Chapel Street Wesleyan Church Luton

The chapel in 1814 from Douglas Tearle's pamphlet

Douglas Tearle wrote a pamphlet celebrating the centenary of the former Wesleyan Chapel Street Methodist church in 1952. The chapel of 1852 was not the first on the site, this was a building erected in 1814 on the site of the later chapel’s Sunday School. It was a small building when compared to the later structure but was thought too big at the time! The minister’s house lay at the side of the new chapel. A result of the building of the chapel was that the name of the road in which it stood was changed from Hog Lane to Chapel Lane, eventually becoming Chapel Street. The chapel was part of the Luton Circuit, formed in 1808.

Deeds quoted by Tearle in his pamphlet show that the chapel was at first conveyed to two ministers, the one for the chapel itself the other the minister at Markyate [Hertfordshire]. The chapel was conveyed to trustees in 1825. The chapel was increased in size in 1834 after land at the rear was purchased in 1830, this land included an old Baptist chapel.

By 1846 the chapel was again too small for the numbers of worshippers. The Victoria Rooms in Wellington Street were hired but were condemned as unsafe three years later and pulled down. Services were now held at the Town Hall and at Chapel Street. By 1844 a scheme was in place for a new chapel. The following year a new plot was bought for £225.

On Sunday 30th March 1851 a census of all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every denomination was undertaken in England and Wales. The local results were published by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1975 as Volume 54, edited by D. W. Bushby. The return for Chapel Street was compiled by minister Thomas Stephenson and the key facts were as follows:

• Chapel opened 1814;
• 310 free seats, 540 other seats, standing room for 100;
• General congregation in the morning – 600 with 58 Sunday scholars;
• General congregation in the afternoon – 330 with 270 Sunday scholars;
• General congregation in the evening - 640.

Stephenson, described as “a man of weak constitution and of a somewhat nervous temperament” left Luton in 1851 and was replaced by Wright Shovelton who decided that, after procrastination for six years it was about time that the new chapel was built. The stone laying ceremony took place on 30th December 1851.

The Bedfordshire Times for 3rd January 1852 reported: “The trustees and friends of the Wesleyan Chapel in this town have for several years found the present chapel far too small for the requirements of the society, congregation, and Sunday school; and in order to meet the wants just named and those of the increasing population of the town, have resolved to build a larger and more commodious place of worship. A design for a chapel to seat seventeen hundred persons, by W. W. Pocock, Esq. of London, was approved by the trustees on the 2nd December. Tenders for the building were received on the 15th – the lowest (£2,496) from Mr. Parker, Thrapston [Northamptonshire] was accepted. The front elevation is to be of brick and stone. The site is a plot of ground purchased some four years since of J. Kidman, esq., and immediately adjoining the present chapel property; the building to front towards Chapel Street. On Tuesday, the 30th ult. the ceremony of laying the foundation stone took place. A preparatory sermon was preached in the morning, in the present chapel, by Rev. R. Young, of London. In the afternoon, after singing, reading the scriptures, and prayer, by the Rev. R. Young, for the blessing of God upon the undertaking, the Rev. John Nelson, of London, delivered an eloquent address, alluding in a marked manner to the very great interest in the Wesleyan society in this town and circuit since he was stationed at Luton twenty years ago. The foundation stone was then laid by Thomas Farmer esq., of London. A second stone was laid by John Waller, Esq., and a third by Mr. Gustavus Jordan, of Luton. These stones were sealed by bank notes; after which several ladies and friends laid bricks, which they ornamented with gold coin. In the evening a tea meting was held in the Town Hall, which was crowded to excess; many not being able to find accommodation in the large room, were compelled to resort to an extra room, supplied on the spur of the hour. The meeting, which was most ably presided over by T. Farmer, Esq., was of a most enthusiastic character; the Rev. Josiah Pearson, of Deptford [Kent]; the Rev. John Nelson and several lay gentlemen, delivered very animated and appropriate addresses. The pleasure of the meeting was greatly enhanced by the attendance of the choir, which under the able direction of their veteran leader, Mr. Daniel Davis (who has continued in that post from the opening of the present chapel in 1814) performed a choice selection of hymns and other sacred pieces. A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies, who provided the tea gratuitously, the proceeds being applied to the building fund. Thanks were also voted to the singers and to the chairman. The proceeds of the day were upwards of £300”.

It took only five months to build and was completed on 26th May 1852. Edwin Welch researched the history of registrations in Bedfordshire for Bedfordshire Historical Records Society Volume 75 Bedfordshire Chapels and Meeting Houses [published in 1996] and found that the new church in Chapel Street was registered with the Archdeaconry of Bedford in May 1852 by Wright Shovelton and Thomas B. Goodwin [ABN1/2; ABN2/438]. It was for marriages on 21st July 1852 and was substituted on 22nd November 1976 for the Luton Industrial Mission.

There was no organ in the chapel, a small orchestra being used to lead the singing. An organ was installed about two years later at a cost of £350. It was replaced by a new one in 1893. Around the turn of the 20th century renovations were undertaken and electricity was introduced, replacing the gas lighting which had been installed when the place was built.

The 1852 chapel with the 1814 chapel in the background - from Douglas Tearle's pamphlet

When the new chapel was built in 1852 the Sunday School moved into the 1814 chapel, after considerable alteration. By 1867 there were 100 teachers and 617 scholars and additional accommodation was needed. The Wesleyan Day School (which began in 1853) was also held on the premises and they had to be enlarged to meet regulations in the 1870s. The Wesleyan Day School closed in 1877 after the creation of a new School Board for Luton.

