roof under such solemn circumstances.
In 1815 Anthony Lingard was executed at Derby for the murder
of a toll bar woman at Wardlow Miers.
After his execution his body was brought back to Wardlow Miers and was
hung in chains on the 1st of April 1815. The gibbet was erected on a hill side in a
field opposite the house where the dreadful deed was done. Hundreds of people from the surrounding
villages flocked to witness the ghostly scene of the gibbet. John Longden, who was planned to preach on
the following Sunday at Tideswell, finding that almost all his congregation had
gone to view the gibbet followed and from beneath the gibbetpost delivered
stirring and impressive words of exhortation to the multitude.
Among the Methodists
attending the old preaching station was the family of Greaves. Mr. Greaves, of Row Lee, Woodlands, was a
class leader and a man of piety.
A HAYFIELD PRESIDENT.
At one Hope Fair he
engaged as his servant John Barber of Kinder Head, Hayfield. John Barber was induced to attend the
services at Alport, and coming under religious conviction he became a local
preacher. Afterwards he entered the
itinerancy, and became one of the most distinguished ministers that ever graced
the Connexion, and was twice President of the Conference. He was one of the chief leaders among the
Dissenters who secured the total repeal of the Conventicle and other oppressive
Acts in 1812, which had been in force since the restoration of Charles the
Second in 1660.
For his work in this connection John Barber received the
thanks of the London West Circuit. The
following is a copy of the resolution : –
‘London West Circuit Methodist Quarterly Meeting, 7th
October, 1814, Rev. Mr. Entwistle in the chair.
Resolved unanimously that the cordial and affectionate thanks of this
meeting be presented to the Rev. John Barber, the late Superintendent of this
Circuit for his diligent and judicious attention to its concerns , for his
firm, manly and prudent conduct throughout the very important transactions with
His Majesty’s Government respecting religious toleration during his residence
in London; for his unwearied zeal, affection and wisdom, uniformly manifested
in the cause of God; for his liberality and public spirit, fand for his
Christian kindness to the poor, and the individual members of the Society. –
Extracted from the minutes. – Jos. Butterworth.
So even if it cannot
be said that the love feast was established as a direct result of the passing
of the Conventicle Acts and the Five Mile Act at least it can be said that it
had something to do with one of the prime movers in the abolition of these Acts
in 1812.
Mr. Barber died in Bristol, April 28th,
1816. Another local preacher who served
this district was James Ridal of Edale, who afterwards entered the itinerancys.
In the list of appointments for 1818 appear the following :
224 Bradwell, Thomas Gill, Joseph Brougham, James Ridal, supernumerary.
There is a reference to James Ridal in Everett’s ‘Wesleyan
Methodism i Sheffield.’ He says in reference to David Taylor, the first
Methodist to mission the Peak : ‘In addition to his being benighted on the
moors near Bradford, when alone, he met with a similar fate, in company with
another person, on the mountains of Edale, near Castleton, in Derbyshire.
A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.
It was in the depth
of winter, and while the snow was falling very thick around them after
experiencing considerable fatigue and anxiety, they reached a house, knocked at
the door, obtained admission, and began to shake the snow off their
clothes. The man of the house expecting
a neighbour, was both surprised and alarmed on seeing two strangers enter with
some degree of freedom; and immediately took down his sword. which hung over
the fire-place, among other armour, which had been employed by him as a train-band soldier, in the battle of
Preston Pans in 1745. With this weapon
he proposed to defend himself and his family from men of whom he was
apprehensive as being influenced by evil intentions. His fears were soon silenced by David
stepping up to him and saluting him with – ‘Peace be to this house.’ He found no need of his martial spirit; and
being a man that feared God, he laid aside the soldier and took up the
Christian; shook David heartily by the hand, and bid him welcome. His name was Joseph Hadfield. This is noticed as connected with the
introduction of Methodism into Edale; for the Methodist preachers succeeded
David, who often acted as a pioneer, and there has been preaching in the place
either less or more ever since. While it
may please some to know it can give offence to no one to observe that in this
very house Mr. James Ridal, an old travelling preacher was afterwards born and brought
up.’
Another Edale local preacher who joined the itinerancy was
Daniel Eyre.
The Hadfields of
Edale and the Eyres have for many generations been attenders of the Annual
Woodlands Lovefeast.
Ramblers owe a debt
of gratitude to the Hayfield worshippers at the Lovefeast for their testimonies
collected by the late William Kirk, of Hayfield, helped to win the right of way
to the Woodlands by way of William Clough and Ashop Clough in 1897.
An account of this
Lovefeast has been given in which it is stated that the late Rev. W. Fiddian
Moulton. M.A., of Hathersage, was the preacher and the probable date is given
as 1898, this cannot be correct for the Rev. W.F. Moulton was not stationed in
the North Derbyshire Mission until 1910.
I append the list of ministers of the Bradwell and North
Derbyshire Mission Circuit from 1851: –
1851-1852 John Bonser, Henry Cattle.
1853 John
Bonser, Samuel T. Greathead.
1854 Thomas
Brown, Samuel T. Greathead.
1855-1856 Thomas Brown.
1857 William
Exton.
1858-1859 Thomas
Burrows.
1860-1861 Richard
Smailes.
1862 George H.
Chambers.
1863-1865 John Archer.
1866-1867 John E.
Doubleday.
1868-1869 Henry M.
Ratcliffe.
1870-1871 Jonathan
Barrowclough.
1872-1874 Edward
Russell.
1875-1876 Joseph Hirst.
1877-1879 Cornelius
Wood.
1880-1882 George S.
Meek
1883-1885 William R.
Dalby.
1886-1888 James Clegg.
1889-1891 William Henry
Hill.
1892-1894 W. Dawson
Watson.
1895-1898 William
Wandless.
1899-1901 Samuel
Goodyer.
1902-1904 James Foster.
NORTH DERBYSHIRE
MISSION
(Bradwell and Bakewell Circuits Combined).
1905 George
Makin, Marmaduke Riggall, Arthur Adlington.
1906-1907 Marmaduke
Riggall, William Res, Arthur Adlington.
1908 Marmaduke
Riggall, William Rex, Walter Standley.
1909 D. Ledger
Pawson, W. Fiddian Moulton, M.A., J. Chesworth Jackson.
1912 W.
Fiddian Moulton, M.A., Frederick Senior, Sydney Brown.
Woodlands Methodist Church 