Highley Primitive Methodist Church

In 1930, Highley Primitive Methodist Society published a souvenir booklet as a way of raising funds. In 1913 the society had built a new chapel to replace their original corrugated iron building of 1896 (the “tin chapel”) but they were now struggling to pay back the resulting debt. The book is a useful source of inormation about the history of Methodism in Highley. Below are notes and extracts from the book. The definitive history of Methodism is “Highley Methodist Church Centenary History, 1996” by the Rev. Colin C. Short.

The Wesleyans

In 1797 there were 12 Wesleyans meeting at the Bind with 23 in 1811. Services were held at the Bind Farm, Billingsley until 1815, when it was occupied by William Sheel. In 1816 Chapel House was built in Highley and this had up to 36 members; 8 were buried there. In 1856 only 10 members remained. In 1878 an attempt was made to erect a chapel in the centre of the village, but this failed and eventually the Wesleyan cause failed.

The Primitives

Highley Methodist Chapel [+]
This picture shows the new Primitive Methodist Chapel, shortly after it had been opened in 1914

By 1856 the Primitive Methodists had a chapel at New England, on the Kidderminster circuit and M. Humphries of New England was a preacher. There was also a meeting place at Billingsley. From New England, services went to No. 8 Silverdale Terrace where a society was built up by C.F. Wagner and J.F. Lloyd. The Rev. Wm. Clulow was Kidderminster superintendent and it was largely due to him that the tin chapel was erected. In his journal he wrote:

“Highley New Chapel – Site given me for Chapel by J. Beddard Esq, Manor House, Churchwarden, on condition we fenced it round with a good iron fence. Trustees, being working men, were afraid they could not pay for a brick building, so we erected a corrugated iron structure for the time being.”

The chapel was opened on Sunday March 29th, 1896, by Mr J.S. Brinson, of Reading. It served for 18 years as chapel and school and a tablet was put up to Mary Thornton, later transferred to the new building.

In 1913 Rev. Albert Cole, a first year probationer, came to Highley when Rev. John Brace Evans was superintendent.
New impetus having been given to the struggling society by the thought of a minister being stationed in the village, it was decided to errect a larger structure. The first stone was laid on Wednesday July 30th 1913. After the opening services a debt of £650 remained. Thomas Lloyd Armstone gave valuble service as local preacher, circuit steward and Sunday School Superintendent until his death in Sept. 1922. A tablet was erected to his memory. The society has also lost W. Westwood, Trustee & Band of Hope leader; Thos. Hayes Sunday School Secretary, T Goodman, local preacher & treasurer, & Mrs J.E. Perry, assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School. In the closing months of 1927 a Woman’s Own & a Young Man’s Class formed. The Women’s Own are at present (Dec. 1929) paying for the installation of electric light in the premise. A Young Ladies’ Class has also been formed. In 1927 the debt stood at £460 and now it is £250. The reduction was largely due to a donation from the Bridgnorth Society and also a gift of £30-15-4 from Mr and Mrs W. Lawley on the occasion of their Silver Wedding.

W. Lawley is present circuit steward & society steward, F.J. Wagner, treasurer & organist, D.W. Wright Secretary & Sunday School superintendent.


Quotations
The book contains numerous quotations and inspirational thoughts contributed by members of the local congregation. These included D.J. Owen, G. Amphlett, Thos. Edwards, Hugh Owen, J. Bowen, James Morgan, Miss H. Unitt, Jack Hartland, Wm. A. Jones, G.B. Whittle, Tom Jones, Miss M. Wild, Jas. F. Jones, S. Unitt, B. Unitt, Mrs L. Gill, Reg Lloyd, D.W. Wright, Jas. E. Hopcutt, Miss M.A. Staley, Mrs Bingham, Mrs C. Parton, Mrs T.Shaw, W.F. Lloyd, John Smith, H. Price, E. Price, J. Worton, C.H. Price, Wm. A. Jones, Castle Inn, Highley, W. Lawley, Oakland, Highley, Mrs J. Warrington “Titterstone”, Highley, Mrs Badland, “Glenside”, Highley.

Ministers stationed at Highley
This list is complete to 1930, when the book was published.
Albert Cole 1913-17, W.G. Cripps 1917-19, George Bainton 1919-21, Leonard Emerson 1921-3, Walter Bradshaw 1923-4, W.H. Greening 1924-7, Arthur E. Clipson 1927-