Methodist Worship in Arksey

Arksey Methodist Sunday School, 1954/55.
Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Arksey Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

Having recently written about non-conformist churches in Bentley (see 'A Place of Worship'), it seems fitting to extend the subject to cover Arksey. However, whereas Bentley had a number of different denominations represented in the village, Arksey only provided for the Anglican church and Wesleyan Methodists. In this article we take a look at the Arksey Wesleyans and their chapels.

Contents

• Early Wesleyan Meetings
• The First Chapel
• Mrs Beverley
• A New Chapel
• Sixty years of Arksey Chapel
• The Final Years

Early Wesleyan Meetings

An Anglican church had been established in Arksey for centuries before the need arose to provide for alternative religious expression. With All Saints Church (originally 'All Hallows') the centre of the parish for generations of Arksey and Bentley folk, there was little need for change. However, with the introduction of Methodism in the 1700's by John Wesley, an alternative way of worshipping rose from the traditional Church of England's teachings. 

Wesleyan Methodism first arrived in Bentley in 1790, and by the early 1800's its popularity had reached Arksey. As was the tradition, early services were held in the open air, however, by 1843 prayer services were being held on alternate Sunday evenings at 'Revors', this was presumably someone's house, although no-one of that name can be traced in Arksey.

The services at Arksey were conducted by the Doncaster Priory Place Circuit until 1956, when the Doncaster District Coalfields Mission took over.

The First Chapel

Although a definite date cannot be pinned down, it seems that by 1891 a Mission Room was set up in the old smithy at Arksey. 

The smithy, just off a small lane on High Street, opposite the north west corner of All Saints Church, was in the ownership of the Trout family from around the 1850's, this smithy was probably built to replace one attached to the Horseshoe Inn (latterly the Plough Inn), which the Trout's had owned since the 1770's. 

The smithy went out of use sometime in 1880's and this is probably when it was converted for use as a Mission Room.

The old smithy which doubled up as a chapel, now fallen into disrepair. Photo from 2009.

The tiny chapel in the smithy was host to various events and speakers. One such lecture is recorded in the diary of Ernest Goodridge (See 'When Bentley Stars Shine'), a young man from Bentley, a keen participant in the Wesleyan Church who was sadly killed in action at The Somme in 1916. 

Ernest Goodridge

In November 1909 Ernest recalls how he hurried home from work and went to Arksey to hear Mr Albert G. Hood give a description of the ship, the Mauritania. Hailing from Newcastle, Albert Hood founded The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine Builder, shipping journal and became a close friend to Ernest. While in the area Hood gave two lectures, one at Arksey and another at Bentley, presumably at Bentley's Wesleyan Chapel.

Mrs Beverley

One notable and very active participant of the Wesleyan Society was Mrs Mary Hannah Beverley. She and her husband John Henry, an Afghan war veteran, kept the Marsh Lane Gatehouse during the first decade of the twentieth century. When John died in 1909 Mary moved into Arksey Almshouses, and it was in her tiny home that she held many week-night Class Meetings and evening services. 

Mary Hannah Beverley in 1913

Ernest Goodridge and his brother held the Beverley's in very high esteem, their devotion to Mrs Beverley akin to that of a much loved Grandmother.

In 1916 Mrs Beverley chose the poems to be recited at the anniversary service in the smithy chapel, although she was not well enough to attend in person. Mrs Beverley died at the age of 72 in April 1917, just six months after her dear friend Ernest was killed at The Somme. Arksey Chapel recorded these words about her;

'She greatly loved the children and it was a joy to do what lay in her power for the Sunday School. she lived to prove the grandeur of the truth, that those who live in faith - at eventide there shall be light.'

A New Chapel

Services in the smithy chapel were held up to 1921, when the congregation moved to a rented room. This was a temporary move however, as a new, purpose built chapel was planned for the village. The new chapel was built beside the old cemetery on Station Road.

The old building served as a youth club and changing rooms for football team before falling out of use. 

The cost of the new wooden building was £230, this was partially met through fund raising, gifts and collections. 

Some items from the old chapel were saved and reused in the new building, such as the screen at the back of the communion rail, the platform, the organ, a screen at the back of the building and the seating forms.

