Date stone on the garage

Image: © Jonathan Kington Taken: 20 Mar 2011

This date plaque is above entrance doors to the Image Although the date has been left black the letters above have been painted over, if we look carefully the words Methodist New Connexion can be made out- indicating that this was once a chapel. The Methodist New Connexion was formed in 1797 by a breakaway movement from the Wesleyan Methodists led by Alexander Kilham, a minister of a Methodist circuit in Sheffield. Kilham was an outspoken man who disagreed with the Wesleyan idea of putting the position of minister above that of the common member and that there should be free elections of class-leaders and stewards, and equal representation with ministers at Conference. They also contended that the ministry should possess no official authority or pastoral prerogative, but should merely carry into effect the decisions of majorities in the different meetings. The Connexion lasted until 1907 when it merged with the Bible Christian Church and the United Methodist Free Churches to form the United Methodist Church. At the time of the merger the Methodist New Connexion consisted of 250 ministers and 45,000 members.

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