Free Methodist Church, Morley, Commercial Street

Jonnybud · Post by **Jonnybud** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 7:17 pm

Has anyone got any information or images on the above building? Tried searching the net but have been unable to find anything.

biofichompinc · Post by **biofichompinc** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 7:38 pm

It's now the nattily-named Chapel Lofts, at the junction with Peel Street.You could start here....http://wakefieldfhs.org.uk/morleyfhg/Pl ... Morley.htm

Jonnybud · Post by **Jonnybud** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 7:46 pm

Yeah im currently located there. Always new I would one day go to church on a sunday. Didn't think I would be drinking tequila beers tho haha. Any info on its past history?

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 7:54 pm

Jonnybud wrote: Has anyone got any information or images on the above building? Tried searching the net but have been unable to find anything. It was Bethel Chapel. There were three Methodist Circuits in Morley up to the re-unification of Methodism in the 1930's. The Wesleyans, main church Queen Street (still exists as Central Methodist) the Primitives, main church Ebenezer on Fountain Street (now flats) and the Free Methodists, main church Bethel.Morley may not have many decent pubs, but it certainly wasn't short of churches. On Commercial Street alone, stood, St Marys (URC) Zoar Particular Baptist (now Labour Rooms) Baptist, (now flats) and Bethel. Just off Commercial Street on Zoar Street were the Catholic Apostolic (now Spiritualists) and Church of Christ (evangelical free church) There are plenty more, mostly flats by now.

Jonnybud · Post by **Jonnybud** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 8:10 pm

Thanks for the info. Didn't know it was called Bethel Chapel. Has helped me to find this photo.http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 424380Yeah I have noticed recently there are lots of old chapels and places of worship scattered around morley.Anymore pics or info?

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 8:19 pm

Morley had a great tradition of non-conformism that went hand in hand with the mill workers who were employed in the cloth mills. Just have a look at the list on this website:http://wakefieldfhs.org.uk/morleyfhg/Pl ... Morley.htm

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 8:24 pm

Ho Ho! I just noticed SaltnPepper had already posted the same link!

Jonnybud · Post by **Jonnybud** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 8:27 pm

Equal measure of pubs and churches.Anyone know how I could find further information on Bethel United Methodist Chapel?And did they have a football team?

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Sun 19 Jan, 2014 11:48 pm

jonleeds wrote: Morley had a great tradition of non-conformism that went hand in hand with the mill workers who were employed in the cloth mills. Just have a look at the list on this website:http://wakefieldfhs.org.uk/morleyfhg/Pl ... Morley.htm That's a really comprehensive list. The one that interests me is one of the Tingley Methodist Chapels, which had the nickname "Tingley Hambone" allegedly because when the guest preacher came to eat the faith supper, all that was left was a hambone. I wonder which one it was given how many Methodist places of worship there were in Tingley/West Ardsley.I was brought up a Methodist. There was a time when I went three times on Sunday, plus youth club and social club in the week. My whole life revolved around the chapel. We played billiards (occasionally snooker) darts, dominoes, table tennis. But we weren't allowed to play cards on Methodist premises - you can gamble on any of the games I've mentioned, but cards was a no-no.We didn't have a football team, and I don't recall Bethel having one either - could be wrong. I'm not much of a believer these days and seldom go near a place of worship except for funerals. But whilst you can take the lad out of the chapel, you can't take the chapel out of the lad. My entire way of thinking was formed in the early days of my life. I look at life through the prism of Methodism, and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it!