New items gifted to the chapel included:

• A hymn board and numbers from Mr A Cawood,
• A pulpit bible from Mr and Mrs Ogley,
• A pulpit hymn book, service book, 12 small books and an organ tune book from Miss C Marsh,
• A communion table from Messrs Eric and Bert Whittington,
• Communion and pulpit chairs from Mrs Jenkinson,
• A silver plate for the communion table from Mr A Hope,
• A runner for the communion table from Mrs Whittington,
• A cover for the reading desk from Mr Strawson,
• A cover for the inside communion rail from Mr May,
• The font from Mr and Mrs P Deaville,
• A lino and door mat from Mr and Mrs C Deaville.
• A clock from the Sunday School,
• A collection plate from Miss Stokoe.

The opening ceremony of the new chapel took place on the 20th of August 1931, taking part in proceedings were Rev. Alfred Easton of Leeds, Rev. W Hunt Soper and Rev. T H Gregson of Bentley. Rev. A B Cannon of Sheffield, who preached the opening service, and Mr T G Whittington (circuit steward) who presented the door key to Miss T C Smith of Adwick, she was also given a souvenir key. 

Mr Whittington presenting Miss Smith with the key to the chapel. Also pictured are 
Mr T C Smith, Re. T H Gregson and Mr C H Theobald (circuit steward). 
From a newspaper cutting of 1931. 

In her speech Miss Smith said that on this happy occasion, they were there to rejoice with the people of Arksey on the completion of the new place of worship, after spending many years in the old building. She hoped many, in and around Arksey would find it a real spiritual home and she had much pleasure in declaring it open. Miss Smith was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Miss Brenda Deaville.

The day continued with a short service followed by tea in the Church Hall by kind permission of the vicar of all Saints, Rev. J Pierce Price. Rounding off events, a meeting was held in the evening presided over by Mr M L Gleghorn.

Sixty Years of Arksey Chapel

Over the course of the following sixty years Arksey Wesleyan Chapel thrived. As well as serving the spiritual needs of the congregation, it also fulfilled a role in the community. 

A Sunday School provided a meeting place for local children and events were held annually such as a 'treat'. In 1932 it is recorded that 73 children and 45 adults were entertained to a tea outside the chapel, followed by games in a nearby field. The Sunday School anniversary event took place in the summer months and consisted of the children presenting a programme of songs and recitations as they travelled around Bentley. In 1969 the anniversary consisted of a parade around Arksey singing hymns, followed by an evening service. The Sunday School Superintendent was Mr Chambers.

In 1967 a 'Wives and Mothers Group' was set up which met once a fortnight. Elected officials were Mrs Thompson (secretary), Mrs Topham (treasurer), Mrs Walters (vice-president), Mrs Drury and Mrs Colbeck.  

The Final Years

By 1990 the chapel was showing signs of age and efforts were made to try to raise funds for repairs. Two events hosted by Mrs Margaret Tarren raised over £250, and by the close of the year the final bank balance stood at just over £1,090. It was not sufficient to save the building and with a dwindling congregation, the decision to close the chapel and join with Bentley Central Methodist Church was taken the following year.

A final 'Service of Thanksgiving' was held on Sunday September the 29th 1991. Conducted by Rev. Mavis Bruce, the preacher was Rev. W Ronald Waine (Superintendent Minister, Doncaster Circuit). The organist was Mrs Pat Wigmore and the soloist was Mrs Olive Wall (of Thorne). 

Service sheet from the final Thanksgiving Service 

kindly donated by Mrs Margaret Tarren.

The chapel was sold in 1993 for £35,000, the contents of which had already been donated to other Methodist churches. The building was demolished and four houses were built on the plot. 

So ended over 150 years of Methodism in Arksey. Today, the only denomination served in the village is that of the Anglican church at All Saints. However, there are plenty of Arksey and ex-Arksey folk who have fond memories of the little wooden chapel, especially those married or Christened there. I hope this article helps to keeps those memories alive for many years to come.

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At the time of writing I do not have a photo of the Station Road chapel, however I do hope to add one to this article as soon as possible.

Much of the chapel information is taken from the book '200 Years of Methodism in Bentley', available to buy at Bentley Library.

Information and photographs on Ernest Goodridge and Mary Hannah Beverley is taken with permission from the book 'The Same Stars Shine', by Ernest N. Goodridge and John A. Goodridge.

For more on the subject of Methodism and Bentley non-conformist churches see the article - 'A Place of Worship', on sister site, Bentley Village, A History.

Alison Vainlo 2019