Lovefeast 2022

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 110 Jesus 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

no 300 Breath on me Breath of God 280

Hymns : 780 Master Speak! Thy servant heareth, 535

300 Breath on me Breath of God 280

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 :  748 Come 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 …

Update

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

Lovefeast 2021

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!

If people would like to look at the words and music for the 3 set hymns, then these can be found on our face book page :
Music and words : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2330607517155140

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)

Woodlands Chapel : the story continues

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 150^th 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.

1935 – 1936

Belper News 12 July 1935

Alport ‘Love Feast’

Ancient Custom Observed in Peak District

Alport ‘Love Feast’ tradition was upheld on Sunday, when a congregation of close upon 300 attended the ancient form of worship in a barn, about five miles from Ashopton.  Hundreds of years ago, farmers, who were the Covenanters persecuted by Charles II gathered together to worship in their own way.  An old barn on the lonely moors is used as a place of worship, and the celebration is always held on the first Sunday in July.

It is claimed that this unusual form of worship was attended 150 years ago by John Wesley.  On Sunday the congregation included a good number of old Methodists, aged from 70 to 80 years.  An address was given by the Rev. J. Baines Atkinson, of Hathersage.

Following the ‘Feast’ which consists of cake and water, of which all partake, the ceremony is thrown open to all who care to come forward and relate their experiences.

Mr Elizah (Elijah in other sources) Wragg, who is 78 years of age and lives at Ecclesfied, always attends, and on Sunday he led the singing and rendered several solos.  The arrangements were again carried out by Mr. T. Eyre of Alport. 

The Derbyshire Times, Friday November 6, 1936

Alport Love Feast

Interesting Link severed by death of two stalwarts

A large number of North Derbshire residents, particularly members of the Methodist Mission, will regret to hear of the death of Mr. Elijah Wragg of Gent Hall Grenoside, near Sheffield at the age of 78. 

Mr. Wragg was one of the outstanding figures of the past 60 years at the famous Alport love feast, and was fond of telling how he was carried across the moors by his father to his first love feast.  He possessed a strong voice and often led the singing of the old-time Methodist evangelical hymns.  He had sung at functions held at the Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester, Doncaster, York, and many other places.  He was a member of the Birley Carr Methodist Church choir for over 60 years.  Late in life he became a tenant of the Earl of Wharncliffe.

The funeral service at Birley Carr Methodist Church was attended by a number of North Derbyshire Methodists who had gathered with Mr. Wragg in the Alport Barn on Love Feast Sunday.  Five minutes before Mr. Wragg died, his oldest friend, with whom he had aattended the love feast for 50 years also passed away.  He was Mr. M. Weldon of Howbrook, who was aged 73.

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 01 August 1896

Another rather older and much longer article is very interesting :

 

Alport Love Feast.  Derbyshire Woodlands.  (By Nomad.)

Between Manchester and Sheffield runs a good high road – very high in some parts for it rises to an elevation of something over 1600 feet above sea level – which traversed some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery to be met with in any part of the country.

In the very northernmost part of the Peak district is the bleak but beautiful tract known as Woodlands, bounded on the north and west by the county boundary, on the east by the Derwent, and on the south by its tributary stream, the Ashop, and crossed in a S.E. and N.W. direction by the high road referred to above.  At a point on this road, 23 miles from Manchester and 15 miles from ‘t’other place,’ which the Rev, Newman Hall once described as reminding him of the ‘City of Destruction,’ to say nothing of Sodom and Gomorrah, is what is still locally known as Jumble Bridge, though marked on the Ordnance Map as Alport Bridge.

This bridge, now a substantial and well-built structure, spans a small stream known as Alport River, quiet and peaceful-looking enough just now, but in wet weather not to be trifled with, for it has within the memory of the present generation, swept away more than one of the present bridge’s predecessors – indeed this seems to be a family characteristic of Peak district streams, as residents in the neighbourhood tell me of sundry such mishaps.

A few yards on the Manchester side of Alport Bridge a lane leaves the high road on the Northern side and follows the Alport River for a distance of nearly two miles, till it reaches Alport Castle’s Farms, two lonely farm houses situated in the midst of one of the wildest and most beautiful valleys in all this beautiful part of the country.  On the left rises steeply and to a height of several hundred feet the great hill, Hey Ridge, with Hey Ridge Tor, (its summit) overshadowing the glen, and completely shutting it off from all the country to the west.

