List of Inghamite chapels

Inghamite Chapel, Winewall, near Colne, Lancashire (closed 1998).

The following is a list of Inghamite chapels, churches and meeting houses built by followers of Benjamin Ingham, an evangelist from Ossett, Yorkshire.

In the middle of the 18th century, Ingham founded a number of Non-conformist Christian societies, chiefly in the Pennine areas of Lancashire and Yorkshire. These 'societies' formed the basis of local congregations which met in chapels as their place of worship. Less commonly some are referred to as churches, or meeting houses. Many of these chapels were funded and built new for this purpose by benefactors in the Inghamite societies. At the height of their popularity around 100 Inghamite Chapels are believed to have existed, including one in Ontario, Canada.

Following the death of their founder, congregations gradually declined: the number of active chapels had reduced to 16 chapels in 1814, seven chapels in 1918, and only two surviving into the 21st century (these being at Wheatley Lane and Salterforth).

The following list is based chiefly on that given in a 1958 book by Robert Walker Thomson,[1] which in turn quotes from an older source.[2] Supporting information is also drawn from P.J.Oates' book.[3] Chapels and meeting houses which had closed before 1813 are not included.

Location (with OS GRID REF) Opened / Closed Notes
Lancashire
Colne Field, Colne SD 897 403 1760s / 1840sLocated off Keighley Road to the east of the cemetery. Later becoming a school, now two cottages.
Colne Lane, Colne SD 890 4001826 / 1908Was originally a Baptist chapel (1788/1826). After life as an Inghamite chapel it was sold to the Pentecostal Church (1908)
Ludgate Circus, Colne1908 / 1951Replaced the chapel at Colne Lane
West Street, Colne1951 / 1976Replaced the chapel at Ludgate Circus
Cotton Tree Lane, Colne SD 905 4011900 / 1993Formed by a breakaway congregation from Winewall Inghamite Chapel following a disagreement. Building was closed in 1993 and demolished in 1996 to be replaced with new houses.
Haslingden1803 / before 1851(Room only in Pleasant Street)
Russell Street, Nelson1886 / 1957Building sold to Salvation Army in 1957 becoming the Salvation Army Citadel
Rodhill, nr Grindleton SD 761 4791754 / 1837(formerly in West Riding of Yorkshire). Subsequently used by the Methodists 1844 - 1863.

Wheatley Lane, Fence, Burnley SD 838 384
1750 / openThe largest chapel remaining by 1814. Now one of the last two chapels still open. It is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
Winewall, near Colne SD 911 3981752 / 2001 A second chapel was built in 1860, original then becoming a day school. After storm damage the later chapel was demolished in 1979, and the first chapel was part converted back to its original usage. Last service held September 1998. Permanently closed 2001.[4] Now residential flats. Large graveyard still exists at rear.
Nottinghamshire
Bulwell, nr Nottingham1803 / 1817Established by members from St Mary's Gate chapel. Unlikely a building ever existed
St Mary's Gate Chapel, Nottingham1800 / 1844Built at the lower end of St Mary's Gate on the west side. No trace of church exists today
Westmorland
Birks, Warcop, Eden Valley NY 719 1511757 / 1837Located on a hill top 2 miles west of Warcop. Only an Inghamite chapel up to 1813, then becoming Congregational.Now a barn

Bankfield Road, Kendal SD 511 924
1844 / 1971Known as "Pear Tree" Inghamite Chapel, named after Pear Tree Barn where meetings were held from 1757 until the new chapel was built in 1844. Chapel converted into housing in 1985
Yorkshire (West Riding)
Cowgill, Dentdale1754 / 1830sProbably ceased holding meetings late 1770s
New House chapel, Gisburn SD 832 5391839 / 1850s
Duke Street, Leeds1788 / 1853
OssettChapel building was possibly in Back Lane

Earby Road, Salterforth SD 890 455
1754 / openNew / rebuilt chapel opened in 1932
Stansfield, Halifax1787 / 1867Location uncertain either Blind Lane or Ferney Lee Road, just off Burnley Road
Chapel Street, Tadcaster1814 / ?Chapel possibly rebuilt 1840
Thinoaks, Clapham SD 707 6851757 / 1820sNow used as a barn at Oaklands Farm off the Clapham to Bentham road
Blind Lane, Todmorden1787 / ?. Actually at bottom of Ferney Lee Rd. Now private house named Fern House.
Tosside
Wibsey, nr Bradford1758 / c1820s
Yorkshire (East Riding)
Howden, nr Goole1788 / 1850Sold to the Wesleyan church in 1850. Demolished late 20th century
Canada
Farringdon, Brantford, Ontario1839 /Founded by members from Pear Tree Chapel, Kendal

References

  1. Thomson, Robert Walker (1958). Benjamin Ingham (The Yorkshire Evangelist) and The Inghamites. Kendal. p. 94. OCLC 55094186.
  2. Historical Sketches of the Inghamite and Old Scots Independent Churches, 1813
  3. Oates, P.J. (2003). My Ancestors Were Inghamites. London: Society of Genealogists Enterprises Ltd. ISBN 1-903462-77-0.
  4. "Inghamite church, Winewall, near Colne, Lancashire". Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 28 December 2014.