It was under auspices such as these that the early preachers of Methodism commenced their labours. It had an able lay agency in its local preachers, like William Smith, Samuel Onions, Thomas Owen, Thomas Mollineaux, Richard Williams, and others, with class leaders, like the Smiths, Robertses, Milners, and Joneses, men and women who lived lives of faith and purity, and laid a firm substratum on which to erect the general edifice.
For many years the “Old Barn” and “Miss Tooth’s Room” sufficed for the Wesleyans in Madeley. They then erected the building now used as the Infant School by the Church party. This proving too small, they built in 1841, the present place of worship in Court Street, which will hold 800 persons or more. It is calculated that Madeley Wood chapel will hold 900 persons, Coalbrookdale chapel about 400, and Coalport about 200, or 2,200 altogether. The usual number of hearers at these places is over 1,500, and the number of members 300. Collections are made at each chapel for pretty much the same purposes, such as colleges, and schools for training young ministers, ministers sons, and teachers for day schools. For home missions and circuit purposes there is raised altogether £447. In addition to this there is raised for Foreign Missions a further sum of £100; thus making a total of £547.
Primitive Methodists.
The Primitive Methodists established themselves in Madeley about 50 years ago. They have a chapel at Madeley with an attendance upon an average of 220.
| Members | 53 |
| Sunday School scholars | 136 |
| Monies raised for various purposes during the year | £131 19 0 |
| Ironbridge Chapel attendance | 150 |
| Members | 37 |
| Sunday School scholars | 93 |
| Monies raised for various purposes during the year | £50 12 4 |
| Aqueduct Chapel attendance | 60 |
| Members | 6 |
| Sunday School scholars | 43 |
| Monies raised for various purposes during the year | £31 10 7 |
| Total | £211 11 0 |
The New Connexion.
This body established themselves in Madeley about half a century ago, and they have two chapels, one at Madeley and another at Madeley Wood, each capable of holding 200 hearers. At the Bethesda chapel, Madeley, about 60 attend, and there are 18 members. There is a Sunday School, with 60 scholars and 8 teachers. For Home objects, including the Sunday School, £26 is raised yearly and for Foreign Missions a further sum of £2. Total £28 0 0.
At Zion chapel, Madeley Wood, there is an average attendance of 70, and about 20 members. There is a Sunday School, with about 60 scholars. We are without definite statistics as to the amount of monies raised, which probably amount altogether to £20, or upwards. The Connexion has 8 chapels, nine societies, 25 local preachers, and 136 members.
Baptists.
The Baptists erected a chapel here in 1858 at a cost of £650, which holds 250 persons. There are 30 members, and the congregation averages 100. There is a Sunday School, with 60 children. The sum raised for various objects amounts to £60.