Roberts' Chester Guide [1858]

by Hugh Roberts

DISSENTING PLACES OF WORSHIP.

The Unitarian Chapel

claims priority of notice, as being the first dissenting place of worship in Chester. The following succinct sketch of the history of this building is taken from Pigott’s ‘History of Chester:’—

“The Unitarian chapel is a large brick building, with a burial ground in front, situated between Crook-lane and Trinity-lane, having an entrance from each of those streets, and is generally called Crook’s-lane Chapel. It was built in 1700 by a large, flourishing, respectable society, which had been formed in 1687 by the celebrated Matthew Henry, son of the learned, pious, and laborious Philip Henry, one of the ejected ministers. In the register book belonging to the congregation of this place there is a short account of the rise, progress, and transactions of the society, written by Mr. Henry in 1710, being the twenty-third year of his ministry. From this account, it appears that in 1682 there were three dissenting congregations in Chester, which had been founded by Mr. William Cook, Mr. Ralph Hall, and Mr. John Harvey, ministers of the Established Church, who had been ejected from their respective livings on account of their non-compliance with the Act of Uniformity. After the death of Mr. Cook and Mr. Hall, their congregations were entirely broken up and dispersed by the persecutions of the times; but such of them as continued dissenters occasionally held meetings at each other’s houses, or joined Mr. Harvey’s congregation, which assembled at his house in a private manner, in order to avoid the penalties which were then in force against the Nonconformists. James the Second, under the pretence of universal toleration, but with a view to the establishment of popery, granted them the liberty of public worship, of which they had been deprived in the latter part of the reign of Charles the Second. It was at this time that Mr. Henry, who began his ministry in Chester, collected the remains of the congregation of Mr. Cook and Mr. Hall, and opened a meeting in White Friars’-lane. Mr. Harvey, who had been ejected from Wallasey, in Cheshire, continued to preside over a dissenting congregation in Bridge-street for thirteen years after toleration was granted; he died November, 1699; he was succeeded by his son, who resigned in 1706, on account of ill-health. His congregation, which was large and opulent, was united to that of Mr. Henry, and in 1707 a large gallery was built on the south side of Crook’s-lane meeting-house for their better accommodation. Thus the three original nonconformist societies were united in one, under the pastoral care of Mr. Henry, who was then the only dissenting minister in Chester.”

Mr. Henry removed from Chester to Hackney in 1713, and died of apoplexy, at Nantwich, where he had been on a visit to his friends, in June, 1714, in the 52nd year of his age, and was buried in Trinity Church in this city. His exposition of the Bible has gone through very many editions, and is still in great repute. Mr. John Gardiner succeeded Mr. Henry in 1713, and held his appointment for more than half a century. During the latter years of his ministry, his religious opinions appear to have undergone a decided change, departing very much from the doctrines maintained by Mr. Henry, which gradually prepared the way for the full development of Unitarianism in the place by his successor, Mr. Chidlaw, who was an avowed believer and advocate of the tenets peculiar to that system of Socinian doctrine. The present minister is the Rev. James Macdonald.

Independent Chapel.

This place of worship is situated on the west side of Queen-street. It is a handsome brick building, having a chaste stone front, with covered portico, and pillars of the Grecian Doric order. It has galleries on three sides, and will accommodate about 1,200 persons. It contains also a good organ. The founders of this chapel were seceders from the Presbyterian congregation in Crook-street, in consequence of a departure from what they held as the principles of a sound faith, as we have already noticed. For some years they worshipped in a large room in Commonhall-street, afterwards occupied by Mr. Wilcoxon’s congregation. They formed themselves into a church in 1772, when the Rev. Wm. Armitage was chosen the pastor. The chapel in Queen-street was erected in 1777; it was very much enlarged in 1838, when great improvements were made in the arrangements of the interior. At the same time a spacious wing was added to the building, which is used as a lecture-room and as a sabbath school for girls: underneath the lecture-room is a commodious sabbath school for boys. In addition to the Sunday schools in Queen-street, there are also three branch schools in the suburbs of the city, which are supported by the congregation. The present minister is the Rev. C. Chapman.

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
(OLD CONNEXION.)

