Thursday 29 June 2017

St John's Wesleyan Chapel Crookes Sheffield

Whilst I was engrossed in religous matters concerning the erection of Wesleyan Chapels in Sheffield (see previous blogs) I came across references to St John's Wesleyan Chapel in Crookes. This is from the Leeds Mercury dated 23rd January 1890.


I had never heard of such a Chapel in Crookes but with a capacity of 800 it must have been a large building and prominent to boot - "one of the finest set of religious building's in Sheffield." 

A little research revealed that St John's Wesleyan Chapel in Crookes was no other than Crookes Valley Methodist Church which is situated in Crookesmoor

  

This report is from the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 29th July 1890



The building and its adjacent premises served the people of Crookes and the surrounding district for over 100 years but it suffered a long and painful death. For many years it was derelict but it has now been converted to student flats and apartments.

The following summary was taken from the now defunct website of the Crookes Valley Methodist Church

"In 1878, a room on Commonside was taken for conducting mission services. This was an area with rapidly growing population, so a society was formed which quickly grew and in 1880 land was purchased on Crookesmoor Road.

A building was erected in 1881 and was initially called St John's Weleyan Methodist Church. By 1887 a new scheme was started to erect a larger chapel. In it's first ten years membership grew from 10 to 214, the Sunday School from 40 to 483, with the original 9 teachers increasing to 57.

In July 1889 the Wesleyan Conference met in Sheffield and laid a foundation stone of the new building which was opened in 1890. There were services at 10.30am and 6.30pm with the Sunday School starting at 9.30am and 2.15pm, and a prayer meeting at 7.00am and a mission service (open air in the summer) at 8.00pm. The building cost £7000 and was paid for out of 'selfless giving by rich and poor alike'. Within three weeks of the new church opening, weekly offerings were at £600 a week when £1 a week was a good wage for a working man.

There were weekly class meetings and mid-week services on Wednesdays and Fridays. Other weekly activities included Mothers Meeting, Ladies sewing meeting, Band of Hope, Boys Brigade, Healing Meetings, Penny Bank, Mutual Improvement Classes as well as band and choir practice.

Just as things were going from strength to strngth so things began to falter. Many of the rich leaders of the Church moved to new areas of the city. The membership was in such a decline in the 1930's closure became an issue. This was slaved off due to members moving from Oxford St after bombing in World War II.

In 1965 Western Street moved to share the building and it became Crookes Valley Methodist Church. In the last 10 years the church has suffered a loss of financial income from tenants moving out and nearly sold the building to the Nine O'clock Community. Then the church council believed the building should be used for God's purpose as it was originally planned 100 years before.

Faith, mighty faith the promise sees
And looks to that alone
Laughs at impossibilties
And cries 'It shall be done'

A prophetic poem for the church when it decided to take over the whole building"

This is from The Star (Sheffield) 24 February 2003

Church is sold for GBP465,000

AN ENORMOUS Grade II-listed Victorian church has been sold at auction for almost double its asking price.

Crookes Valley Methodist Church, an imposing stone building which dominates the corner of Crookes Valley Road and Crookesmoor Road in Sheffield, was sold for GBP465,000.

It had a guide price of just GBP250,000.

The building, which was erected in 1890, had been home to a congregation of Methodist churchgoers for more than 100 years.

But recently worshippers dwindled to just 27.

The building, which went under the hammer at a sale at the Crucible, was bought by a consortium of investors who are expected to turn it into residential accommodation.

Adrian Little, a partner at Mark Jenkinson property auctioneers which handled the sale, said: "The church sold well above expectations. It is a Grade II-listed building, so the structure will be preserved, but there is no doubt some form of residential use will be sought.

"The prices obtained at the sale showed no sign whatsoever of the market slowing down." The building, which was built 113 years ago with money from the Osborn steel family, is in a poor state of repair. It occupies seven storeys and nearly half an acre.

This building was erected in 1881 and was initially called St John's Weleyan Methodist Church. The building cost £7000 and was paid for out of 'selfless giving by rich and poor alike'. Within three weeks of the new church opening, weekly offerings were at £600 a week when £1 a week was a good wage for a working man.In 1965 Western Street moved to share the building and it became Crookes Valley Methodist Church. In the last 10 years the church has suffered a loss of financial income from tenants moving out and was nearly sold . Then the church council believed the building should be used for God's purpose as it was originally planned 100 years before.
To the best of my knowledge the church closed in 2003 and is now going to rack & ruin. 



The Mysterious Poisoning of Ernest Foster - Crookes. Sheffield May 1896

I've just posted an article to the site titled "The Mysterious Poisoning of Ernest Foster - Crookes. Sheffield May 1896"

It is based on an report that appeared in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated Saturday 30th May 1896.



