destroyed the property, endangered the lives, and interrupted the religious services, of their pious neighbours; and the other encouraged them in their riotous proceedings, by refusing to the injured party all legal redress. The Magistrates, how ever, were justly punished for their neglect of duty. The case was tried in York; and the "Magistrates," says Mr. Wesley in his Journal, were sentenced to rebuild the house which the mob had pulled down." This act of public justice laid the fury of the populace under restraint for several years. "All," says Mr. Wesley, in 1752, "is peace here since the trial at York.” 66 In 1749 Sheffield was made the head of a Circuit; and Mr. Edward Perronet was one of the Preachers appointed to it. At that time there were but twenty Circuits in England, seven in Ireland, two in Scotland, and two in Wales. The Ministers who were appointed to the Sheffield Circuit traversed a large extent of country. In 1748 the Sheffield Circuit included the greater part of what are now the Rotherham, Doncaster, Worksop, Chesterfield, Bakewell, Bradwell, Buxton, Cromford, Belper, and Derby Circuits. In this extensive District, where thirty-two Minis ters are now regularly employed, and more than two hundred Preachers, Travelling and Local, preach every Lord's day, there were but two Itinerant Preachers, and hardly any local assistants. Whether or not Sheffield continued to hold the rank of a Circuit town, cannot be ascertained from public documents. Mr. Everett, the ingenious historian of Methodism in Sheffield, supposes it did not; but that it became a part, first of the Leeds, and then of the Epworth Circuit. This opinion is confirmed by an entry in Mr. Wesley's Journal: "Friday, June 13th, 1755. In the evening I preached in Sheffield. In the morning I examined the members of society, and was agreeably surprised to find, that, though none had visited them since I did it my self two years ago, yet they were rather increased than diminished in number, and many of them growing in grace." From this extract it appears that for two years, at least, no Methodist Minister had resided in the town of Sheffield; and that during this time the society had not been visited either by Mr. Wesley, or any of his Assistants. Two years after Mr. Wesley's visit to them, in 1757, a house was purchased in Mulberry-street, and converted into a chapel. Prior to the purchase of this house, the followers of Wesley and those of Whitefield worshipped in the same place; a union unproductive of good to either party. The building in Mulberrystreet, now no longer a place of worship, will long be viewed by the Methodists in Sheffield with peculiar interest. It is the place where many of their forefathers were awakened, converted to God, and trained for that bliss which they now enjoy. Here the late Mr. Henry Longden, a man never to be forgotten in Sheffield and its vicinity, was convinced of sin, and prepared to enter upon a course of labour, so honourable to himself, and so beneficial to many hundreds of his fellow-men. The chapel in Mulberry-street was occupied by the Methodists, as a place of worship, for twenty-three years; and, at the close of that period, was far too small for the increasing crowds that were eager to attend its impressive services. 66 On Thursday, June 29th, 1780, the Norfolk-street chapel was opened for divine worship, by the venerable Founder of Methodism; full of years; for he was then seventyseven years of age. He preached in Mulberry-street on Wednesday evening, to a crowd so dense, that the heat was scarce supportable." In the morning, at five, he preached in the same place; and then, taking his leave of it for ever, he preached in the evening in the new house, crowded with rich and poor, "to whom," says he, "I declared, 'We preach Christ crucified;' and He bore witness to the word in a very uncommon manner." On the following Sunday Mr. Wesley preached in Norfolk-street at eight o'clock in the morning, and at five in the even From 1749 to 1765 there is a chasm in the printed Minutes of Conference. In 1765 Sheffield again appears upon the Minutes, as the head of a Circuit, under the care of Mr. Peter Jaco, assisted by Mr. Paul Greenwood; and in the following year the members of the various societies amounted to five hundred and eighty-three. The Circuit, notwithstanding its extent, was too poor to support, even as Methodist Ministers were then supported, the two excellent men that were appointed to watch over the souls of the people. Sheffield received five pounds from the Yearly Collection, and Leeds ten. Within the boundaries of what, in 1766, formed the Sheffield Circuit, there are now 11,762 members; and five hundred and eighty-eight Class-Leaders, each of whom, upon the average, is appointed to watch over twenty individuals. And the District not only supports all the Ministers regularly employed in it, but raised £320. 