Netherton Darby Hand Methodist New Connexion Chapel, Staffordshire
1 Dudley, Darby Hand, Netherton MNC Chapel, facade, 9.10.2016
2 Dudley, Darby Hand, Netherton MNC Chapel, interior (ii), 9.10.2016
3 Dudley, Darby Hand, Netherton MNC Chapel, notice board, 9.10.2016
Darby Hand, Netherton, Methodist New Connexion Chapel was built in 1837. It had probably ceased to be a Methodist place of worship by 1940 since it is absent from the returns compiled in that year. (There were former Primitive and Wesleyan Methodist Chapels in Netherton). The building was removed the Black Country Museum in 1978 and now presents an unrivalled opportunity to examine the interior of a New Connexion chapel. (The rest of the museum is also well worth a visit but that’s another story)
Sources
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson, Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940 No 1086, Dudley Circuit
Site visit 9.10.2016
Comments about this page
You are, of course, absolutely right. The chapel does appear in the 1940 returns, but at that time it was in the Cradley Heath Circuit. It seated 300 in pews, and had a schoolroom. As you attended the Sunday School in 1971 I checked the 1970 accommodation returns, and sure enough it appears again: this time only 267 could be seated in the chapel, but there was a Sunday School of three classrooms, with space for 240 children.
I was christened in this church in 1964, my parents were married in it in 1963, my brother christened in 1965. I attended the Sunday School till 1971 till the fire. Your comment about it not being used after 1940 is therefore incorrect.
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