Cheshire

This is a list of chapels that had been registered by 1867, derived from ‘A list of places of meeting for public religious worship, certified to the Registrar General’.   Remember that registration was not compulsory. From other evidence, mainly from the denominations themselves, it appears there was significant under-registration in Cheshire. The Methodist New Connexion had twice as many chapels in Cheshire in 1867, and United Methodist Free Churches a further 50 percent. As registration was valid until cancelled, however, there may be duplication: i.e.  both the old and new chapels in a place may be listed. We have also discovered that the official location may not be the same as the name by which the chapel is commonly described. As can be seen from the notes, the Registrar General’s staff did not always transcribe the location correctly.

The Methodist New Connexion and United Methodist Free Churches both had a presence in the county, and the places of worship registered by the two denominations are listed separately. There is a striking difference in their distribution across the county. When a chapel passed into UMFC ownership, following the formation of the denomination, it was quite common to re-register the chapel. In three places in Cheshire this appears not to have happened.

Unless otherwise stated each of these places of worship is described as a chapel.

The numbers on the list relate to places, and match those on the map. The Methodist New Connexion chapels are shown on the first map, concentrated towards the Welsh border and in the north-east of the county. Whereas the United Methodist Free Churches, on the second map occupy the centre of the county. The base map is provided under this licence

One location, Hartlow Brook, has defied identification, so if anyone has any information it would be gratefully received.

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