The story of the growth of Methodism in Higham Ferrers beginning with the work of Daniel T Presland and continuing to this day is one of fascinating interest. From those small beginnings when he gathered a few people together in cottage meetings the work developed until Methodism became a great force in the civic and religious life of the Borough and in the villages around.
This development was in fact so considerable that by 1828 the Circuit consisted of no less than seventeen different Societies, the list given on the Circuit Plan of that year being as follows:-
Higham Ferrers, Raunds, Kimbolton, Dean, Irthlingborough. Yelden, Addington, Stanwick, Swineshead, Thrapston, Ringstead, Riseley, Rushden, Wymington, Hargrave, Higham Park, and Tilbrook, with Catworth to be added to the list in 1833 and Old Weston in 1839.
At Higham Ferrers in 1838, where the membership was 95, Daniel Pressland shared the pastoral oversight of the growing Society with four others, namely, Brothers Blott, Burgess, Marlow and Howell, whilst congregations were reported a few years later to he 80 in the morning, 141 in the afternoon, and 99 in the evening. Others who exercised spiritual leadership in this period were Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Groome, Barnabas Gadsby (who lived at 36 High Street), with his two sons James and Abraham, and John Wingell and George Parker (both Local Preachers). Between 1866 and 1870 Alfred Shipley exercised a notable ministry as leader of the senior boys' class in the Sunday School, and among those whom he deeply influenced at that time were Thomas D. Cunnington, Thomas Patenall, George Henry Groome, William Alfred Groome, Edward Smith, Alfred Middleton, and Walter Gadsby, all of whom in their turn were later to render notable service to the Society. Other families who were to make their contributions to the life of the Society were those of Allen, Adcock, Fisher, Lamb, Spencer, Bridgeman, Denton, Pack and Knighton. From these and other families came the Local Preachers, Class Leaders, Prayer Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, and Stewards who bore the burdens of responsibility and maintained the spiritual life of the Society.
The result of this development was such that in the second half of the 19th century it became clear that the chapel built in 1791 was no longer adequate to meet the needs of this later period and plans were set in hand for its improvement. The front of the chapel was taken down and re-built, the building itself enlarged, the old straight back pews taken out and replaced by more comfortable ones, and various other improvements made. When the re-opening services were conducted in 1875 by the Revd. Dr. Perks, President of the Conference, it seemed as though the buildings would be adequate for some time to come. But within 25 years the continued growth of Society and congregations made further enlargement necessary, and it was then that plans were made for an entirely new set of buildings on the present site, comprising Church, Sunday Schools, Ladies' Parlour and caretaker's house, at a cost of approximately £6,250, which in those days was a very large sum of money. And such was the strength of the Society and the support expected from the district that the bold decision was made to erect the whole set of buildings in one stage. With Alderman Thomas Patenall as secretary and Mr. G. H. Groome as treasurer, a Building Fund was initiated and steps taken immediately to raise funds. Mr. Tom Dyer was appointed as architect and Mr. Robert Marriott, of Rushden, engaged to carry out the building work.
Wesleyan Methodist Church,
Higham Ferrers
Easter Monday, March 31st, 1902
Foundation Stone-Laying
The Rev. Jos. H. Hopkins (of London) will preach at 11.30 am.
Public Luncheon in the Board Schools at 1 o’clock.
To be presided over by His Worship the Mayor of
Higham Ferrers, OWEN PARKER, Esq., J.P. supported by
F. A. CHANNING, Esq., M. P. and other Gentlemen.
Tickets 2s 6d.
The Stone-Laying Ceremony
will commence at 2.15
The Rev. W. H. THOMPSON (Chairman of the Bedford and Northampton District): F. A. CHANNING Esq., M. P. and
JOHN PERKINS (of Northampton), will give Addresses.
The Revs. JOS. H. HOPKINS and T. WYNNE JONES
(of London), Revs. G. H. HAYES, T. E. THOMPSON, and
ARTHUR BROOKS will also take part in the Ceremony.
A Public Tea will be provided in the
Board Schools, at 5 p.m.
Tickets Sixpence each.
Public Meeting at 6.30
Alderman THOMAS SANDERS, in the Chair.
Addresses will be given by the
Rev. T. WYNNE JONES, Finsbury Park Circuit, London;
Rev. Jos. H. HOPKINS, South London Mission;
Rev. W. H. THOMPSON, Chairman of the Synod.