3s. 6d. during the year 1834 for the relief of poor Circuits. Rapidly, however, as Methodism has increased in the Sheffield District, its progress for some years was exceedingly slow. From 1766 to 1780 two hundred and forty-six members only were added to the society, making an annual increase of seventeen persons. From 1780 to 1804 Sheffield was favoured with some of the ablest and most successful Ministers in the Methodist Connexion; and the annual increase was more than seven times as great as during the preceding fourteen years. In 1794, 5, and 6, there was a very extraordinary revival of religion in Sheffield. It began on Monday, June 30th, 1794, in Norfolk-street chapel. On that day a love-feast was held, which was distinguished by nothing remarkable till it was about to be closed. Mr. Moon, the Superintendent, having requested one of the Local Preachers to pray, so powerful and general was the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of the people, that a loud and bitter cry was heard in every part of the chapel. Leaving the pulpit, Mr. Moon spoke to those that were in distress, and directed them to the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world," that they might obtain comfort and salvation. Many continued in penitence and prayer till past midnight; and many were enabled to rejoice in the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. On several successive nights prayer-meetings were held in the same chapel, and were distinguished by the same powerful influence. Many who, in these prayer-meetings, were brought to the knowledge of God, continued to the end of life, adorning “ the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." In that year three hundred and eighty members were added to the society; and a great proportion of these in the course of about three weeks. During the following year this great work not only continued, but increased. Mr. Bramwell was then in the Circuit; and in the course of twelve months 1250 members were added to the society. In the entire history of Methodism in Sheffield, there is no year to be compared with this. Many other years have been glorious, but upon this there is a glory" that excelleth." Nor were the materials built upon the foundation laid in Zion, wood, hay, stubble; but, to a great extent, gold, silver, precious stones. Next year there was not only no diminution of number, but two hundred and sixty-seven were added to the society, which continued to increase till Mr. Kilham and his friends separated from the body. By this unhappy secession one thousand persons were torn away from their brethren and Pastors. Many of these, cut off from the friends with whom they had long been happily associated, and taught to suspect and censure them, lost the religion of holy love, and strayed into the wilderness, where it is to be feared they perished. That more extensive mischief was not done, was owing to the piety and prudence of the Rev. James Wood, of whom many of the oldest members of the society still speak in terms of the highest respect. Mr. E. W. Miller, and the late Mr. H. Longden, were also very active, and in many cases very successful, in endeavouring to stop the progress of disaffection. In 1801 Sheffield was made the head of a District. In 1804 the Carver-street chapel was built. This chapel, at the time of its erection, was one of the largest and most handsome in the Connexion; and even now it is exceeded by few. The foundation-stone was laid by the late Thomas Holy, Esq.; and it was opened for divine worship by Mr. W. Jenkins, the Superintendent of the Circuit, and Mr. Benson. Mr. Jenkins, I believe, had been employed by the Trustees of the chapel, as their architect. At the opening of this chapel there were in the town of Sheffield, and the very extensive Circuit of which it was then the head, 2,232 members of society. The chapel was well attended; but the Norfolk-street chapel was for some time almost entirely deserted by the more wealthy and influential of the pew holders. But since then a new race has sprung up, and the Norfolk street chapel is filled with hearers, many of whom are in easy circumstances. In 1805 the Conference was first held in Sheffield. The number of members in the town was then comparatively small; yet did they provide, in the most liberal manner, for the Ministers who attended. In 1807 a chapel was built in Bridge-houses, and opened by the Rev. Jabez Bunting. This chapel was plain, and unexpensive; and, though inconvenient, was made a blessing to the population amongst whom it was erected. plary diligence for two years, and left in the Circuit a net increase of only four hundred and fifty; and yet Mr. Bramwell was neither less holy nor less zealous in 1810, than he had been in 1795. "Neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." From 1813 to 1823 the progress of Methodism in the Sheffield Circuit was very slow. Forty-seven only, on the average, were added each year to the society. In 1823 a fourth chapel was built. The