The Primitive Methodist Chapel/Mission Hall  

East Street, South Molton

Researched and written for South Molton Archive by Shirley Bray

The Primitive Methodists were a splinter group of mainstream Methodism and were established in 1811.  Like the Bible Christians they had women evangelists and became incorporated into the Methodist Church of Great Britain in 1932.

North Devon Journal December 15th 1859

South Molton Primitive Methodists buy 2 cottages in East Street to build a chapel on the site.

The Primitive Methodists built their Chapel at South Molton with seating for about 150-200 people.  It was situated on the site of present day No. 41a.

South Molton Gazette – April 25th 1876

Primitive Methodist Church – Minister (Rev. G. Hughes) leaving Sermon and Testimonial

South Molton Gazette – December 5th 1876, page 5

Primitive Methodist Chapel – Annual Missionary Meeting

South Molton Gazette – October 8th 1881, page 4

Revival Services – a London Evangelist arrested for causing obstruction in East Street on the way to the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

South Molton Gazette – October 22nd 1881, page 4

Primitive Methodist Chapel – evangelist service by Mr. Henry Wiggan of London.

South Molton Gazette – May 10th 1888

Sunday Closing Meeting at South Molton at new Assembly Rooms – advocating the Sunday closing of public houses.  At the end of the meeting the Rev. R. Ducker (Primitive Methodist) proposed and the Rev. J. Cottle (Bible Christian) seconded a resolution “that petitions to both Houses of Parliament in support of Mr. Stephenson’s Bill be signed by the Chairman on behalf of this meeting, and copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier, the Home Secretary, the President of the LGB and Lord Lymington “ – the motion was carried

1890 Whites’ Directory – “The Bible Christians and Primitive Methodists have also chapels in East Street”.

The chapel was sold sometime between 1890 and 1897 to Miss Lyddon who converted it into an undenominational Mission Hall.   The Church of England used it for a while for Sunday evening services.

1897 Kelly’s Directory – “The Mission Hall, formerly The Primitive Methodist chapel, built in 1863, has 300 sittings”  (Nb the Bible Christian Chapel was built in 1863, were these chapels built in the same year?  S. Bray)

By 1914 the Chapel had been demolished and a double fronted house built on the site (No. 41A East Street).  Mr. William Sanders rented this house to the South Molton Nursing Association during 1914-15 when it was used as a nursing home/cottage hospital.

Sources of Information

Kelly’s Directory 1910

Nonconformity in South Molton - C. E. Hicks – Trans. Devonshire Assoc. C11 1960

John Mills - History of South Molton 1892

Minute Book of the South Molton Nursing Association 1914-1925

Kelly’s Directory 1897

An Illustrated Record of Queen Victoria’s Reign - A Register of Principal Event

North Devon Journal 15 December 1859