A COLLECTION at each service in aid of the
NEW CHURCH BUILDING FUND
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The stone-laying in connection with the new buildings took place on Easter Monday, 31st March 1902, and the occasion was favoured with ideal weather. The day began with a service at 11.30 a.m. in the old chapel attended by the Mayor and Corporation when the chapel was crowded to its utmost capacity. The sermon at this service was preached by the Rev. Jos. H. Hopkins of the South London Wesleyan Mission, a typical Welshman - fervid, dramatic, eloquent, impassioned - who made a profound impression with his exposition of the text, Hebrews, chapter 8, verses 10 to 12. The service was followed by luncheon served in the Board Schools, when the Mayor, Mr. Owen Parker, J.P., who presided over the large company, in his luncheon speech expressed regret that it had not been possible to hold the ceremony at the earlier date originally intended, when his friend Alderman Thomas Patenall would still have been Mayor, and would therefore have had the honour of presiding over the luncheon. He also spoke of the spirit of goodwill that existed between the Parish Church, of which he was a member. and the Wesleyan Chapel.
The stone-laying ceremony at 2.15 p.m. was attended by a great assembly of people not only from Higham Ferrers but also from Rushden, Irchester, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough, Stanwick, Finedon, Raunds, Little Addington, Yelden, Swineshead and Riseley. The Revd. G. H. Hayes, Superintendent Minister, presided and an address was given by Mr. F. A. Channing, M.P., who spoke of the different political camps and different Christian denominations represented there and also of the unity in the Christian faith which bound them together as one. The list of those who laid stones was as follows: Mr. F. A. Channing, M.P., Mr. John Spencer, Mr. E. Claridge, Mr. E. Blott, Miss Sanders, Mrs. Abraham Groome, Mr. G. Hayes, Mrs. T. Patenall, Mr. John Perkins, Mrs. O. Patenall, Mr. A. O. Groome, Miss Dunham, Miss Patenall, Mr. T. Watson, Miss Frances Groome, Mr. John Horrell, Mr. John Shortland, Mrs. Hustwaite, Mrs. Savage, Mrs. Barber, Mr. John Clark, Mr. Garner, Mr. Wm. Gadsby, Mr. Chas. Smith, Mr. G. Tailby, Jnr., Miss Lawrence, Miss Shelton, Mr. S. Pack, Mr. Joseph Glenn, Mr. J. Turner, Mrs. Quincey, Miss Nurrish, Miss Patenall, Mrs. W. A. Groome, Mr. G. H. Groome, Mr. C. S. K. Palmer, Messrs. T. and I. Cunnington, Alderman Patenall, Ladies Sewing Meeting (by Mrs. T. Patenall), the Choir (by Mr. A. Middleton), Young Ladies' Guild (by Miss H. Middleton), Young Ladies' Bible Class (by Mrs. G. H. Groome), Mrs. F. M. Coleman (for the Newton Bromshold Society), First class of boys 1901-2 (by Mr. J. Crowson), Mrs. G. Parsons, Miss Grace Allen, Sunday School stone (by Alderman Sanders).
Bricks were also laid by the following:- Miss Hayes, Miss Popsie Hayes, Master Arthur Hayes, Master Philip Hayes, Miss Ella Wagstaff, Miss Frances Groome, Miss Elsie Groome, Miss Helen Groome, Miss Dorothy Groome, Master Donald Patenall, Master H. R. Patenall, Master Conrad Turner, Master Gordon Turner, Miss Dora Webb, Master G. W. Nurrish, Mr. John Parker, Snr., Miss Olive Webb, Miss Winnie Pack, Miss Lily Lawrence, Master Eric Palmer, Mrs. George Miller, Miss Elsie Wagstaff, Miss Mary Wilson, Miss O. L. Parker, Miss Elsie Harris, Miss Eliza Parker, Miss Elizabeth Parker, Master Alfred Wright, Master William Smith, Misses Rose and Daisy Button, Miss N. Pasilow and Master W. H. Quincey.