On the opposite side of the stream is Alport Edge, also rising to a great height, and separating Alport Dale, as this district is called, from the upper section of the Derwent Valley.  Looking down on these solitary dwellings, and forming part of the Alport Edge, are some rocks rising abruptly from the valley, and having very much the appearance of an ancient fortress – hence they have obtained the name of Alport Castles.

Such, then, is a brief description of Alport in the Woodlands.  To do anything like justice to its natural beauties would be a task far beyond the powers of the present writer – it should be seen by all lovers of rural loveliness – but enough has been said to show how out-of-the-way a spot it is.

It was here – Alport Castles’ Farm – that the True Believers, or Covenanters, or Nonconformists, or whatever they may have been called, in the ‘time of the persecution’ (Reign of Charles II), used to assemble to hold their (then) illegal meetings for prayer and praise, safe in their mountainous retreat from the harassing attentions of their enemies, the soldiers, who must indeed have had keen noses to scent out the ‘psalm-singing rascals’ in this remote corner.  The services were originally conducted in one room at the farm, and soon became so well attended that two rooms had to be utilised : then as people flooded in over the neighbouring hills, and adjournment was made to a larger barn, and in this barn the service, or Love Feast, has continued to be held ever since, and there is no record of the worshippers having ever been disturbed by their enemies, though some years since an infidel appeared on the scene, and endeavoured to bring people round to his views.  It need hardly be said that he met with remarkably little success, for he was in a hopeless minority.

The first Sunday in July is the date of this now firmly established institution and this day brings pilgrims to Alport Love Feast from all directions – I met people there from Moseley, Tideswell, and Swallow Nest, as well as many pedestrians from the valleys of the Astrop (original spelling – I presume Ashop), the Derwent, and the Noe – all bent on taking part in this by far the largest and most important Love Feast for many miles round.

The service began at 10.30 a.m. and lasted till about 4 p.m. in the historic barn.  The first part was an ordinary Wesleyan morning service conducted by the Rev. W. Wandless, of Bradwell, who also acted as president throughout the day.  The first service over, the Love Feast proper, i.e. the refreshments, came on in the form of large slices of cake handed round in clothes baskets and jugs of cold water, with which some regaled themselves while seated on the forms placed for their convenience in the barn ; some made themselves comfortable in the thick bracken with which the floor was carpeted, while others strolled about outside exchanging notes with friends they had not met with since the previous Feast.  The collection of course was not overlooked, a knife tray being requisitioned as no orthodox collection-plate or offertory bag was available in this remote corner of the world ; but it answered the purpose quite well, for there was hardly a person present who did not give something.  The refreshments were very soon disposed of, and people settled to the more interesting part of the programme, viz, the experiences.  One after another, members of the congregation rose and related their experiences as Christians – how they had been converted, how glad they were they were converted, how anxious they were everyone else should be, etc., etc., etc.  Between each speaker a hymn was sung, and in this way some two hours passed very pleasantly, and no doubt with benefit to many present.  To reproduce the speakers here would take up far too much space.  Suffice it to say the speakers were in great variety, some harangued the audience in a fiery, excited manner, after the style of the man who once talked of ‘dragging iniquity down the High Street with a cart-rope’ and seemed to be heard all over the Woodlands, while others spoke in subdued tones that were hardly audible at the further end of the barn.

About 3.30 p.m. everyone who had any experiences to relate appeared to have related them, and the president (Rev. W. Wandless) rose and told us that we must not suppose because he was a minister his life had been all smooth sailing – on the contrary he had had as many troubles and temptations as anyone.  Ministers are not kept in glass houses – indeed it would be no good if they were, for he said, they get so pelted that the glass would very soon be broken.

Mr Wandless referred very pathetically to his parents, long since gone from this life, or as his aged mother remarked on her death-bed ‘got a little start’ of him – they were both journeying to the same place and would meet again there, the only thing being that she had got a little start on the road.  A short prayer and a hymn or two followed, and the congregation were dismissed to their scattered homes, and here I would remark that a more orderly or decorous congregation I never saw in any church or chapel.  There must have been some 200 or 300 present for the large barn was full to overflowing and some even could not get in : but the talking, laughing, etc., etc., one generally sees outside a chuch were singularly absent – even the children behaved as though the service had made an impression on them.

