Baildon Methodist Church
| Address | Newton Way |
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| Postcode | BD17 5NH |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Mr Hubert Isitt |
| Style | Romanesque |
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| Open Street Map | |
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| Other Links | Google Maps |
1890 Building
A church built in 1890 with entrances off Newton Way and Binswell Fold, Westgate, though Newton Way was built many years after the church. It was built on the site of a previous chapel built in 1806.
The following information has been taken from the Baildon Methodists Website.[1]
Architect Mr Hubert Isitt
The previous Methodist chapel was often found to be too small so in order to accommodate 450 people, mainly in the body of the Church, an additional plot of land was bought from the Baildon Industrial Co-operative Society. This land is the area on which the front part of the present Church and Sanctuary now stands.
The report of Mr Isitt was accepted and on May 3 1890, a stone laying ceremony was held. The proceedings were led by the minister of the Church, the Rev. Charles Crawshaw and the reading was given by the Circuit Superintendent, the Rev. William H Clogg. The Chairman of the Halifax and Bradford District, the Rev. Featherstone Kellett, was also present and it is interesting to note that in those insular days, the prayers were led by the Moravian minister, the Rev. J W Davey.
The corner stone was laid by Mr John Reddihough, who provided £735, half the cost of the building. This corner stone included a bottle in a central cavity, containing a copy of the Methodist Recorder, a copy of Joyful New Experience, a Circuit plan, the names of the Trustees and the Building Committee, a ‘short historical account of Baildon Wesleyan Methodism since 1740’ a ‘circular of that day’s proceedings’ and two copper coins. He was presented by Mr Charles Burrell, secretary of the Trustees, with a commemorative silver trowel and an oak mallet made from the wood of the old Church.
Mr John Denby, who had given £50, then laid the first memorial stone and was presented with his trowel and mallet by Mr Crawshaw. Mr James Boocock laid a stone on the right of the main entrance, after which the children who had been collecting for the Building Fund, placed their contributions on Mr Boocock’s stone. These amounted to £19.11s.1d. He was presented with a hymnbook and an oak mallet by Mr Pickles Constantine. The stones in the lintels of the door were laid by two ladies. Miss Thresh, who had given £10, received her presentation from the Superintendent and Miss Craig (£25) was presented with her trowel and mallet by Mr Crawshaw; Mr George H Hodgson (£10) by the District Chairman and Mr John H Beaver (£10) by Mr Joseph Curtis. After the collection was taken, an address was given by the Chairman of the District. Tea was served in the Sunday School, followed by a public meeting, at which Mr Thomas Craig presided. Proceeds for the day amounted to £170.
The opening service should have taken place on October 28. Various notable preachers were approached, including the President and Secretary of Conference. None were able to make this date, but the Secretary of Conference in his reply said that if the opening was moved to December 2 he would come. This was done and the Church was opened on that day at 3pm by Mrs Reddihough. The sermon at the Dedication Service was preached by the Rev. D J Waller, Secretary of Conference. The service was followed by tea in the Moravian Sunday School.
The total cost of the Church was £1470.4s. This was made up as follows : Mr Thomas Myers (mason) £595; Mr Deacon (joiner) £499; Mr R D Taylor (plumber) £134; Mr Hartley (slater) £80; Wilks & Sons (plasterers) £66.10s; Mr E W Walker (painted) £24; extra moulding in ceiling £15; architect £70; land and associated costs £36.14s. Before building began the Church had received subscriptions or firm promises amounting to £904.2s. In addition to Mr Reddinhough’s £735, the subscribers included Mrs Burwin and Mr John H Beaver, £50 each; Mr Nutt, Mr P Constantine, Mr William Nutt and Mr Charles Burrell, £10 each; Miss Thresh and Mr Joseph Booth, £5 each; Mr Thomas Denbigh £3; Mr John Bentley £2.2s; Mr Davenport £2 and 12 donations of £1. Miss Craig’s £25 and the £50 from Mr Denby were not included in this list for some unexplained reason.
- Photos of the Foundation/Memorial stones mentioned above. Taken 2018
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James Boocock Foundation Stone
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John Beaver Foundation Stone
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John Denby Foundation Stone
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John Reddihough Foundation Stone
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Miss C Foundation Stone (Miss Craig?)
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Mrs Geo Hodgson Foundation Stone
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Worn Foundation Stone (Miss Thresh?)
- Photos
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Presentation photo of the new 1890 building for Charles Clegg
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James Boocock, superintendent of the Sunday School, laid one of the Memorial Stones.
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Church interior from 1980s
1806 Building
For many years since the foundation of the Methodist Church in Baildon around 1740 meetings had been held in private houses or available buildings large enough for the congregation. Around 1800 it was decided that a Wesleyan Chapel should be built and land on Binswell Fold was bought from Ann Hollings for the purpose. The building cost was £800 which was a significant amount to be born by the congregation consisting mainly of local tradesmen and small shopkeepers. The Chapel was opened in 1806.
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Wesleyan Chapel built 1806
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1806 Wesleyan Chapel interior
Sunday School
On the right of 1806 and 1890 chapel was a Sunday Shool building.