Tea followed in the Board Schools, and a Public Meeting was held in the old chapel at 6.30 p.m. when the congregation was so large that many could not gain an entrance. The chairman, Mr. Thomas Sanders, who at that time had served in the Sunday School for more than 70 years, was introduced by the Superintendent Minister as “our father in the Church and a grand old Methodist man.” Mr. Sanders then proceeded to speak of his personal acquaintance with many of the founders of the Society including Daniel Pressland. At this meeting a sparkling address was given by the Revd. T. Wynne Jones, of London, who spoke of how he had had Dr. Talmadge and his wife to lay the foundation stones of a new church in London where only £260 was raised. “But of course," he continued, “London is not Higham Ferrers, and you know how to do things here on a very large scale”.
In his financial statement Mr. G. H. Groome, the treasurer, informed the congregation that when the day began there was already £975 6s.1d. in the bank, and that £913 9s.11d. had been raised during the day, including £729 17s 6d. received from the stone-layers and £33 7s. 6d. from those who had laid bricks.
Twelve months later, on Easter Monday, April 13th 1903, the new premises having been completed, were formally opened. The privilege of opening the doors to the Church was by universal consent given to Mr. Thomas Sanders, one of the oldest and most distinguished Methodists in the district. He had been Superintendent of the Higham Ferrers Sunday School for fifty years, and also for fifty years a Circuit Steward. And by a pleasing coincidence as Mayor of Higham Ferrers in that year, he was able to Head the civic procession which led the way into the new chapel at 11 a.m. on that Easter Monday. At the commencement of the first service in the sanctuary the Revd. G. H. Hayes, Superintendent Minister, read the certificate of the Registrar-General that the edifice had been duly registered at a place of worship. Present also were his colleagues, the Revd. K. B. Woodward and the Revd. David Pughe. The opening service was then conducted by the Revd. Professor J. Shaw Banks, D.D., whose “Manual of Christian Doctrine” was at that time a standard work for theological students. He took for his text the words of St. Luke 24, 34: "The Lord is risen indeed," and showed in words of moving simplicity and power how that church was built on the Saviour's empty tomb.
Following this service, the door of the schoolroom was opened with a silver key by Mr. G. H. Groome, and the door of the Church Parlour by Mrs. Thomas Patenall.
The public luncheon held in the new Assembly Hall was presided over by Mr. F. G. Adnitt, a Congregationalist from Northampton.
At the afternoon service at 3 p.m. in the new chapel the sermon was preached by the President of the Conference, the Revd. C. H. Kelly, with an overflow service in the old chapel, where the sermon was preached by the Revd. T. Wynne Jones, of London, and the service conducted by the Revd. W. Carvosso Carlyon, of Handsworth College.
At the tea which followed more than a thousand people partook of the refreshments provided, and following the tea a public meeting was held at 6.30 p.m. presided over by Mr. Thomas Sanders, and with the Revd. Professor Shaw Banks as the speaker, supported by the Revd. W. H. Thompson, Chairman of the District. Professor Banks referred especially in his address to the large number of young people present and said what a beautiful thing it was to see those young people there and to know that they had collected £121.
The financial statement given by Alderman Thomas Patenall was again a matter for rejoicing. He pointed out that the new buildings were expected to cost £6,250, that before the opening £2.590 had been raised, with a sum of £240 to come from the sale of the old chapel, and from the Twentieth Century Fund £1,000. the opening day itself had added another £560 which meant that only another £1,500 was still to be found.
As we look back upon the events described above we cannot but be impressed, not only by the courage, faith and enthusiasm of those who led this forward movement of Methodism, but also by the solid support given to them by the members of the Society, and many others who would not have called themselves Methodists. But we must remember that at that time the Society was a strong family church, with families such as that of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Groome, whose five sons, George Henry, William Alfred, James Arthur, Albert Owen and Charles Edward, were all, in the years that followed, to give such gifted and inspired leadership in both Church and Sunday School. It is sad to recall that Mr. A. O. Groome, the last of those five brothers, died as recently as May 1962. Nor would this record be complete without mention of Alderman H. Rollins Patenall, son of the Alderman Thomas Patenall mentioned earlier, who died in 1960. In him was carried on that tradition of devoted Christian service in both religious and civic life, which, begun by Daniel Pressland has continued to this day. Forty-one years on the Town Council, five times Mayor of Higham Ferrers, Honorary Freeman of the Borough, and devoted servant of the Methodist Church, his name will long be remembered.