foundation-stone was laid by Mr. Holy. It is a Gothic structure, with a tower, which gives it something of the appearance of a church. It is large and commodious, capable of seating (I suppose) from fifteen to sixteen hundred people, and of containing, when crowded, several hundreds more. This chapel was opened on the 27th of July, 1823, by the late Dr. Adam Clarke and the Rev. Jabez Bunting. When Dr. Clarke was preaching an alarm was created. The people rushed to the door, or leaped out of the windows, as if the building were falling, and they were in danger of being crushed in the ruins. Happily no lives were lost, though numbers of persons were seriously injured. For several years after its erection, this chapel was not well attended; but at present, the congregation worshipping in it is one of the largest in the town. This edifice cost about £5,000. In the year 1831 a fifth Methodist chapel was built, situated in Sheffield Park. A few centuries ago this part of the town of Sheffield was literally a park, shaded with trees which had flourished for ages in the same soil. The inhabitants of this populous district had long been proverbial for ignorance and depravity. Upon this portion of their fellow-townsmen the Methodists in Sheffield had long looked with deep and painful emotion. They seemed to live only to sin and to suffer; to toil for bread, and be trained for destruction. In all this neglected district there was no place of public worship, except a chapel belonging to a hospital for the poor. This chapel was a small In 1810 Mr. Bramwell was re-appointed to the Sheffield Circuit, with the late Mr. Robert Miller, Mr. Valentine Ward, and Mr. W. Tranter. But the best of men and of Ministers are not always equally successful. He who fifteen years before had seen twelve hundred and fifty inembers added to the society in one year, now, in conjunction with his colleagues, laboured with exemVOL. XIV, Third Series. AUGUST, 1835. 2 S octagonal building, with a pulpit in the centre. As the poor people wished not only to hear the voice, but also to see the face, of the Minister, the pulpit was made to turn upon a pivot; and the Clergyman stood with his face to the east one week, to the west another, to the north on the third, and to the south on the fourth. A piece of ground having been purchased of the Duke of Norfolk, the foundation of a new chapel was laid by Mr. Thomas Smith. This place of worship, which is twentyone yards by eighteen, cost £1900. It is a neat stone building, galleried round, and contains free sittings for the accommodation of some hundreds of the poor inhabitants. It was opened on Friday, January 7th, 1831. The Rev. Robert Newton, and Mr. William Dawson, preached on that day, and the Rev. James Everett, and the Rev. Robert Wood, on the following Sabbath. The collections amounted to £233; and £1300 had been previously raised by private subscription. In Sheffield Park the cholera raged with fatal violence; and scores of people in the course of a few weeks were carried off by this dreadful scourge, and consigned to the dust upon the summit of a hill, called the "Cholera Mount;" a place consecrated not merely by the ashes of these victims of the pestilence, but by the pen of Mr. Montgomery. His beautiful lines, called "The Cholera Mount," are well known, and will long embalm the memory of those who lived and died without a name. During the ravages of this mysterious and fatal malady a very deep impression was made upon the public mind. Thousands, when they saw "the pestilence that walketh in darkness" entering every street, and hurrying, in a few short hours, the stoutest to the grave, were driven to the sanctuary of God. There many were deeply awakened, truly converted, and continue to this day to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Beneath the chapel in Sheffield Park is a dayschool for boys, who are instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, and English grammar. This school is under the direction and control of the Trustees, and of the Leaders' Meeting. The average number of boys is about one hundred and seventy, or one hundred and eighty. A day-school, upon a similar plan, has been established for a longer period in Red-Hill school, and is well conducted; a day-school for girls has lately been established in connexion with the Ebenezer chapel, and promises to be a great blessing. There are therefore at the present three day-schools in Sheffield, under the exclusive direction of the Wesleyan Methodists; and another in connexion with Norfolk-street will immediately be established. In 1831 the Sheffield Circuit was divided; Carver-street being the head of one Circuit, and Norfolkstreet of the other. This delicate and very difficult affair was managed with great ability by the Rev. Samuel Jackson and his colleagues. Few men could have accomplished this difficult work so much to the satisfaction of all parties. This measure has been eminently