HAMSTERLEY METHODIST CHAPEL IN NEED OF HELP
HAMSTERLEY Methodist chapel, like many others around the country and in this county is in need of
help to keep offering the Christian message of hope.
Over recent years, many Methodist chapels have closed down – Wearhead, St John’s Chapel,
Westgate, Eastgate, Rookhope, Frosterley and more in the locality. The good folk of Hamsterley do
not want it to happen there. The chapel is part of the Local Ecumenical Project along with the nearby
St James C of E church just outside of the village.
Congregations in all have been falling for many years and the Covid closures did not help. Now
those who remain involved are facing a battle to keep it open and viable. There is work to be done,
not only in attracting more people to services but also the kitchen needs a new floor in the Churches
Together centre, a separate building once used as the Sunday School and a new heating system
throughout.
The congregation has been down to five regular attenders but those in charge of Methodism
want to see at least 12. That has been achieved by people of both churches joining together. There
is light, however, at the end of the tunnel with the recent news that The Bible has become the best-
selling book in the country with a 600 per cent increase in sales over the last 12 months. It appears
to be the younger generations who are buying them and it appears as though there is a revival in
Christianity. These young people need church buildings in which to worship.
The Methodist hierarchy are being very short-sighted in not supporting congregations, however
small presently, to keep these churches open.
The Hamsterley congregation are determined to fight to keep their chapel and are already
investigating attracting funding and pulling together grant applications to help out with the costs.
Church members and a few other local people, meanwhile, are planning some interesting and
exciting fundraising events to take place in the coming months.
They are putting together plans for a Quiz with a cold buffet in the church and have also devised a
village quiz at a £1 a go. There will be a presentation of the history of the chapel with a talk, slide-
show, auction, and buffet.
Heather Richardson, a member of the congregation and a hardworking fundraiser for the chapel,
said, “Donations, of course, are always welcome at any time.”
Heather has been visible for many years at most events held in the village, sitting behind a stall
selling all manner of items donated to the chapel for various charities but now the chapel is in need
itself.
She added, “We are reaching out to the community in the village and even to those who were
born here and moved away, to help us in our fight to keep the Methodist chapel open.”
The chapel was built over three years, from 1884 to 1887, the architect was George Race Junior
JP from Westgate who became a leading light in the Methodist circuit in Weardale, famous in the
locality for the work he did there. Hardly a family in the Dale was not affected by his Ministry and his
helpfulness, working hard for his own people.
If you can help, please call Heather on 07846 916820.
