Allendale, Northumberland
Trinity Methodist Church, Allendale
Last Updated:
9 Dec 2024
Allendale, Northumberland
This is a
Chapel, Place of Worship
54.896133, -2.255924
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Still open for worship
As we've previously discussed, Methodism very much supplanted itself in Allendale from an early stage. Wesley preached here, riding between each village on horseback, with his ideals sweeping over the fells until the middle of the 19th century. We've already looked at the Primitive chapel on the other side of the village, so here's the beautiful Wesleyan chapel.
There has been at least three separate chapels on this spot. The first I've admittedly found little information on. Given Wesley's stronghold in the mid 18th century and nearby Keenley having a chapel since the 1870s, I wouldn't be too surprised if it dated from then or even slightly earlier. Even then though it was likely very small and could only hold a couple dozen worshippers.
The 2nd photograph shown below is from the same spot but pre-1876, depicting the 1839 rebuild next to the same house we see today. It was purpose built for worship - two storeys high, modest and very much austere as was the Wesleyan way. The cottage still in situ was the chapel caretakers cottage.
Isaac Holden was reputed to have supported in its construction. He fundraised to improve the livelihoods of those living in the community, opening a grocers shop and was a mobile tea merchant in the 1830s, while he was being swept by these Methodist ideals. As he walked the fells he raised money to finance this chapel, a hearse, a penny savings bank and a well which still stands on the other side of the road. In fact, the Isaac's Tea Trail is named after him.
The current chapel was constructed in the mid 1870s, presumably thanks to an expansion of the congregation. It's really quite a grand construction for such a small settlement, so I can only imagine local landowners and merchants contributed to its construction. I'm very sure some of the material from the previous chapel will have been recycled into this one, though the front elevation is strikingly clean compared to its neighbour on the right. It makes for a beautiful rural place of worship still retained for its original purpose.
Listing Description (if available)
Both Ordnance Surveys shown illustrate Allendale Town from the 1890s to the 1920s, with the Wesleyan Church tucked down Shield Street in the bottom left hand corner. You'll notice very marginal difference in the two images given much is the same today too. The Boys & Girls National School was originally on the lane south east to the Sinderhope area but moved to the crossroads here. The village featured every amenity you would expect at this stage - a smithy for horseshoes and tools, a Market Place and Shambles (meat market), ancient Anglican church as well as mills and breweries. There is also an early Quaker meeting house in the west end of the village - Allendale being known for non-conformism.
If we wind the clock back to 1865, we can see the chapel on the photograph below, which was still standing 11 years before our current place of worship replaced it. You'll notice it in the bottom left being slightly smaller, with the current iteration going back much further to cater for an increasing congregation. There's a few additions shown on the 1922 map with Allendale conforming to modernity and new infrastructure required to upkeep a connected village. A few separate banks are illustrated as is a proper police station. However, there is also a historic tradition of an almshouse here now, sheltered housing for the infirm & widows in the village. A second smithy is referenced too.
The Methodist Chapel in November 2024
The old Wesleyan chapel and caretakers cottage still extant around the 1870s. Unknown original source.
Shield Street in 1875. This was likely taken on the same day by the same photographer as the previous shot. The lime-rendered caretakers cottage is shown further down the street with the chapel on the right slightly obscured. The drinking fountain, also still in situ, can be seen on the south side. Unknown original source.