After a few minutes for a cup of tea at the farm (in the room where the meetings were first held) I joined the throng wending their way down the picturesque dale, and a pretty scene it was, as the different coloured costumes of the ladies blending with the charms of nature gave a lively appearance to this usually lonely mountain glen.

Once more at Alport Bridge my nearest route lay across the Astrop (Ashop) by a wooden foot-bridge, and along the almost disused Roman Road, which crosses Blackley Hey and Hope Brinks – a distance of about four or five miles to the quiet little village of Hope; but some good people going to Bradwell very kindly offered me a seat in their trap.  Of course I did not say no, and a beautiful drive I had along the Sheffield Road to Astropton (Ashopton) (four miles) then along by the Derwent through Bamford to Brough Lane Head.

Arrived at Astropton one of our party, who has lived there the last 20 years or more, left us, but not before she had invited us (almost insisted) to go into her house for a cup of tea before going any further ; ‘Just a cup of tea – it is ready,’ etc. Of course eight or nine people could not drink a cup of tea and be off immediately without a word, so the nominal two minutes spread out into more like three quarters of an hour ere we bid our fellow-traveller ‘good-day’.

From Astropton down to Bamford the road lies in the valley between Win Hill on the west and Bamford Edge on the east, over which lies (in the writer’s opinion at least) the pleasantest road to Sheffield via Stanage Toll and Redmires.

At Brough Lane Head our roads again diverged, those for Bradwell turning off to the left through Brough, while I kept straight ahead for one mile to Hope and home, where I arrived safely after a very pleasant and long-to-be-remembered day in the Woodlands, whither I hope to go again some time and explore the tracks over the hills round Alport Castles.

Love Feasts appear to be a very ancient custom, having originated in Apostolic times, but like other good institutions they got corrupted in course of time, and so may (many) abuses crept in that at the Council of Carthage, A.D. 397, they were suppressed.  In modern times the custom of holding Love Feasts has been revived by the Moravians and Methodists in England, and the Glassites (followers of Rev. John Glass) in Scotland.

The particular feast herein referred to has now been held regularly for some 200 years, and seems likely to continue for another 200.  It is on record that Wesley himself once presided at Alport, and his followers may be met with there the first Sunday in July every year.

 

Old Newspaper Articles

As we have been trying to piece together the story of the Chapel and the Lovefeast, Jennifer did some research last year and found various articles.  The quality was poor so they needed retyping.  Today, I felt inspired to begin that task, starting with one from 1926.  Reports may not be completely factually correct but it is interesting to read what was said at the time.

Derby Daily Telegraph 1/9/26

For one hundred and seventy years the Alport Love Feast has been annually observed, and this year it has taken place as usual.  It is attended by Methodists from all parts of the country, who come year after year from a sentimental interest, one who has never missed for half a century travelling all night from beyond the border.  An old description of the Feast reads : –

The floor of the historical barn was strewn with hay, the seats were planks, and the hayloft served as a gallery.  The place was packed and many were unable to get in.  The veteran stewards of the place handed round, as of yore, the bread – thick slices of rich plum loaf – in farmers’ baskets, and the water from the springs of the tiny river Ashop in quart jugs – no glasses – while the collection, indispensable in a Methodist service, was made in a big mahogany knife-box, that looked as if it had been on the kitchen table of the farmhouse for two or three hundred years.

How the event originated will probably never be known, but Mr. Joseph Dyson, a Sheffield worthy, remembers it for over eighty years and he dates the inauguration about the year 1754.  John Wesley died in 1791, or nearly forty years later, and it is not unlikely that the founder of Methodism himself participated in the ceremony during his Derbyshire pilgrimage.

A year on

As we are approaching another Lovefeast, and I have been posting regularly on Facebook, I realised that I hadn’t posted on the blog for a long time – a whole year!  Whilst looking back at documents that we gathered together last year, I reread the text that Jennifer Fox wrote for us for a slide show that was part of our fund raising activities for renovations in 2010-2011.  We are actually considering extending this work to make Chapel more accessible and are looking into the possibility of having a loo and improving the path.

