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Catalogue description Methodist Archive
This record is held by Bedfordshire Archives
| Reference: | MB |
|---|---|
| Title: | Methodist Archive |
| Description: |
(Methodists - Bedfordshire) |
| Date: | 1781 - 1989 |
| Held by: | Bedfordshire Archives, not available at The National Archives |
| Language: | English |
| Physical description: | 68 sub fonds |
| Access conditions: |
Note: Certain categories of Methodist Archive material are subject to a 50 year closure period Document Closure period Methodist Archives deposited in local Record Offices are subject to an embargo laid down by Methodist Conference. In 1966 Conference decreed that records less than 60 years old should not be made available for inspection without the permission of the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit concerned. However, certain classes of material deemed to have been already made public (such as pulpit notices, handbills, and brochures etc.), and registers of baptisms, are excluded from this rule and are freely available for inspection. In 1985 the period of closure was reduced to 50 years. Thus Methodist Archives are now (1989) subject to a 50 year closure period or embargo, but restricted material may be produced for inspection in cases where the approval of the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit has been obtained. The Archivist on duty will advise readers as to whether records less than 50 years old "have already been made public", and give guidance in cases where formal authorisation from the Superintendent Minister should be obtained before records are produced for inspection. C. J. Pickford County Archivist - Bedfordshire Record Office 3/1/1989 METHODIST ARCHIVES: CLOSURE PERIOD Amendments to Standing Order 015 Archives, as passed by the 1994 Methodist Conference. (Amendments are in black type) 015 Archives. (1) All minute books, account books, baptismal and burial registers, and any other records relating to district, circuit and local church affairs which are deemed worthy of permanent preservation by the district archivist and recipient archivists, when no longer needed for current reference in the conduct of business, shall be deposited on permanent loan with a public authority having appropriate repository facilities, and the connexional archives liaison officer shall be informed. Divisional and connexional records shall be deposited on similar terms with the connexional archives. As to certain connexional records see S.O. 125 As to district minutes see also S.O. 415 As to the functions of the district archivist see S.O.473 As to the connexional committee see S.O.375 (2) The responsibility for supervising and arranging the deposit of circuit and local church records shall rest with the Superintendent. The responsibility for district records shall rest with the Chairman. The responsibility for divisional and connexional records shall rest with the relevant General Secretary, convener or secretary. (3) Unless the deposited material has already been made public, and subject to clauses (3A) and (3B) below, there shall be a restriction of thirty years on access, except where the responsible supervisor for the time being otherwise informs the depositee in writing either on the occasion of the deposit or subsequently. Any variation may lengthen, shorten, remove or suspend the restriction otherwise applicable and may be general or relate to specific documents or categories of documents or to inspection by specific persons. (3A) A restriction of seventy five years on access shall apply to records of a confidential nature, including correspondence, papers and machine-readable records containing personal details of a sensitive nature relating to individuals in respect of complaints, disciplinary procedures, interviews, invitations, stationing, pastoral matters, case-studies and assessment files, and the responsible supervisor shall inform the depositee accordingly whenever such records are deposited. (3B) Notwithstanding causes (3) and (3A) above records deposited before the 1st September 1994 shall continue to be subject to the same restrictions as apply on the 31st August 1994, but without prejudice to the power to vary those restrictions in accordance with clause (3). Nothing in this Standing Order derogates from the rights and duties of the owners of any records or of the managing trustees of any records which are Model Trust property, including their rights of access. |
