[Part 7 of Mrs Chapman's "Story of Manx Methodism"]

Ramsey Circuit.

[Jottings about Ramsey to be followed up within the circuit.]

John Crook was in Ramsey June 16th 1775 Tradition says he stayed in the Swan Hotel but the owners wouldn't let him preach as he might disturb the pigs! He said. the people whom he met were lifeless, wouldn't sing, so he came back to Douglas where he had more success. Six years later Wesley had a better time in Ramsey. It was raining but crowds turned up to hear him even at 5 a.m. It is alleged that Wesley preached from the 'old red steps of Dr. Le Mothe's house at the old Cross Hall'.

In 1794 the first chapel, with a hard mud floor and neither seats nor lighting was built on a plot known as Kee's Garden, and the plot cost four shillings. Later a house naned 'Hibernia' was on this site, owner Mr. Corkhill. In 1810 this building was too small and they paid 'fifty pounds British for land between the Queen and the Strand' and the chapel, when opened by Rev.Geo. Holder, was the largest in the island.

Queen Street became too small and in 1845, during the ministry of the Rev. Saml Turner, Conference approval was sought to build a larger chapel. The population was given as 2,500 and the present seating was inadequate for the average congregation of 450.The Secretary of the Conference writing from Stockport on June 5th 1845 gave the scheme his personal blessing, but urged that the money should be raised so that the opening debt will not exceed £400. In June 1846 Mona's Herald gives a great account of a bazaar held for chapel building funds, and. the opening of the chapel when "eloquent and powerful discourses were preached." Over the next few years extensions were made and an organ added to lead the singing. In 1835 there were 1,242 members in Ramsey (West ) circuit, with 70 local preachers. The Rolls Office records show the erection of country places: Lonan 1788; Ballakaneen 1782, Jurby 1791; Ballure Mill 1820, Orrissdale 1843; Regaby 1843. In 1900 we have a census of sittings available, the stewards being told to measure pews to see how many could. be seated allowing 18 inches per person. The stewards commented even then that it was easier to measure seats then fill them! There were 3,085 seats let and 1,574 free seats, and it is interesting to see the respective capacity of the chapels in that year (1900):
Ballakaneen (255) Kirk Michael (127) Jurby (160) Ballaugh (new)112; Balljora (174) Glascoe (100) Ballaugh (village) 228.Smeale (130) Barrogarrow (200) Kerrowgarrow (200), Sandygate (200) Carrdle (130) Little London (70)

1850 Bought a horse for minister; if can't ride he must learn! The local statistician worked out that the Ramsey minister travelled 187 miles each month to 27 places whilst the Douglas minister had only 25 places and. travelled only 159 miles monthly.

Wesleyan day School (history would be very interesting if logbooks are available? ) Minister to attend each third Friday to give religious instruction (1910)

Sulby. The present is the third chapel. Known locally as The Theologians' chapel, as so many men became preachers, especially just before 1914 war.

1910 Quarterly. Meeting deplored the Boy Scout movement as it kept boys on the streets till 9 p.m.

Dec. 1909 Mark Hy Joghin of Bride preached his final sermon before emigrating to America. Was lost on Ellan Vannin shipwreck in Liverpool Bay. Body recovered Feby 12th 1910 and brought back to Ramsey for burial.

Agneash Pit disaster. Two members of Oliver family , John and James, local preachers lost their lives. [sic actually Snaefell Mine disaster of 1897]

Jotting, about Ramsey P.M.

[ to be followed up in the circuit.]
1823 Preachers marooned in water at Dog mill by youths who pushed in the cart they were using for pulpit.

1824. Circuit was Ramsey with Peel, in 1844 there were 725 members.
Cottage meetings and societies formed at Ballaugh, Kerrowmoar and Maughold in 1824,
1824 asked for another travelling preacher Bolton replied they could not do this and would IOM please pay up, for previous year for assessment and books supplied. This they did the following year.

Septr. 1861. Robt Cannan to be 'hired loca1 preacher' i.e.lay pastor, 'if we can raise sufficient funds to pay him'. He was later recommended for regular ministry but as he refused to leave the island the matter was dropped..
Leodest so often 'neglected by non-arrival of planned preachers' that a man was asked to be in readiness to hold the fort !

Items from circuit books in possession of archivist at present(1971)

Sept. 1830 Mr, Ball, Local preacher, borrowed a feather bed from preacher's house, to return it when Mr. Ball is well enough!
Sept. 1864 Bro. Teare suspended on account of family quarrel and attempt to divide society at Ramsey Mr. Corlett is to seek readmission as a member. A sermon was preached at the Curraghs, the whole strain of which was a personal grievance over the sale of a cow. Another preacher dropped for not paying his debts.

There were possibly Primitive Methodists in Ramsey before the Butchers were sent from Bolton to mission the island; these may have been a group known as the Methodist Shakers so called because they tremble in prayer; and they were probably miners who came over from Cumberland already familiar with the Primitive Methodist doctrines. (There are notes of this group -whether Primitives or not, called Shakers - approx. 1819-21)
Remarks about the Butcher family: "John knocked them down in their sin: his wife comforted them, and the son (Butcher-Beg) picked them up and put them straight again." The son was a prolific writer to P.M. publications and gave full reports of work being done.
P.M. Chapel schedules: 1832 .Ramsey chapel private property but hoping to buy it soon.
1833 Ramsey/Peel circuit rose from 389 to 1,000
John Guill had accepted call to come but refused causing them expense of 12/- which circuit said he should bear.
1834 Examination into characters of Preachers: "Minister smokes tobacco but only on doctor's recommendation "

Thomas Brundred came from Potteries 1847 to live in Ramsey; had been missionary 'deputation' for many years previously. His diary is in possession of his descendants (Martins of Knock-e-Dhooney Andreas) and reveals a good deal of conditions then. Member of P.M. Conference. [FPC: in 1851 Thomas Brundred (age 60) with wife Esther, 62, farmed 16 acres at Ardonnan (their 11 yr grandson Thomas Hampton was also present ) - neither were found in 1861 census].

Kirk Michael. So much opposition by vicar and local 'gentry' that P.M. chapel was abandoned, but minister, Fred Smith, with pick and shovel worked on, and other men were encouraged to finish it with him.

RAMSEY Methodist New Connexion

Further to notes PP 7 ff.The story of the M.N.C. in Ramsey is worth following up,: Facts so far available only from local Directories and Conference reports do we gain meagre facts. Mr. J.H. Craine's notes show that a chapel built for THE HALLELUJAH BAND by Mr. John Mortimer passed into the hands of M.N.C. ( Possibly the Old Bethel?) When M.N.C. take it over it is called The Old Bethel Later they move to Bowring Road (present electricity showrooms). No history recorded except directories give meeting places of Protestant Dissenters in 1837, 1843, 1853 and 1857. In 1889 they must have been strong for Conference approved the purchase of a site at corner of Queen's Pier and Westbourne Road, but the option was not taken up. Ramsey continued for the first two decades of this century as M.N.C. but in 1922 they report only 22 members, no minister, no local preacher, and eventually they merged with the Parliament Street Methodist Society on Methodist Union.

Laxey was apparently at one time connected with Ramsey M.N.C. but they were cottage meetings only. The Conference schedule in 1888 reports still a fourth M.N;.C, Society in the island but I have not been able to establish where it was centred. (E.V. C )

[RAMSEY P.M. to be continued and written up within the circuit.]