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Neville Malkin's "Grand Tour" of the Potteries

buildings of Burslem
 


next: The George Hotel, Burslem
previous:  St. John's Church, Burslem
contents: index of buildings of Burslem

 

No 50 -  Bethel Methodist Church, Burslem



former Bethel Methodist Church, Burslem

photo: May 1988

Standing on the corner of Waterloo Road and Regent Street East (renamed in the early 1950's to Zion Street).

Built in 1824 as the Bethel Methodist Church. This chapel with its five bays and the bay pediment, was built at a time of religious fervour. The wings provided space for schoolrooms and the preachers house. Originally the facade, like the sides, was of brick; stucco was added much later. The impressive galleried interior sat a thousand worshipers, at a time when Burslem's entire population was not much more than 12,000.

 

 

Bethel Methodist Church, Burslem
Bethel Methodist Church, Burslem
pen drawing by Neville Malkin - Jan 1975

   



Bethel Methodist Church, Burslem
 

photo: Oct 2008

 

"This is one of the many large chapels in the district that have enjoyed better times. When it was built in 1824, at a time of religious fervour, little could its founders, in their enthusiasm, envisage that the grand result of their aspirations would be providing warehouse accommodation 150 years later.

It is known as the Bethel Methodist Church, in Waterloo Road, Burslem. In its original form, it was all brick, but during its later years the complete facade was stuccoed. It was galleried, and would seat about 1,000 people. The two unusual wings that stand slightly in advance provided space for the schoolrooms and the preacher's house.

Few places had so great a diversity of places of worship as Burslem in 1840-seven chapels and two churches. The largest and most patronised chapel was that of the Wesleyans, erected in 1796, with seating for over 2,000; it stood in what was then called Chapel Square. The Wesleyan brethren made their first appearance in Burslem about 1757 and preached from a horse-block in front of the Leopard Inn. By 1760 the sect was really established, with meeting houses at Burslem, Hanley, Lane End and Stoke.

John Wesley's first visit to Burslem occurred on March 8th, 1760, and he describes it as, "A scattered town on top of a hill, inhabited almost entirely by potters." His visits were almost an annual event right up to his death, at the age of 88, in 1790. His last appearance in the area was on March 19th, 1790, at the new chapel in Tunstall, which he described as "The most elegant I have seen since I left Bath." Alas, when I went in search of it, I discovered it had been demolished a couple of years ago."


Neville Malkin 2nd Jan 1975

 

 

 

Bethel Chapel 1824
Bethel Chapel 1824

 

 

at one time operated by Broadhurst Brothers as 'Argyle' pottery works
at one time operated by Broadhurst Brothers as 'Argyle' pottery works
 



next: The George Hotel, Burslem
previous:  St. John's Church, Burslem
contents: index of buildings of Burslem


 

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