| Custodial history: |
The Luton Methodist records have been deposited from three separate sources, The Industrial Mission; Beech Hill Methodist Church [Luton South Circuit]; and St. Margaret's Methodist Church. The Industrial Mission records were catalogued soon after they arrived and are numbered MB387 - 440. The Luton South Circuit records were also catalogued when they came in and are numbered MB441 - 496. When the cataloguing of the extensive Luton North Circuit records began it was obvious that over the years, with all the circuit alterations, the administrative circuit records had become very mixed up. With this in mind and to assist anyone interested in the material overall an attempt has been made to make a more logical sequence of circuit administration by adding in square brackets [] numbers from the two deposits catalogued earlier. |
| Unpublished finding aids: |
Notes to readers A. If looking for registers See list of registers (in order of reference number) - details also on coloured cards in subject index Bear in mind that baptisms were generally registered by Circuit until the late C19th, and few individual chapels had registers Pre-1837 registers at Public Record Office are available on microfilm, and some have been transcribed and indexed Ask archivist about availability of Computer indexes B. If looking for material on a particular chapel Refer first to the CRO subject index under CHURCH / Nonconformity / Methodism / [place]. This will give details of the Circuit(s) to which the Chapel was attached, and provide catalogue reference numbers for documents relating specifically to the Chapel in question. Check reference numbers in catalogue, and order documents from stackroom if relevant to topic of research. Look also at Circuit records, especially Quarterly Minutes, Accounts, Schedule books, and Circuit plans. |
| Administrative / biographical background: |
HISTORICAL NOTES RELATING TO THE LUTON AND DISTRICT METHODIST CHURCHES. The initial letter W = Wesleyan Church and the letter P = Primitive Church. After the Union between these two Churches in 1933 they are, of course, all known as Methodist Churches. The dates in round brackets are dates when the Churches have been noticed in particular documents and not necessarily when the individual church was built, which may be earlier or later. After the Union of the Churches in 1933, all, except the former Luton Primitive Methodist number I Circuit which became known as High Town Circuit, were joined together as Luton 'A' Methodist Circuit. In the schedule below the 'A' has been dropped as in 1944 High Town Circuit also amalgamated with them and all became known as the Luton Methodist Circuit. CHURCH DATE CIRCUITS AND MEMORANDA ALEY GREEN see CADDINGTON W ARLESEY (1851) Luton to Hitchin 1864 W BARTON (1836) Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. P BARTON (1871) Luton 1871; Luton no. I 1879; Luton High Town 1933. Church closed 1944. BATFORD see WHEATHAMPSTEAD BENDISH see ST PAULS WALDEN P BILLINGTON (1845) Luton 1845. Disappeared by 1858. Leigh. Buzz. Circuit after this date? BREACHWOOD GREEN see KINGS WALDEN W CADDINGTON - ALEY GREEN (1836) Luton to Chapel St 1880; Luton 1933; Luton South 1965. Church built 1837. P CADDINGTON - SLIP END (1868) Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton III 1902; Luton 1933; Luton South 1965. Church built 1865. W CADDINGTON- WOODSIDE (1842) Luton. No further mention. P CADDINGTON - WOODSIDE (1845) Luton. Disappeared by 1858. W CHALGRAVE - TEBWORTH (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843. CHALK HILL see HOUGHTON REGIS CHALTON see TODDINGTON CHAUL END see LUTON COCKERNHOE see OFFLEY COLD HARBOUR see WHEATHAMPSTEAD W DAGNALL, BUCKS. (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843. DARLEY HALL see KINGS WALDEN W DUNSTABLE (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843. P DUNSTABLE (1845) Luton 1845. New church built 1862. Luton to Dunstable 1866. P EGGINGTON (1845) Luton 1845. Disappeared by 1858. Leigh. Buzz. Circuit after this date? W FLAMSTEAD, HERTS. (1836) Luton to Chapel St. 