This chapel (says Hemingway) was erected in 1811; it is a large, well-built, handsome structure, with a semicircular front, and two entrances. It is galleried on three sides, and behind the pulpit is a large orchestra for the accommodation of singers, where there is also a well-toned organ. The introduction of Methodism into this city occurred about the year 1750, and the first preacher who visited the neighbourhood was a Mr. John Bennett. He commenced his labours at Huntington Hall, in the neighbourhood, the residence of Mr. George Cotton; from thence the preaching was removed to the house of Mr. Richard Jones, in Love-lane, within the city, where a society was first formed; the house soon became too small for them, the society therefore procured and fitted up a capacious barn in Martin’s Ash, from which time they were regularly supplied with travelling preachers, and where the Rev. John Wesley frequently visited them, in his annual excursions. After remaining in Martin’s Ash for about twelve years, they had sufficient credit to obtain £520 upon bond, with which they erected, in 1765, the Octagon Chapel in Foregate-street, which they continued to occupy until their removal to St. John-street. The Wesleyans have also built commodious schoolrooms, which are very numerously attended. The resident ministers are the Rev. T. Brooks and the Rev. J. E. Cooke.

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
(NEW CONNEXION.)

The New Connexion Methodists seceded from the old society on some points respecting the management of the funds, throwing open their financial matters to the knowledge and supervision of the people, and the general government of their societies. They have a large place of worship in Pepper-street, which is fronted with stone, and supported by four Corinthian pillars. The ministers are itinerant, and receive their appointment from the annual conference.

The Octagon Chapel

is situated in Foregate-street, and, as already stated, was built in 1765, by the Wesleyan Methodists. Upon their removal to St. John-street, it was purchased, and has since that time been occupied by its present possessors. The congregation was collected by the labours of the late Rev. P. Oliver, a clergyman of the Established Church, who embraced the doctrines of the celebrated Mr. Whitefield. This gentleman (says Hemingway, from whom we quote) converted some outbuildings near his house in Boughton into a chapel, where he officiated until his death without any other reward than the gratification of diffusing among his poor neighbours, according to the best of his judgment, the spirit and principles of evangelical truth. At his death he bequeathed the chapel to his congregation for a term of years; but upon their removal to the Octagon, they sold their interest in it, and it has since been occasionally used as a place of worship by the Independents of Queen-street. The congregation at the Octagon is in connection with the societies which were under the patronage of the late Countess of Huntingdon. The present minister is the Rev. W. Evans.

The Baptist Chapel

is situated in Hamilton-place; it is a small brick building, erected in 1806.

The Welsh Calvinistic Chapel

stands on the north side of Commonhall-street; it was opened for public service on the 12th November, 1820. The public service is conducted in the Welsh language.

Commonhall Street

was erected in 1841, by the congregation of the late Mr. Jonathan Wilcoxon, who officiated in an adjoining room, without pecuniary emolument, for thirty-seven years. After his death the congregation united themselves with the Independents.

The Quakers’ Meeting House

is a plain building, standing on the east side of Frodsham-street. It is capable of containing several hundred persons, and has a burial ground in front; it is one of the oldest dissenting places of worship now existing in Chester. Clarkson, in his ‘Memoirs of William Penn,’ says, “Among the places he (William Penn) visited in Cheshire, was Chester itself. The king (James the Second), who was then travelling, arriving there at the same time, went to the Meeting House of the Quakers to hear him preach.” In George Fox’s journal, there is an entry which proves that the Quakers have existed as a distinct society in Chester for about 200 years. Under date 1657, he writes: “From Wrexham we came to west Chester, and it being the fair time, we staid there awhile and visited Friends.” The resident members of this society are now very few, and the service is seldom performed.

The Primitive Methodists

have a small chapel in Steam-Mill-street, erected about the year 1825, and the members of the society appear to be on the increase.

The Roman Catholic Chapel

is situated on the west side of Queen-street. It is a small but good brick building, with a Doric portico, supported by four light stone pillars in front, and was built in 1799. The chapel is now found to be too small for the congregation, and the erection of a larger edifice is contemplated, when the requisite funds can be provided. The Rev. J. Carberry is the present priest in residence.

The Presbyterian Chapel

is situated in Pepper-street. It was erected, in 1827, by the Baptists, but the congregation becoming very small, it was closed some years ago. In 1846 it was reopened for Presbyterian worship, and has continued to be occupied by a small but respectable society. The Rev. W. Hunter is the minister.