Jennifer has been our circuit steward for 10 years and is retiring this year.  We are very grateful to her for her support and friendship.

I thought people might be interested to read the history that she prepared at that time.

    WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH     Research  by Jennifer Fox

 

Before the Chapel was built (SLIDE Map)

John Brentnall writing about William Bagshawe, the Apostle of the Peak gives Alport Castles as a place associated with Bashawe’s ministry 1662 -1702.

 

SLIDES Love-Feast

Alan Ogle in his articles about Methodism in the Peak says  “there is a tradition that John Wesley on his journeys sometimes preached  at Alport Castles Farm. As the old bridle path from Yorkshire passes through the farm yard and the farm itself was a house of call for travellers this seems a possibility.

What is known is that from the early 1760’s an annual Methodist Love-feast has taken place in the barn on the first Sunday in July.  The Love-feast (originally called an “Agape”) goes back to the early days of Christianity. It was revived by the Moravians and by the early Methodists.

The meeting is informal and consists of prayer, praise and fellowship. Bible passages are read and those attending often contribute other readings. Some speak of what their faith has meant to them and of their Christian experience. Favourite hymns are sung unaccompanied. Pieces of rich fruit cake are passed round in a basket. Two traditional old two-handled Love-feast cups filled with water are also passed round.”

 

SLIDES of FARMS & SNAKE INN

Seth Evans, in the Methodist Recorder of 1902 writes “This wild district has produced many good champions of the Cross, such as John, Joseph, Jonathan and Isaac Longden. John Longden kept the Snake Inn and held prayer meetings in the public house. One Sunday in 1812 being planned to preach at Tideswell, fourteen miles distant, finding that nearly all his congregation had gone to see a poor fellow hang in the gibbet several miles away, he followed, and preached to the multitude beneath the gibbet post. Another time a bridge over the river Derwent in the Woodlands, collapsed and killed several men whose bodies were removed to the nearest farm house, which was on our plan as a preaching station. As they lay in the dwelling, Mr Longden preached a special sermon from Christ’s words in reference to the Tower of Siloam, ‘Think ye that these men were sinners above all men?’ Its powerful effect was marked by converting power in the crowded company gathered beneath the roof under such solemn circumstances”

According to the earliest evidence available in a preacher’s plan of 1824, there were societies in the Bradwell Wesleyan Methodist Circuit at Gellet Hay and Hag Lee. (The Bradwell & Bakewell Wesleyan Circuits amalgamated in 1905 to form the North Derbyshire Mission Circuit. In 1944 this in turn amalgamated with the Bakewell ex-Primitive Circuit to form the Peak Methodist Circuit.)

A Wesleyan Methodist Circuit Plan of 1858-9 shows that Gillott Hey, Hagg Lee and Alport Farm were used as preaching places. “Most of the Woodlands farmers were tenants of the Duke of Devonshire. He was so impressed by their religious faith and sincerity that he built them the chapel. It was their decision that the chapel should be affiliated to Methodism.” (Alan Ogle)

SLIDE  “Woodlands Wesleyan Methodist Chapel erected in 1868 by His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. Work done by his tenants and others” (The building accounts book)

SLIDE   The names of the men who worked on the building, carting materials etc

Isaac Longden Jonathan Eyre  Samuel Shaw  John Bridge  George Eyre  Benjamin Dawson  Jonathan Wilcockson  David Allott  John Walker  John Allott  Robert Littlewood  John Longden  John Thorp  Henry Eyre  Aaron Bradbury  Jonathan Cotrel  William Walker  Benjamin Ashton  Frank Hall

The stone was obtained from Ladybower and Moscar, the slate from Glossop and the pulpit and forms from Castleton.  Example: Isaac Longden -ten days with one horse and man at 6s per day paid £3.0.0

SLIDE  “Woodlands  at a meeting held in the chaple May 16^th 1871 it was agred to pay to ceep the chaple in repare”  (spellings as written)

 

Accounts for 1871/2

 

£   s  d

G A Eyre                          10  0

Mr J Longden                   10  0

Mr Jonathan Eyre             10  0

Mr David Allott                10  0

Mr John Bridge                 10  0

Mr John Allott Sen.           10  0

Mr John Allott Jun.            5   0

Mr John Wilcockson         10  0

John Walker                      10  0

Mr V H Eyre                     10  0

PAID                4 15  0

 

