[Part 6 of Mrs Chapman's "Story of Manx Methodism"]

Castletown Circuit.

[Disconnected jottings to be followed up in the circuit.]
Minute books are listed at the Manse. Other items below
More from Wesleyan Record or from local newspapers and Methodist Record. (mainly Wesleyan)

John T Kermode's collection of plans in Manx Museum, from about 1855 to 1890. From these we learn of many discontinued chapels, i.e. that Glen Rushen SSA was held in Beckwith Mine, and the scholars were examined for Scripture knowledge.
1834. The Manx Sun reports. "There are no wreckers among-the Methodists in the South of the island"
1832 Robert Aitken (previously mentioned) great revival service helped with subscription for new chapel, preached at opening, Front gallery 6/- Lesser seats 3/6, a large sun of money in those days
L.P. minute book gives items of interest: Preaching at Ronague to be dropped - to be reconsidered - several times over. They must have reconsidered again for it is only of recent years that the chapel has closed.
1797. The Howe: First chapel became a cottage named Corvalley, site for now chapel given by Collistors of Corvalley. Lighting by candles, notice given out 'Y'an aoural argid noght son my canleyn' (Collection tonight is for candles)
1903. Great agitation for chapel at Port Erin. Manx Sun wrote articles against it. "There are ten places of worship for 3,277 people, and already the P.M. have one chapel which will seat 380".
[Santon Memorial (follow up) ],
1885-7 Henry Cubbin, itinerant evangelist. Diary reprinted in Methodist Magazine. Lived Arbory, but travelled the island supported only by food and shelter. His granddaughter married a Mr. Cooper whose sister was Mrs. Joshua Oliver according to a letter to J.W Moore of Crawe, Lonan, and his grandson was Rev. H.W. Callin of Charlestown Congregational Church, Salford, Lancs. Cubbin's favourite preaching place was Salisbury Street, Douglas, of which he said," I would have laboured there for ever, among so many earnest young men ". He was a great Temperance preacher, and founder of the Rechabite¹ movement in a day when many Wesleyans were not total abstainers.
1902 Wesleyan Record tells of a link broken. Jane Shimmin died at Ballachrink, her father had been converted by John Wesley at S Barrule on June 3 1781.
Interesting item in Q M. Minutes: a good deal of discussion on now chapel building, and also a matter of receiving two young men as local preachers, Alfred Costain and W .H.Kneen (happily still serving in the circuit, 1971). There is a comment: "Some had expected this to be a sort of Paddy's Parliaments, but in the event all went quietly " We can only assume the expected acrimony referred to the new chapel and not the young preachers. (1907)
1914 As The Rev. Evan Sutton is still with us it is of interest to read. his reception service in 1914, and also that the editor of The Wesleyan Record thought fit to mention that Mr. Sutton's first task in the circuit had been the burial of a child named Eddy Bell, aged 8.

In June 1823 Clougher (Clycur) chapel first in barn, then after prospering for some years, declined was then let to the Wesleyans (quoting Currie's P.M. in I.O.M.)

First Castletown chapel opened. Dec. 1 1825. Opened. by John Butcher and Henry Sharman, who were referred to as 'The English preachers'. It had 59 members and included. a house they could be let to help expenses but which was designed to be incorporated if extensions to chapel were needed. It cost £290 and had. 370 sittings. Hugh Bourne preached in it in 1839.

They reached out towards Peel. Miners from 'across' were in some cases already P. M and in a year it was reported, that 23 societies were meeting, and chapels appeared on the roadside almost overnight.
Great Camp meetings at Port le Murry.

Diary of Thos Brundred who came to the island. from the Potteries each year as Missionary deputation, is in the hands of his great Grand daughter; Mrs. Martin and. reveals much of the state of P M, in the South at the period. Mr. Bundred fell in love with the island and removed here in 1846.

In 1828 Hugh Bourne and Mr Clowes had great camp meetings around the South of the island., and with them in the waggon-pulpit was Quayle Stowell, for many years a power in Castletown P.M. circles; he died in 1900 when he was 89 and his wife 90, but the name Stowell still means something in the present generation;(Mr. Leighton Stowell was our guide on our first Manx Methodist Excursion in 1971), 1832 report 3 new chapels and 3 being built.
Croit-e-Caley (before 1880) ;Ebenezer at Kentraugh sold for £20, 1881 new chapel.
Little Mill. S. School in chapel every 4th week.

1923 Synod held at Castletown for Liverpool District. 1157 members in the island; 6 ministers, 112 local preachers,34 chapels.
1855 two resident P.M, travelling preachers (ministers )
Renshunt (Foxdale) land given to P.M, on condition they converted a well known bad character. They did! Kirk Michael chapel 1824 and the circuit reported nine local preachers that year. Preaching was normally alternately in Manx and English. Membership in 1824 was 360 and the circuit was first called The Isle of Man and Bolton.
Port Erin chapel 1823
1832 Fast Days on plan for Cholera victims. 84 died in Castletown alone.
[More about Castletown to be added as facts are found]