Methodist in Ripley Derbyshire
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The Early Methodist in Ripley
The Methodist Church was formed in the early 1700's as a break away movement from the established Church (Church of England), mainly by two Anglican ministers, John Wesley the preacher and his brother, Charles Wesley, the hymn writer. John Wesley preached in the open-air and traveled all over the country, preaching in open spaces or wherever people would listen to him. Sometimes he was well received but on many occasions hostile people drove him out of town or village. They were banned from preaching in the established church, so the Wesleyan Methodist Church was formed. John Wesley preached on Ripley Market place on June 14th 1742. At this time there was a Methodist church in Ripley this was in the Belper Circuit. A new Church was built in Chapel Street in 1846 costing £2,000 and seating 700 people – a manse and schoolroom were built in 1889.
- Primitive Methodist Church
A break-away movement from the Wesleyan Methodist Church took place in 1810 when a group of Methodists in the North Staffordshire area held a series called ‘Love Feasts or Camp Meetings’ which did not please the existing Methodist Church. They were expelled and formed the Primitive Methodist Church, which spread throughout the land.
- United Methodist Free Churches
In 1849 there was another break-away from the Wesleyan Church, not on account of faith or belief but on individual freedoms of the members. Ripley was a hot spot for the new movement, which became known as Reform Methodist. Protestant Dissenters, Finally united Methodist free churches were built in many towns and villages in the land. A group of these people met in a room at the back George Rowland’s shop in Church st (now Godkins) and later in a room in malthouse yard. In the 1850’s there was a religious revival in Ripley, the lecture hall in Wood Street, which had been built in the 1840 was purchased and in 1854 a new chapel was built , called Ebenezer, By 1860 this would not hold all the large numbers attending, A new church also called Ebenezer was built in CO-OP Square, at a cost of £1,700, Seating 600 people, together with a schoolroom. After a mission in 1864, a Church was also built at green hillocks, and called Bethel. Ebenezer church closed in the early 1960s and is now a car park.
- The Primitive Methodist Church
Formed in 1810 had a following in Ripley in the late 1840s they met in a room in Malt house. In 1850 Ripley Primitive Methodist Church became head of a new circuit. This Church was in Grosvenor road on the site of the wine Bar, Formerly the CO-OP Fish and Meat shop. In the 1870’s there was a big religious revival under the leadership of the Rev John Thomas Neale. The Church in Grosvenor rd was to small to hold all the people who attended, so in 1876 a group of miners bought the premises in Wood Street, which had reverted to a lecture Hall and ladies school. The cost was £700 it was called Wood Street mission hall. The schoolroom was built in 1892 at a cost of £1,379 and was known as Primitive Methodist Church, Wood Street. There are still families connected from the 1876 Pioneers.
The remaining congregations from Grosvenor Road built a new Church on Nottingham Road in 1893 at a cost of £2.075 including schoolroom.
In 1932 the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Primitive Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church joined and became known as the Methodist Church. At this time the membership of the five Methodist Churches was 383. In 1998 the membership was 67 + 200 on the community roll. Ebenezer Church Closed in the Early 1960s and members transferred to the Wesley Church. The Wesley and the Bethel Church closed in the late 1960 and members transferred to Nottingham Road Church.
In 1989 The Nottingham Road Methodist Church Closed and members transferred to Wood Street Methodist Church, as this was the only Methodist church in Ripley. It was renamed Ripley methodist Church and this church is still active and will be undergoing a rebuild with a new Church and rooms.
