A visit to Ilkeston to walk across the impressive Bennerley viaduct included coffee in town – and a car park behind a building that was obviously a former chapel. It turned out to belong to the Methodist New Connexion.
Derbyshire Historic Environment Record tells us that “the Methodist New Connexion first met in a former Wesleyan Chapel in Market Street.
This location was not very successful, and a new chapel was built in Stamford Street in 1889. It is a neat Gothic structure, comprising nave, side aisles, and an octagonal turret and spire. In the front elevation is a large Gothic window of five lights, formerly in the chapel in Market Street. The choir gallery and the open pews were also taken from the same edifice. There was an explosion in 1892 that resulted in much damage to the building. “
In November 2022, the chapel building is in use as a carpet warehouse. It no longer has the original Gothic window on its front wall.
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Stamford Street MNC school chapel was built of brick in 1889.
In 1923 it seated 500, By then £1600 had been spent on the original construction, alterations and extensions
Derbyshire Record Office D1820 MJ/10/11 Special trust schedules and related papers, Ilkeston Circuit
The architect was A.H. Goodall of Market Street, Nottingham and the contractor was T Shaw.
Source:Building News, 13.9.1889 and 4.10.1889
Ilkeston Methodist New Connexion chapel, Derbyshire
The cost of Ilkeston MNC Chapel, including the land, was £2000. In 1894-5 the chapel was described as
A neat Gothic structure, comprising nave, side aisles, and a octagon turret and spire. In the front is a large Gothic window of five lights formerly in the chapel in Market Street…… the choir gallery and open pews were taken from the same building”
By 1901 £1500 had been spent on the original construction and the subsequent enlargement of the chapel which seated 625. A further £35 had been spent on purchasing an organ or other instrument.
Sources
Bulmer’s Directory of Derbyshire, 1894-5, p. 538
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