At the end of the 1870s a plot at the back of the schools was bought for £400 and the old chapel was demolished, the foundation stone of the new schools being laid on 10th March 1880. The new buildings cost £7,000. By 1885 there were 820 scholars and 120 teachers

In 1880 the Luton Wesleyan Circuit was divided into two, Chapel Street being at the heart of the new Chapel Street Circuit. In 1932 Wesleyan, Primitive and United Methodists came together to create the Methodist Church of Great Britain and two circuits were formed – Luton and High Town, Chapel Street being part of the Luton Circuit.

Irving Rumbles in his pamphlet tracing the history of Methodism in Luton in the 20th century records that in 1954 the Methodist Church Home Missions Department met representatives from Chapel Street and Waller Street churches to select an appropriate location for an industrial mission in the town. Chapel Street was duly selected and the Luton Industrial Mission and Community Centre was created based at the chapel and its Sunday School.

Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service has the following sources for Chapel Street:

• MB2335s: receipt for listed deeds: 1805-1959;
• MB2294: Trustees’ minute book: 1847-1861;
• MB2335a: verses marking the opening of the chapel: 1852;
• MB436: day school account book: 1853-1862;
• MB429: collection book: 1856-1868;
• MB498b: analysis of annual income: 1858-1863;
• MB2294: Trustees’ minute book: 1861-1877;
• MB415: baptism register: 1864-1971;
• MB424: register of leaders and stewards: 1869-1880;
• MB2336a: instructions for the erection of the new schools in Chapel Street: 1877;
• MB2336b: block plan of the new schools: 1877;
• MB2336c: plans for new schools: 1877;
• MB2295: Trustees’ minute book: 1877-1884;
• MB2335b: handbill for Sunday School anniversary: 1877;
• MB2336e: subscription list and accounts for the new schools: 1877-1883;
• MB2336d: arrangements for the erection of new schools: 1879-1882;
• MB432: collection journal: 1881-1900;
• MB2335c: Certificate of Redemption of Land Tax: 1881;
• MB421: chapel cleaning and renovation subscription list: 1882-1883;
• MB430: collection book: 1883-1905;
• CCE3865/16/6: trust deed 1883;
• MB2290: class meetings attendance book: 1884-1885;
• MB2296: Trustees’ minute book: 1885-1896;
• CCE3871/15(6): exchange of land 1888;
• MB652: music and words to be sung at the anniversary of the Sunday School: 1890;
• MB2335d: appointment of new trustees: 1892-1956;
• MB2335e: installation of organ: 1893;
• MB425: Society steward’s journal: 1893-1926;
• MB2303: Trust Treasurer’s account book: 1897-1924;
• MB2312: choir account book: 1897-1924;
• MB420: trustees’ minute book: 1897-1918;
• MB2335f: subscription list for chapel renovation: 1898-1900;
• MB438: Disciples Roll: c. 1900;
• MB433: collection journal: 1901-1916;
• MB2335g: erection of caretaker’s house: 1903;
• MB431: collection book: 1905-1920;
• MB416: marriage register: 1909-1919;
• MB415: baptism register: 1911-1971;
• MB653: music and words to be sung at the anniversary of the Sunday School: 1911;
• MB426: ledger: 1912-1956;
• MB2335h: appeal leaflet for renovation of church: 1913;
• MB2335i: agreement regarding boundary wall: 1914;
• MB2304: Chapel Renovation Fund account book: 1914-1918;
• MB423: leaders’ meeting minute book: 1916-1922;
• MB434: collection journal: 1917-1932;
• MB417: marriage register: 1919-1928;
• MB2297: Trustees’ minute book: 1919-1934;
• MB2300: United Trustees’ and Leaders’ Meeting minutes: 1920;
• MB427: account book: 1920-1935;
• MB2304: Organ Renovation Fund account book: 1921-1926;
• MB2320: folders of music: 1921-1933;
• MB435: finance committee minute book: 1924-1943;
• MB422: treasurer’s account book: 1925-1963;
• MB2335j: schedule of duties of caretaker: 1927;
• MB418: marriage register: 1928-1935;
• MB437: treasurer’s book of The Guild: 1928-1948;
• MB2335k: papers on the Oriental Bazaar: 1929;
• MB2335l: chapel improvements and grant towards reduction of debt: 1929-1934;
• MB428: analysis of accounts: 1933-1950;
• MB2298: Trustees’ minute book: 1934-1954;
• MB419: marriage register: 1935-1951;
• MB2305: Society Steward’s annual accounts: 1939-1954;
• MB2301: Leaders’ Meeting minute book: 1941-1958;
• MB2310: Finance Committee minute book: 1944-1955;
• MB2318: Community Centre account book: 1946-1973;
• MB2321: Trustees of 46 Conway Street minutes: 1947-1955;
• MB2317: Chapel Street Christian Community Centre minute book: 1948-1953;
• MB2335m: agreement with Bedfordshire County Council regarding use of the premises as a school room: 1949;
• MB2338a-b: photographs of the chapel interior: c. 1950;
• MB2306: Society Steward’s account book: 1950-1959;
• MB2284: marrage register: 1951-1958;
• MB2319: Overseas Mission minute book: 1951-1966
• MB1646: centenary booklet: Our Heritage by J. Douglas Tearle: 1952.