conducive to the peace and prosperity of the societies both in the town and Circuit. When the division toek place, the Circuit contained about three thousand members. There are at present, in the two Circuits, about five thousand; and the contributions to all those funds which conduce so efficiently to the spread of religion, and the relief of suffering humanity, have been proportionably increased. In 1833 the old chapel in Bridgehouses was taken down, and a new one built upon its site. This chapel is about the size of the one in Sheffield Park. It is a chaste and very beautiful Grecian structure, an ornament to the place, an honour to the persons by whose taste and liberality it was erected, and, what is infinitely more important, a means of great benefit to the thousands who reside in the neighbourhood. The school-room beneath the chapel is one of the best in the Connexion. This chapel was opened by the Rev. Jabez Bunting. The collections on that occasion, and on the following Sunday, were very liberal. In April, 1833, was laid the foundation of a large new chapel in the Sheffield East Circuit. The spiritual wants and moral degradation of the population of that part of the town in which it stands, the Wesleyan Methodists had long seen and la mented. A large room was taken, and occupied as a Sunday-school, and a place of religious worship. But as this place was far too small for the population, and for the people that were willing to attend, a few pious and public-spirited individuals bought, on their own responsibility, a plot of ground, which they intended to offer to the society as a place on which a new chapel might be advantageously erected. The plot, however, though not positively ineligible, possessed not all the advantages that were desired. Various attempts were therefore made to obtain land in a more favourable situation. For some months these attempts were fruitless; but just as hope was expiring, we obtained a piece of ground in a most desirable situation. A meeting of friends was called, and subscriptions to a large amount were promised. The late Mr. Thomas Staley took the lead, and several followed his example. Seldom has the influence of Christian principles been more delightfully unfolded than on that occasion. With deep and holy emotion the friends ascribed all their success in business to the good providence of God, and expressed their determination to consecrate a part of their substance to Him. Two of those who were then present are now in heaven. They died in the Lord; they "rest from their labours; and their works follow them." The day on which the first stone of this chapel was laid will not soon be forgotten. Many hundreds of people assembled in Norfolk-street chapel and its immediate vicinity. After singing and prayer, the architect and builder, the Trustees, the Itinerant and Local Preachers, the Class-Leaders, Prayer-Leaders, and Sunday-school Teachers, followed by a select number of children from each school, and an immense number of people, walked in order to the place where the new chapel was to be erected. The distance between the two chapels is nearly half a mile; and yet the road on each side throughout the entire distance was crowded. After the foundation-stone had been laid by Mr. Staley, the Rev. Robert Newton, who had come from Manchester, that he might be present on the occasion, delivered an appropriate address to the assembled crowds. The service was concluded with prayer to Almighty God, that the temple which was to be erected might be filled with his presence; and that by the preaching of the truth, thousands might be converted and saved. The services of this interesting day were made a blessing to many. The chapel was completed without accident. Only one circumstance occurred during the progress of the building to cloud the enjoyment of those who looked forward to its completion. This was the death of Mr. Thomas Staley, a man who, for purity of purpose, simplicity of manners, peaceableness of disposition, correctness of judgment, and liberality of mind, has left but few equals, and no superior, in the Circuit to which he belonged. His health had been declining for some time, and many who saw him lay the first stone of the chapel predicted that he would occupy the first grave in the adjoining cemetery. He died long before the chapel was completed; and his ashes sleep in peace in a vault beneath its portico, which stands as a monument of his zeal and liberality. "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." On Friday, the 30th of May, 1834, this chapel was opened for divine worship. The Rev. Robert Newton preached in the morning, and the Rev. Daniel Chapman at night. On the following Sunday the Rev. Jabez Bunting preached in the morning; Mr. William Dawson in the afternoon, and the Rev. David M'Nicoll at night. Sermons by the same Ministers were preached in Norfolkstreet chapel and in Sheffield Park. The different services of that day |
