Bishop Auckland South Road Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel

Matthew Richley tells the story of his chapel in his ‘History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.’

” In the years 1834 and 1835, the secession which took place from the Wesleyan Methodist body found some sympathy in Bishop Auckland and many of the surrounding towns, and the movement being taken up by a few of the members of the first-mentioned denomination, it was decided by them that steps should be taken to form themselves into a separate and independent body.

With this object in view, a large room situated in the King’s Arms Yard was obtained, and in that place the first ministrations of the newly-formed body were held. After worshipping in the above room for several years, increasing numbers rendered it necessary that a more convenient place should be provided, and in the year 1844 a site, situated in South Road, was obtained for a chapel. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was performed with the usual observances, and appropriate addresses were delivered on the occasion by Messrs. J. Kipling and J. Harley.

The architect and builder was Mr Joseph Teasdale, and the joiner work was executed by Mr. Isaac Smith, of Yarm. The opening services were preached on the 21st of July of the same year, by the Rev. J. B. Young, of Sunderland, and in the afternoon and evening of the succeeding Monday by the Rev. John Guttridge, of Leeds. The building was at that time known as the Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel ; but, in 1857, an amalgamation having taken place between them and the Wesleyan Reformers-the two seceding bodies it became from that time known as the Wesleyan Methodist Free Church. The dimensions of the original chapel were 42 feet by 36 feet, and it was calculated to hold from 300 to 400 persons.”

The chapel appears to have been replaced on the same site in 1869

Source

Richley, Matthew ‘History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.’ Bishop Auckland: W.J. Cummins, 1872 p 153