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. P FLAMSTEAD - TROWLEY BOTTOM (1845) Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. W FLITTON - GREENFIELD (1842) Luton to Dunstable 1843. W GADDESDEN, GT., HERTS. - GADDESDEN ROW (1842) Luton to Chapel St 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. Chapel built 1845. W GADDESDEN, LT., HERTS - HUDNALL (1813) Luton to Dunstable 1843. W GRAVENHURST (1842) Luton to Waller St. 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965 GREENFIELD see FLITTON W HARLINGTON (1836) Luton to Dunstable 1843 W HARPENDEN - HIGH STREET (1808) Luton to Chapel St 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. New church built 1886. Another new site purchased 1928 and new church built 1930 - old premises being sold in 1933 schedule. P HARPENDEN - SOUTHDOWN ROAD (1845) Luton 1845 but disappeared by 1858. Reappears circa 1865. Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. New church built 1868. W HARPENDEN - KINSBOURNE GREEN (1843) Luton to Chapel St 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. W HEXTON, HERTS. (1836) Luton to Waller St. 1880; Luton 1933; Services discontinued 1953. W HITCHIN, HERTS. (1834) Hitchin to Luton 1854; Luton to Hitchin 1864. W HOCKLIFFE (1836) Luton to Dunstable 1843. W HOUGHTON REGIS (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843. P HOUGHTON REGIS (1845) Luton to Dunstable 1866. W HOUGHTON REGIS - CHALK HILL (1842) Luton to Dunstable 1843 HUDNALL see GADDESDEN LT. W ICKLEFORD, HERTS. (1850) Hitchin to Luton 1854; Luton to Hitchin 1864. W KENSWORTH (1813) Luton to Dunstable 1843. W KIMPTON, HERTS. (1842) Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. P KINGS WALDEN, HERTS. - BREACHWOOD GREEN (1858) Luton 1858 but disappeared by 1879. W KINGS WALDEN - DARLEY HALL (1884) Waller St 1884; Luton 1933. "Mission Chapel built on ground rented at 10/- Per Annum, which sum the Landlord gives as a subscription to the Cause" 1887. Services discontinued end of 1952. KINSBOURNE GREEN see HARPENDEN LEAGRAVE see LUTON W LILLEY, HERTS. (1836) Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Services discontinued 1954. LIMBURY see LUTON W LUTON - ALBERT ROAD (1866) Luton to Chapel St. 1880. Replaced by Bailey Hill 1898 but continued to be used as a Sunday School until 1918? W LUTON - ASHTON STREET (1883) Waller St 1883. Replaced by Central Mission 1903. W LUTON - BAILEY HILL (1898) Luton Chapel St 1898; Luton 1933; Chapel built 1898; services discontinued 1959; property sold 1960. M LUTON - BEECH HILL 1934 Luton 1934; Luton South 1965. Church built 1934. [See also Dunstable Road] P LUTON - CARDIGAN STREET (1882) Luton 1882; Luton High Town 1933; Luton 944. Site acquired 1882; services discontinued January 1951. W LUTON - CENTRAL MISSION (1903) Waller St. 1903; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. Built to replace Ashton Street. W LUTON - CHAPEL STREET (1808) Luton to Chapel St. 1880; Luton 1933; Luton Industrial Mission 1959. New church built 1851. Replaced by Industrial Mission W LUTON - CHAUL END (1854) Luton to Chapel St. 1880; Luton 1933. New chapel built 1893; services discontinued July 1955. Sold 1958. W LUTON - CHURCH STREET 1780 Luton to Waller St. 1880; closed 1916? Chapel built by William Cole, friend of John Wesley; demolished 1921 'Luton Past and Present' by Harold White. P LUTON - CHURCH STREET 1880 Luton II 1880; Luton 1933. Church closed 1941. Chapel built 1880. Sold 1948 W LUTON - DALLOW ROAD (1904) Chapel St 1904; Luton 1933. Site acquired 1904; chapel built 1908?; closed when members amalgamated with Dunstable Road and became known as Oakdale, 1964. P LUTON - DUNSTABLE ROAD later OAKDALE 1905 Luton III 1905; Luton 1933; Luton South 1965. Iron building erected 1905; new church built 1924. Dallow Road Chapel amalgamated with it in 1964 when it became known as Oakdale, the church being on the corner of Dunstable Road and Oak Road. W LUTON - DUNSTABLE ROAD later Beech Hill 1908 Chapel St 1908; Luton 1933. 