John Bridge began to clean the chapel May 16^th 1871 at 1s /week for one year

£    s    d

May 16 John Bridge for cleaning chapel 11 weeks @ 1s per week                  11   0

2 books                               10

June 17                                                                         Painting                          9    0

Jan 13 1872   Jonathan Eyre                                        one load coal                  9    6

Candles                           2    0

John Bridge  Chapel cleaning                                                                        2   12   0

Bars and Ale ??                                                                              2   3

4     6   7

Balance in Hand at Feb 24^th 1871                                                                               7 1/2

PAID                   4     5  11 1/2

COLLECTED      4    15  0

May 14^th 1872 George A Eyre                                          Balance in Hand          9  0 1/2

 

It appears that the Members agreed to pay the cost of running the chapel equally between them.

As shown above in 1871 most were giving 10 shillings a year, these are the amounts they each gave to the Treasurer in subsequent years

SLIDE

• 15s
• 13s
• 16s 4d

1881        9s

1882      15s 4d

1883        9s

1884   £1 4s 0d

1886   £1 1s 4d

 

 

SLIDE  Expenditure in 1883:              £   s   d

G A Eyre Chapel keeping                  2  12  0

New flue                                                   2  2

Mr Shaw bill for Harmonion               2   8  0

Mr Leming Sallary                                 15  0

J P Hunter 71/2 yd Matting @ 1/8         12  6

Himbook binding                                     1   6

15 cwt coal and ale                                  9   0

17 cwt coal and ale                                  9  10

 

 

SLIDE   Given to Charles Bridge for playing the “Armoin” in May 1876 – £1 15s  0d

G A Eyre 10s and I Longden,, V H Eyre, D Allott, J Allott and J Eyre 5s

 

SLIDE     Members of the Chapel in 1870 and where they lived

There were 15 members in 1868 when the Chapel was built & 21 members in 1870

They each paid Class money of 1d per week to Bradwell Circuit)

Jonathan Eyre, Sarah Eyre                                        Alport

Martha Buttress                                                         Alport

Elizabeth Ann Eyre,  Hannah Eyre                           Alport

Isaac Longden,  Elizabeth Longden                          Upper House

Hariatt Allott,  Mary Allott                                        Wood

John Wilcockson,  Ann Wilcockson                          Blagden View

George Eyre, Henry Eyre, Sarah Eyre                       Gillott Hey

John Allott                                                                  Lockerbrook

John Bridge, Hannah Bridge                                      Bell Hagg

Robert Littlewood, Mily Littlewood                          Hagg Lee

John Walker                                                               Elmin Pits

Jane Hall                                                                    Elmin Pits

 

“There were 235 people living in Hope Woodlands on the 1871 Census”

 

SLIDE   The Society Steward’s Account book from March 1912 to March 1920 shows that membership varied from 18 to 22.  Society  Stewards during this time were Jonathan Eyre and Benjamin Longden.

The Ministers were:  1912 – 13 Revd W Fiddian Moulton

1913 – 19 Revd H Stanley Sandford

1919 –       Revd Frederick Inwood

 

 

SLIDE   North Derbyshire Mission Plan & Directory 1908 (Show actual copy?)

Society Stewards – Mr Jonathan Eyre Mr Benjamin Longden

Poor Steward – Mrs B Longden

Sunday School Superintendent – Mr John Allott

Chapel Stewards-  J. Eyre and Isaac Longden

The plan of Preachers’ appointments shows that services at Woodlands were at 2.30pm on Sundays and 7.30 pm on Wednesdays.

John Allott (Woodlands) & Charles Bridge (Ashopton) were listed as Local Preachers

 

SLIDE       Woodlands Members 1923 & where they lived

 

Jonathan  Eyre                               Alport

Isaac        Eyre                                     ‘’

Mary D    Eyre                                     ‘’

Annie       Eyre                               Gillott Hey

Mary  Webster                               Snake Cottage

Elizabeth Eyre                               Hayridge

Emily      Eyre                                      ‘’

Ann         Eyre                                      ‘’

Benjamin Eyre                                     ‘’

Alfred Longden                            The Hagg

Ellen   Longden                                   ‘’

