This has been a busy year and although a lot has been added to our facebook page, sadly I have not made time to write posts for the blog. However, I would like to add two accounts of anniversaries. The centenary in 1968 was recorded in the Derbyshire Times and I will copy the article below :
The Derbyshire Times, Friday, May 24 1968
Hope Woodlands Methodist Chapel Centenary
Woodlands Methodist Chapel began on Saturday with a sale of work opened by Her Grace, The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. The Rev. L.N. Holden presided and also taking part in the opening ceremony were the Rev. V. Sharples and the Society Steward of the Chapel, Mr. M. Cottrill.
A bouquet was presented to Her Grace by Susan Howe, and buttonholes were presented to the Ministers and Mrs. Cottrill by Suzanne Clarke.
Those in charge of the stalls were Mrs. C. Marsden, Mrs C. Marsden, Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. Moores, Miss Greenwood, Mrs J. A. Whittlestone, Mrs D. Priestley, Mrs. R. Merryman, Mrs. A. Arnold and Mrs. H. Townsend. A centenary cake, given by Mrs. E. Wilcockson was sold in portions.
Lavender was sold by Virginia Merryman and flowers by Georgina Merryman. Linda Robinson had charge of a handkerchief stall and a competition to guess a doll’s name, organized by Beryl Ollerenshaw, was won by Judith Bramwell. An egg competition was organized by David Ollerenshaw and Peter and Richard Cottrill and an archery contest by Mr. W. Birkinshaw.
Teas were served by Mesdadmes S. Ollerenshaw, B. Lester, K. Medley, M. Howe, D Spittlehouse M and A. Cottrill, T. E. Elliott and Miss H. Elliott. Assistance was given by Mr. W.E. A. Hindmarsh and Mr. J.W. S. Stafford and Mr. L. Dalton had charge of the electrical arrangements.
In the evening a centenary rally was held at which the Rev. V. Sharples presided. Organist was Mr. H. Douglas of Grindleford and soloist was Mrs Knight of Sheffield. Following the rally, refreshments were available in the marquee prepared by Mr and Mrs Carnelley.
Celebrations were continued on Sunday with a special centenary service conducted by the Ref. A. D. Ogle of Loughborough. The former Minister in charge of the church Mr. Douglas was organist and the soloist was Mrs. Lester of Glossop. A special feature was the singing of a centenary hymn composed for the occasion by Mr D. H. Marsden, Secretary for the centenary celebrations. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers given and arranged by Mrs. Willis Ollerenshaw. Refreshments were served after the service.
It is estimated that the celebrations were attended by about 400 people many of whom were renewing an association begun 30-40 or more years ago. ‘
It was our hope that we would once again be able to encourage people to renew their association with the Chapel and although there were not 400 people present, we did have a full house and a happy time together.
We were welcomed to a sunny field to the sound of Castleton Silver Band and the sight of the railings adorned with Solomon’s seal, bluebells and Lily of the Valley. The Chapel itself was sparkling after its Spring Clean, with the pictures on the wall newly refurbished and flowers filling every available space. Richard Towell led our service and was much appreciated. Lynne and Sandra undertook the refreshments and served a magnificent tea. We were delighted to welcome back old friends and to be able to spend time together. John Beatty photographed the event for us for which we are very grateful.
As I was thinking how to thank all those who had contributed to the day, I thought back over the 30 years that we have lived here, and of our neighbours up and down the Snake, many of whom had helped today. I wrote this thanks but didn’t give it in as many words, so I will print it today :
Thanks
This celebration is a real coming together of people who have supported Chapel over the years and the Snake is very well represented :
When we moved to the area in 1989, Geoff Townsend was gamekeeping and living at the Snake Cottage. He has recognised many of his family in the Centenary visitors book. His wife Jill has reframed all our pictures.
Lynne and Sandra lived at Blagden View farm and Linda Robinson is recorded in the newspaper cutting as having had charge of a handkerchief stall at the centenary. Many thanks to them for doing todays tea!
Sheila and George came to Upperhouse at a similar time to us, and Sheila has been doing the flowers, baking the harvest sheaf and generally supplying Chapel with good things ever since. She and Angela have done the flower arrangements for today.
Heyridge is the home of the Cottrills and Richard and Jill, along with ourselves have been keeping things ticking over, looking after the Chapel, cleaning and baking. They did stirling work for the spring clean and have organised the parking, gazebos and portaloo for today. Richard and his brother Peter along with David Ollerenshaw, organised an egg competition in 1968!
We live at Alport Farm and were quickly mobilised by Maurice Cottrill – myself to help his wife Pat with the cleaning and catering, and Andrew to represent Chapel with himself at meetings. We help where needed.
Angela and Roger White had just arrived at Two Thornfields and Angela has been a stalwart of flowers and home produce.
Mary Birkinshaw brought the Lily of the Valley, bluebells and lilac from their garden, as she used to do for many years when they lived round Derwent. Two of her daughters were Christened at the Chapel. Mary herself had another baby due and couldn’t be at the centenary but two of her daughters were take by Rosalyn who has also travelled to be with us today.
Sue Howe’s family used to live on the Snake and she is pictured giving the bouquet to the Duchess in the pictures on the walls. Sue has helped massively in contributing to get the blog and facebook pages started.
Bryan Hazlehurst who is leading the band today, composed the music for the centenary hymn 50 years ago, and was also our faithful organist for a number of years. He first played the organ at Chapel when he was only fourteen.
And finally part of what I did say by way of thanks and explanation of our 150th Anniversary project :
Looking back, it is evident that Chapel events were a real focal point of life in the area at one time and that people must have worked very hard and all pulled together to make them happen.
When talking to Bryan Hazlehurst,(who is leading the band today) he told me that at 14 he had come up with the minister to play for Woodlands, and had gone back to Mrs Cottrills at Gillot Hey where they served 4 sittings at tea! He then played for the evening service and people went back to Gillot Hey again for supper!
Richard Cottrill – Sallie Cottrill’s grandson remembers the children not being allowed to help make sandwiches because they licked their fingers and not being able to eat the sandwiches in case there weren’t enough – in which case they could eat the crusts!
The year we moved to Alport 1989, there were a lot of new faces on the Snake – The Wainwrights at Upper House, the White’s at Two Thornfields, and then the Atkins at Rowlea. Maurice Cottrill kept everything going – inviting us to help with the cleaning, decorating, cooking etc. and he and Pat continued the tradition of hospitality at Hey Ridge farm. He made sure that the folk who had used to live in the valley knew about the services and were invited.
After Pat and Maurice died, their son Richard and wife Jill have continued to support the Chapel and keep it going and along with the Hazlehursts and ourselves had a big drive in 2011 to repair the Chapel and keep it open.
However, what we hadn’t realised was that we no longer had the network of families and Chapels that spread the word and encouraged each other.
This anniversary year is an attempt at reaching back out to the community of those who either have been part of Woodlands in the past, or would like to be in the future.
We only have four services a year but they are an open house for those who would like to come out into the countryside and worship in that way.
There are pieces of paper in the pews that explain that we have set up a blog and a facebook page to try and tell the story of faith and worship in this place – from the early Christians who gathered in secrecy in order to stay true to their faith to those who join us today.
If you would like to stay in touch with Chapel, do take away the sheet which tells you about our services and an exhibition next month at the Anglers Rest and gives details of the blog and facebook page and consider filling in the slip with your contact details so that we can add you to our email list, or postal invitation list.
We would also like to talk to folk who would be willing to share their memories of the Chapel and Lovefeast, and there is a space to indicate whether you would be happy to do so.
Woodlands Methodist Church 