High Street, Willingham, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5JZ

The History of Willingham Methodist Chapel.

According to the 1851 Census for Religious Worship the Wesleyan Chapel at Willingham was erected in 1801, but notes made by a Reverend William Leary gives 1811 with the later chapel in 1885. It is this centenary which we celebrated in 1985.

It would seem that the first date of 1801 is correct, because an indenture dated January 13, 1808 shows that a plot of land was sold for 10 shillings and I quote on which a meeting house had been newly erected. An indenture dated 1811 also refers to a newly erected chapel or preaching house, intended to be used as a place of worship, and the society has always been part of the Gainsborough Circuit.

Rev W Leary, whose address is given as 17 Charles Avenue, Scotter, Gainsborough, made lengthy notes and references on Lincolnshire Methodism.

The return for the 1851 Census of Religious Worship was signed by William Crookes, the Circuit minister at Gainsborough, and states that the building is a separate building and entirely and exclusively used as a place of worship, with 70 free sittings and 60 other sittings. The attendance on the evening of March 30, 1851 was given as 120, the average for the previous 12 months being given as 110. This was when the population of Willingham was 499. Also, the attendance in the Parish Church that same day was given as 54 adults and 40 Sunday School Scholars at the morning service, and 68 adults and 40 Scholars at the afternoon service.

It was evidently not easy to start a religious society in those days. Non-conformists had to register buildings to be used for worship with the Bishop. Dissenting certificates were issued for Willingham in 1799, 1818, 1819 and 1821; only the first is positively identified as Methodist. The certificates issued on September 14, 1799 were signed by the following, some by just putting a X as a mark:

The schoolroom, vestry and kitchen were added in 1915. Part of the plot of land on which they stand was sold at the Fox and Hounds Inn on Monday, November 17, 1902, presumably to a Catherine Walker, who then sold the entire plot of land to Robert Henry Hewitt for L25. This plot then came into the possession of the Gainsborough Circuit for the purpose of extending the premises of the Wesleyan Chapel.

Rights of way were then granted by Richard C Bacon of The Hall, Willingham-by-Stowe, on the east side of the chapel on February 5, 1914.

A certificate as a Place of meeting for Religious Worship was granted and registered on September 15, 1885.

A certificate for the Solemnization of Marriages was registered on April 24, 1922.

The chapel has been a place of great blessing to many people in the past and with Gods blessing will continue to be so for many years to come.