Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/180

 mSTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. 153 Hutchinson, in Newgate Street The early sendees were conducted by friends in the neighbour- hood and from a distance, and the first minister stationed in the town was the Rev. Mr. Lewis. In the year 1829, through the exertions of the late Rev. Mr. Redman, who was at that time minister, the present chapel situated in Great Gates was erected, accommodation, being provided for about 200 hearers. After its erection and opening, several innovations in the doctrines of the church were introduced, which ultimately led to the resignation of the minister. The building was afterwards vested in the hands of trustees, the necessary deeds stipulating that no doctrines other than those professed by the Independents should, at any time, be expounded within its walls. The register of births and baptisms, containing eight entries, extends from 1824 to 1834. The congregation is at present under the pastoral charge of the Rev. W. Logan, and we under- stand that arrangements are being made for the erection of a new chapel, a piece of land situated in Victoria Street having been purchased on which to erect a suitable building. WESLETAN METHODIST FREE CHURCH. In the years 1834 and 1835, the secession which took place from the Wesleyan Methodist body found some sympathy in Bishop Auckland and many of the surrounding towns, and the movement being taken up by a few of the members of the first-mentioned denomination, it was decided by them that steps should be taken to form themselves into a separate and independent body. With this object in view, a large room situated in the King's Arms Yard was obtained, and in that place the first ministrations of the newly-formed body were held. After worshipping in the above room for several years, increasing numbers rendered it necessary that a more convenient place should be provided, and in the year 1844 a site, situated in South Road, was obtained for a chapel. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was performed with the usual observances, and appropriate addresses were delivered on the occasion by Messrs. J. Kipling and J. Harley. The architect and builder was Mr Joseph Teasdale, and the joiner work was executed by Mr. Isaac Smith, of Yarm. The opening services were preached on the 21st of July of the same year, by the Rev. J. B. Young, of Sunderland, and in the afternoon and evening of the succeeding Monday by the Rev. John Guttridge, of Leeds. The building was at that time known as the Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel ; but, in 1857, an amalgamation having taken place between them and the Wesleyan Reformers — ^the two seceding bodies — ^it became from that time known as the Wesleyan Methodist Free ChurcL The dimensions of the original chapel were 42 feet by 36 feet, and it was calculated to hold from 300 to 400 persons. In the year 1869, the requirements of an increasing congregation led to the projection and building of the present large and commodious chapel, the foundation stone of which was laid on the 20th of July of the same year, by Mr. Alderman Kipling, J. P., of Darlington. The proceed- ings were commenced by the singing of a hymn ; and an appropriate prayer having been ofiered up by the Rev. N. Chambers, the Rev. W. Lucas read a portion of Scripture. Mr. John Ferguson then stated that a bottle which he held in his hand contained a copy of the ^' Auckland Times and Herald" of the Friday previous, the " Auckland Chronicle" of the same date, a copy of the circuit plan bearing the names of ministers and local preachers in the circuit, a photograph of the old chapel as it stood before being pulled down, and a document on which were the names of the architect and trustees of the chapel. A handsome mallet and silver trowel, bearing the following inscription, were then presented to Mr. Kipling by the Rev. Marmaduke Miller : — '* Presented to Edward Kipling, Esquire, on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the United Methodist Free Church, Bishop Auckland, 20th July, 1869." Having accepted the present, Mr. Digitized by Google