Manx Methodist Historical Society - Newsletter 3

MANX METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY - EXCURSION

The postponed excursion took place on Saturday, 17th August. In the event those who attended were favoured with a beautiful afternoon in one of the most scenic parts of the island. Members assembled at Abbeylands Chapel which is tucked away off the beaten track. The interior of this small Chapel must be one of the most attractive on the island with its staged pews and pine clad ceiling.

Following the opening devotions conducted by the Rev, Rex Kissack he stated that during Heritage Year it was proposed that all the Methodist Chapels both old and new should be recorded.

Mr. P.R.Kermeen informed us that Abbeylands, built 1815 was one of the oldest Chapels still in use, except for Kerrowkeil which was built a year earlier. The old chapel was renovated in 1914. As with many early Wesleyan chapels a day school was in operation below the chapel and a s many as 120 children were recorded on roll. After a tour of inspection and thanking the friends of Abbeylands for their hospitality, members set off for East Baldwin Chapel.

On our arrival Mr. Frank Cowin showed us the former chapel which had been converted for commercial uses when it finally closed about twenty years ago. He remembered the centenary of this building being celebrated in 1950. Across the road was a smaller, much older building which was an earlier chapel still and is now used as a storehouse for the scouts. this building dated from the early 1830's.
We then followed the winding road down this beautiful valley to meet at St. Luke's Church and Mr. Cowin drew our attention to various architectural points of interest and informed us that St. James, Dalby and St. Stephen's, Lezayre were built to similar plans.

After leaving St. Luke's for Union Mills, we paused en route at the old West Baldwin chapel, the present building being the third on that site, the ladies of Union Mills had provided most acceptable refreshments and after partaking of these, Mr. W.L. Christian spoke about Methodism there. It appears that early methodists in this area were indebted to a local man, Mr. Henry, for the provision of their first chapel at cost of £200.
The opening of the chapel in June 1863 for the "thriving village"of Union Mills was quite a festive occasion. The proceedings commenced in the afternoon with a tea party in Miss Drury's grove of trees. After this everyone crowded into the new chapel which had accommodation for100 people. from all accounts there was no other country chapel in the circuit to equal it, one unusual innovation was the interior light which consisted of fifty four gas burners. The chapel served its purpose well until the present handsome chapel was built in 1930.

The Rev. Rex. Kissack expressed the thanks of members to all concerned and this concluded one of the Society's most enjoyable excursion

"My faith in God"
My heart was full of sorrow
The severest in my life
I knew that on the morrow
Might begin theawful strife.

.......

The morrow came, and with it
The tempter who did sneer
And try to shake my faith in God
In vain did he appear.

Three more days passed, and with them
Came anxious thought, and worry
And then the sudden startling news
My boy had gone to glory.

To glory, not to battle,
Ah no! this cannot be
I have the promise of my God
He'd keep him safe for me.

.......

Then came the tempter as before
Is this the faith you knew?
Has God not kept His promise?
Is this His love for you?

My thoughts tu-rned slowly backward
To the vision I did see
Of God's encircling arms around
Protecting him for me.

And the pleadings I had offered
Were for safety - not for life.
Was this God's way of keeping him
By taking him from strife?

God's ways and thoughts are higher
Than those of feeble man
He knows what's best and for our good
Is working out His plan.

.......

Yes - God has kept His promises
Though His plan I do not see
Eternity and Christ alone
Will reveal the mystery.

The verses overleaf are extracts from a poem written by Mrs. Alberta Moore of Arbory Street Methodist Church, written when she heard of the death of her son even before he arrived at the front in the First World War. Mrs. Moore is the mother of Ivy, who still worships in Castletown, and who discovered her mother's poetry after her death. There are many beautiful little poems in the collection - illustrating just one of the gifts of our forbears.

Miss Moore also recalled the work of her father as a local preacher. He was a baker, who had to be up at 4 am every day, and would work avery long day as with a horse and cart he delivered the bread he baked. Then on Sundays he might take the train to Ballasalla and then walk upto Ballagarey, or on other occasions might have to walk from Castletown to Ballakilpheric to fulfil a preaching engagement. It is on such faith that our own faith rests

MANX HERITAGE YEAR 1986

The Society is considering ways in which a specific Methodist contribution can be made, and have approached Synod with a request to establish a Committee to be responsible for arrangements.

The Society is also considering the possibility of an exhibition in the Museum, and an extended programme during 1986 with two tours and two meetings, one of which might include a slide presentation of Manx architecture. It has also been suggested that the Society might engage in a project to photograph all old (and new?) chapels, and that their geographical positions be recorded.