By Stanley Merridew

Whilst visiting Silsden Library on my quest for War Memorials I came across a real treasure:

SILSDEN PRIMITIVE METHODISTS by W J Robson published in 1910

It gives a detailed history of the Primitive Methodism movement within the former Silsden Primitive Methodist Circuit.  This included chapels at the following places:

Silsden, Addingham, Farnhill, Steeton, Cowling, Sutton in Craven, Eastburn & Glusburn

The main interest to those with Wharfedale ancestors is the Addingham Chapel.  The author states that, as with most early Primitive Methodist communities, the early meetings would have been held in the open air, but very early on they used a room at the Crown Inn.  Surprising, given their abhorrence of strong liquor! 

The author suggests the last link with those early days was a Mrs Richardson who died 13^th February 1909 in her 79^th year.  This could be Elllen Richardson born Addingham, shown in the 1901 census living at 4 Cross End with her husband William born Skyreholme.  Previously I found her in the 1861 Census, still single, living with her parents, John & Rachel Wilkinson, at “Rookery” in Addingham.  By 1871 her husband William was also there.  Their marriage was not in the parish church and unfortunately the Methodist records for Addingham at this date have not survived.  Ellen died as a result of a fall at home and is buried in Addingham churchyard.  Mi?

Mary Wall, born 12 Nov 1804, the daughter of William and Grace Wall, was another early convert.  According to the author, she was brought by her Uncle William Procter, who was a member of the Wesleyan movement.  Mary died young, on the 23rd July 1828.  Her burial is shown in the parish register on 24^th July, age 24, living at Walmsley Bridge.  Other early converts were Elizabeth Rooking who died in June 1832 aged just 24 and Ellen Booth who died in 1847 aged 17. 

According to the Quarterly Meeting reports in 1830 that “Bros Gill, Page and  Fletcher of Silsden and Kenyon, Robinson, Smith and Brayshaw of Addingham form a committee and do their best in getting a chapel at Addingham.   In 1832 a Sunday school was started and services were at this time held at Addingham Low Mill. 

There is no other mention of this until 1837 when it stated in the Circuit Report that congregation at Addingham had purchased a plot of land and intended to build a chapel.  Then in 1838, “200 circulars are to be printed……..and Messrs Butcher and Fletcher follow these circulars to raise subscriptions for the chapel.”  They must have succeeded as by 1839 the chapel was opened.  However, there were several occasions when appeals were made far and wide to help maintain the building, collections at many of the local chapels and further afield.  One request was to the Manchester District. 

In 1844 the secretary was Jos. Harrison and the treasurer was J Lister with T Gelard as his assisitant.  There is further mention of Thomas Gelard, “The former part of his life was spent wickedly in the Army abroad.”  From 1839 until he died in 1848 he was the Chapel Keeper.

In 1893 the new trustees were J Newton, J Leadley ( Minister), A Gill, J Walmsley, GB Prior, FH Smith, D Cotton, J Roe, J Clennie, T Jackson, R Fletcher, T Fletcher, T Green, S Lund, B Binns.  Many of these may have been circuit officials from Silsden as several of the names do not appear at a quick glance in the 1891 census for the village.

Around 1880 a Sale of Work was held, I assume to boost the chapel funds and Hebden Wall gave a calf for sale and a resident named Williamson gave a bag of soot and a bag of turnips.  This could have been John Williamson of School Bridge Back Street as his occupation is shown as chimney sweep in the 1881 census.

There was a custom within the Methodist communities to provide the preachers with their meals as many had travelled long distances, probably of foot, there and back.  The author mentions Mr Barber (possibly Samuel), farmer of Home House Farm carried out this function for many years.   Later Nathan Smith (Main Street) formerly of Silsden, continued this until his death.  Then Hannah Pickard, wife of Abel, opened her home to the preachers.  

The author also mentions individuals and families who have held positions such as class leader, collectors for the missionary cause, stewards etc.  These include: Barber, Brayshaw, Dunn, Ellis, Harkness, Harrison, Hebden, Moorhouse, Parkinson, Prior, Walmsley, West, Wynn.  One former official, J Steele, went to Australia and died there.

Addingham produced several notable preachers who travelled the circuit.  The author named the following: Flesher Bland, Mark Robinson (who later emigrated to America), Sarah Brayshaw, Ann Robinson, W Hebden, T Tattersall, J Richardson, A Myers, A Dunn, J Read, J Robinson, R Jarman.

The author gives Sarah Brayshaw special mention.  She was born in Addingham 10^th February 1808, became a preacher in 1831 and covered  a wide area, taking in the Grassington, Skipton, Keighley, Bingley and Otley circuits, mainly on foot.   She died 22^nd January 1890.   The author devoted over two pages to her, so if she is “one of yours” you are very fortunate.

The Prior family also get special mention. John Prior was awarded the sum of thirty guineas in 1798 by the Society for Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.   He was the first to invent an escapement for watches.  Later in 1811 his son George was awarded ten guineas for creating the striking mechanism on a clock.  Both awards would have been small fortunes at that time.  Evidently he was asked to add the striking mechanism to Keighley Parish Church for a fee.  After fitting they failed to pay him, so he removed it until they settled.   George had a jewellery and watchmaking business in Leeds and is buried at Woodhouse Moor.  His gravestone states he was a native of Nesfield.,

One amusing tale recounts how Abe Steel, a trombone player at the chapel who had lost his front teeth, decided he would be able to play better with false teeth.  So he made himself a set out of wood!  However, not surprisingly, they failed to work.