I have disagreed with the verdict but one of the more interesting parts of the report is that it was initially thought that the poisoning was due to the consumption of tinned lobster by the deceased. I was not aware that tinned lobster was available in Crookes in the late nineteenth century never mind eaten!

The other point is that that they produced the tin at the inquest at the Royal Hospital six days after it had been opened. It appears that the smell was over-powering for want of a better word! 

Sunday 25 June 2017

The Death and Funeral of Pablo Fanque - Leeds May 1871

Many years ago I posted an article to the site - The Hendersons Were Not There (Neither Was Mr Kite) Sheffield 1848 which had its origins in the Beatles song "For The Benefit of Mr Kite"

Last week I received this e-mail from a researcher who came across the article and asked this question

Dear Chris
I hope you do not mind me contacting you. I have been reading your fascinating article about Pablo Fanque and I had a question about the article you posted.  You mention Wallett taking part in the funeral procession- and I wondered if that was indeed the name of his favourite horse at the time or whether it was in fact his friend W.F. Wallett?
I am researching Pablo's life and your mention of Wallett is the only one I have come across- if it is the name of his last favoured horse it would appear to be a fine tribute to his good friend!
Best wishes in advance
Grant Philpott

ps I have posted the section below for ease of reference!

2. 1871 - By the 1860’s Pablo’s circus was in decline. Pablo died on 4th May 1871 at the Britannia Inn, 22 Churchgate, Stockport, at the ripe age of seventy-five.
Churchgate, Stockport, Cheshire, 1871 (RG10/3664 4 73 19)
Pablo Fanque, lodger, 61, Norwich, Norfolk, equestrian circus proprietor
Elizabeth Fanque, lodger, 40, Sheffield, Yorkshire
George P Fanque, lodger, 17, Liverpool
Edward P Fanque, lodger, 15, Manchester
William Walker, lodger, 15, Luton, Bedfordshire, apprentice? music
Mary Walker, lodger, 13, Glasgow, Scotland, ditto, music
He had been there with his second wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, George and Ted, since at least the beginning of the previous month. Pablo’s funeral took place in Leeds Woodhouse Cemetery and was a spectacular occasion. The hearse was preceded by a band playing the ‘Dead March’, followed by Pablo’s favourite horse, Wallett, and four mourning coaches. The deceased and his horse were brought from Stockport by train, and were met by throngs of well-dressed spectators.

Thankfully I was able to answer his question - when I posted the article The British Library Newspaper Archive had not been digitalised

This is from the Leeds Times dated 13th May 1871


It appears that Wallet the horse followed the hearse but Pablo's dear friend Mr W F Wallet who the horse was named after, was detained in Hanley Staffordshire and so did not attend the funeral

Ebenezer Wesleyan Reform Chapel, Bramall Lane, Sheffield

I am starting to get worried now as this is the second time in less than a month that I have posted a blog that relates to Wesleyan Reform Chapel's. A sign from above perhaps?

But like the one I posted on the Weselyan Chapel at School Road, Crookes this does include a photograph that has not been seen before


Ebenezer Wesleyan Reform Chapel, Bramall Lane, Sheffield


This photograph appeared on the Sheffield History Forum and shows the chapel in its prime.


The above photograph was taken by a family member whilst the chapel was in the process of being demolished. I have not got an exact date but the photograph is circa 1979 - 80. I believe that the reason for the demolition apart from declining attendances was that it stood in the way of the now-fabled Bramall Lane dual-carriageway.


Monday 12 June 2017

Crookes Post Office Sheffield

I came across this print by the Sheffield artist the late George Cunningham (1924 - 1996) showing a winters scene at Crookes Post Office with the Wesley Hall in the background together with Crookes Endowed School on the left.


I am unsure when the Post Office first opened in Crookes but it had been there for many years before closing in April 2016. The Post Office business was relocated to a store on the main road through Crookes

This photograph was taken ten years earlier in October 2006 and shows the Post Office with Wesley Hall in the background (see previous blog)

 At the time this was written the building remains unoccupied


Crookes Wesleyan Chapel, School Road, Crookes, Sheffield


The first drawing of the Crookes Wesleyan Chapel in School Road, Crookes, Sheffield. It was taken from the Wesley Hall site and shows the Chapel that was built in 1836, the first that was built in Crookes


The photograph below was taken in 1908 and shows the Chapel just before the congregation moved to Wesley Hall (1912).  


The drawing is a very good likeness apart from the sign - it states Crookes Wesleyan Chapel,whereas the photograph has the single word Wesleyan. It is the first photograph I have seen of the original Chapel

The building is still there but it is now flats and apartments