Thomas W Gee                             Rowlee

Mary H      Gee                                   ‘’

Sarah E M Gee                                    ‘’

Annie Isobel Gee                                ‘’

Mabel Ollerenshaw                       Blagden View

 

Total number of Members 16     Steward Alfred Longden

 

By 1928 there were 10 members

SLIDE   The Receipts and expenditure account book 1912-1920

“ This book is the property of the Trustees & Sunday School Teachers of the Woodlands Wesleyan Chapel and contained a list of provisions required for the Teas also financial account of all Xmas teas & entertainment since Xmas 1910” (as written)

SLIDE

List of Provisions and Confectionary required for the Teas

16 lbs ham

2 tins tongue

5 lbs best butter

10 lbs lump sugar

1 ½ lbs tea

½ lb coffee

8 lbs cake or slab 2 sorts

4 sandwiches cake

4 sponge moulds

3 currant moulds

4 doz assorted cakes

3 ½ doz currant & plain tea cakes

2 fruit loaves

2 seed loaves

1 lb queen cakes

 

SLIDE          Receipts Xmas 1910              £   s    d

Tea first day                      2  15  0

taken at the door                   11  0

Tea second day                    12  6

Sale of Provisions                   18  3

4  16   9

 

Subscriptions towards tea                                 s   d

Miss Eyre                         2  6

Miss Buxton                     2  0

Mrs B Eyre                       3  0

Mr Willis Bridge              4  0

Mr Jon Eyre                      5  0

Miss Beckett                     2  6

Mr B Longden                   5  0

Mr I Longden                    5  0

Mr A Longden                  3   6

1     12  6

6      9   3

To Cost of Provisions from A F Hancock Ltd             3      0    8

balance                 3     8    7

 

Cream given by Mrs Peter Eyre & others       Bread given by John W Longden

The Chapel was continually updated.  For example in 1919, the cost of a new stove was £7 15s  4d and in 1925, two new lamps were purchased at a cost of £3.  It is also evident                                                                                                                           from this account book that teas, concerts and fund raising efforts were very much a part of the Church life at Woodlands.  Examples:

 

From November 1914 to April 1915 monthly contributions of  £2 were forwarded to the Revd H Stanley Sandford for Belgian wounded soldiers and refugees.

 

A Bachelors Tea & Concert on February 19^th 1921 raised  £8  9s  5d and a Young Ladies Tea & Lecture took place on January 14^th 1922,  proceeds to the Renovation Funds.

In February 1922, another Bachelors Tea & Concert raised £6 for the Royal Infirmary and £6 for the Royal Hospital.

In March 1923 a concert given by Hathersage Friends on behalf of their Organ Fund raised £3.

SLIDE    Harvest Festivals were always grand affairs as the following accounts show:

Harvest Festival September 20^th 1925                               £  s  d

Receipts                                Collections                           3  2  4 1/2

sale of fruit etc                     4  3  2

supper                                     13  0

Mr & Mrs Gee Subs                 5  0

sale of confectionary                4 11

8 8  5 1/2

 

Expenditure  paid to F W Longden for soloists expenses   1  0  0

to A F Hancocks Ltd for

cakes, tea, sugar etc                                  8  6

2 lbs potted meat                                       2  8

1  11  2

 

balance   6  17  3 1/2

 

A Concert & Tea on January 9^th 1926 raised £5 10s 2d for the Circuit Debt!

In 1926 the Women’s Auxiliary tea & meeting together with boxes & Easter Offerings raised £5 13s 10d.

The renovations included redecoration by J & J Hanson Newark at a cost of £42 and the re-opening services on May 1^st 1927 were conducted by the Revd Frederick  Inwood.

Talk about & show slides of the first renovations (addition of the Sunday School?)& the centenary celebrations

 

Remote and Radical

An exhibition celebrating the people, place, setting and music of the Alport Lovefeast with photographs by Althea de Carteret and John Beatty and from local family archives.

8 June to 4 July at the Anglers Rest Cafe, Bamford

The launch night for this exhibition took place on 7th June with singing led by Joanna Mackey that reflected the unaccompanied traditional Methodist hymns which rise from the humble Lovefeast barn.

The evening was well attended and the singing a joy.  Many thanks to all who contributed.

The singing was interspersed with words to both explain the exhibition and reflect the Lovefeast and I will copy the text below :

Remote and Radical

This evening we hope to reflect the Lovefeast and explain the exhibition.

The idea of the Lovefeast was introduced into Britain early in the seventeenth century by the Moravians and was adopted early in the Methodist Revival (1738 onwards).  In the dictionary it is defined as ‘a religious meal shared as a sign of love and fellowship’.

This Alport Lovefeast has taken place annually since the early 1760’s.

It opens with the hymn Jesu Lover of My Soul by Charles Wesley sung to the tune Hollingside.

29 years ago when we had just moved to Alport and attended our first Lovefeast, the barn was full and the singing was strong.  Since then many of the regular attenders are no longer with us and the unaccompanied hymns are not as well known to those who attend now.

We are very grateful to Joanna Mackey, who has put together a selection of hymns for this evening which will help to preserve them for the future.  (Jesu Lover of My Soul)

At the beginning of the service, the minister often asks people who they are and where they have travelled from.  It is not a regular congregation and this helps the oral tradition of understanding the developing story.  Now I wish that I had kept a written record, as there are so few of the older folk left and the story is so interesting.

I will introduce ourselves and the elements of this exhibition.

A year ago, John Beatty (who can’t be here tonight) was preparing the photographs for a book about Kinder.  He was out of the country when the Lovefeast took place and asked Althea de Carteret to come and take some photos.  That year, I had printed out some quotations from Hannah Mitchell to read at the service.  When we looked at Althea’s photos, they seemed to illustrate exactly the descriptions from 100 years ago and the idea of an exhibition was born.  John kindly contributed other photos of the valley and wider landscape and these have been used in the panels to show how remote the area still is and to accompany accounts of how early worshippers braved long and sometimes dangerous journeys across the moors to meet in secret.  A quotation from the biography of William Bagshawe The Apostle of the Peak states that he ‘ travelled hundreds of miles each week over some of the most formidable terrain in the country and that the famous barn attached to Alport Castles Farm, beneath the wild slopes of Bleaklow, became a well-known centre of Dissent.

The format of the service is unspecified but in the words of Eric Cocking who was a faithful custodian for many years : ‘contributions, simple, spontaneous and sincere, are made.’

Over the years, Joanna has recorded many of the hymns that have been requested and we have chosen Dear Lord and Father of Mankind as one that has been a recent favourite.  (Dear Lord and Father of Mankind)

At a certain point, the cake and water are shared.  A communion which has been reinterpreted without ritual and formality.  The water traditionally comes from the trough in the farm yard and Hannah Mitchell (who was born at Alport in 1871) wrote in her autobiography The Hard Way Up : ‘The yard was swept, the gardens weeded, even the big stone water-trough was emptied and scrubbed, until when refilled it sparkled as if set with diamonds.’  In old newspaper accounts the cake is called a plum loaf and has been prepared by many faithful cooks over the years.

The hymn Come and Let us Sweetly Join by Charles Wesley is in two parts.  The first is sung before the sharing of cake and water and the second after.  John Wesley is reputed to have spoken in the barn, and I did find one printed source that stated that ‘One of the remotest places in which he once sheltered was a barn at Alport Castles Farm’ (Come and Let us Sweetly Join)

The idea of the exhibition was also encouraged by the fact that this is the 150^th anniversary year of Woodlands Chapel.  We are trying to piece together the story of both the Chapel and the Lovefeast and to make contact with those whose families have been part of this story over the years.

We have set up a facebook page and a blog to share the story.  It is possible that if this continues well that it may develop into a bigger project and that we could consider publishing it.  If you are willing to contribute or help in any way or if you know of anyone who would, or if you would like to acknowledge the part played by anyone that you know then do please contact us.

There are slips that can be filled in with your details and you could note any extra details on the back.

The closing hymn is God be with you till we meet again.

Our facebook page reflects what is currently happening : https://www.facebook.com/hopewoodlands/

The blog is  intended to be a more permanent record :

https://woodlandschapel.wordpress.com/

Contributions can be sent either by email to judyhskelton@gmail.com

or by post to Judy Skelton at Alport Farm, Snake Road Bamford S33 0AB

The Lovefeast takes place on the first Sunday in July at 1.30pm and all are welcome.

 

Two Anniversaries

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.