'Acquired 1908'. Note on chapel schedule 1933 says property disposed of and money used to purchase Beech Hill site. After this date see Beech Hill. M LUTON - FARLEY HILL 1954 Luton 1954; Luton South 1965. Opened 1954. LUTON - FRIENDSHIP HOUSE see LUTON LEWSEY P LUTON - HIBBERT STREET 1886 Luton II 1886, when it was built. Became a Sunday School to Mount Tabor which was built adjoining it in 1897. P LUTON - HIGH TOWN 1839 Luton 1839; Luton I 1879; Luton High Town 1933; Luton 1944. First church built in 1839 but sold to Midland Railway Co.; now site of Midland Staion. Second church built 1852 and after 1898 used as a Sunday School. Third church built 1898. W LUTON - LEAGRAVE HIGH STREET (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843; Dunstable to Luton South 1965. P LUTON - LEAGRAVE MARSH ROAD (1858) Luton 1858; disappeared by 1879. Luton 1891; Luton High Town 1933; Luton 1944; Luton North 1965. New church built 1891, which was used as a Sunday School when another new church was built 1906. M LUTON - LUTON LEWSEY alias FRIENDSHIP HOUSE 1962 Luton 1962; Luton South 1965. Church built 1962; sold to Asian Community 1977. W LUTON - LIMBURY (1842) Luton to Chapel St. 1880. Discontinued in 1893; chapel sold 1896; new site purchased 1913 but never used and sold 1932. LUTON - LONDON ROAD see LUTON MOUNT TABOR M LUTON - MONTROSE AVENUE later ST MARGARETS 1937 Luton 1937; Luton North 1965. Chapel opened 1937. P LUTON - MOUNT TABOR 1897 Luton II 1897; Luton III 1901; Luton 1933; Luton South 1965. Built 1897. W LUTON - NORTH STREET (1871) Luton to Waller St 1860; Luton 1933. Original church sold 1913 when new one built. Services ceased 1959 church sold 1960. LUTON - OAKDALE see DUNSTABLE ROAD P LUTON - PARK TOWN (1864) Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton 1933. W LUTON - ROUND GREEN (1864) Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965 LUTON - ST MARGARETS see MONTROSE AVENUE W LUTON - STOPSLEY (1842) Luton to Waller St. 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. W LUTON - WALLER STREET (1863) Luton to Waller St. 1880; Luton 1933. Services discontinued 1954. Sold 1955. P MARKYATE, Herts. 1868 Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton III 1902. Built 1868; given up and sold for £100 Nov 1907. W MARKYATE, Herts. (1808) New church built 1859; Luton to Chapel St. 1880; Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. MIMMS see SOUTH MIMMS W OFFLEY, Herts. 1844 Luton to Hitchin 1864? W OFFLEY - COCKERNHOE, Herts. (1836) Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965 W PEGSDON, Herts. (1836) Luton to Hitchin 1864? Schedule states chapel erected 1844. PIRTON see SHILLINGTON P REDBOURN, Herts - EAST COMMON 1869 St Albans Circuit 1869 when the chapel was built; Luton II 1887; Luton 1933; United with the North Common Methodist Church, Redbourn and transferred to St. Albans Oct 1939. ROUND GREEN see LUTON W ST. ALBANS (1813) On Luton Circuit plan 1813 - 1814. P ST. ALBANS - BOUNDARY ROAD (1909) Chapel built 1909 Luton II; Luton 1933; St Albans - Marlborough Rd Circuit 1934. W ST PAULS WALDEN, Herts - BENDISH (1843) Luton 1843 [This appears to be the only reference at the time the Luton Circuit was split to form two - Luton and Dunstable]. P ST PAULS WALDEN, Herts. - BENDISH (1858) Luton to Luton II 1879; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. Closed 1969. P ST PAULS WALDEN, Herts. - WHITWELL (1858) Luton 1858. Disappeared by 1879 SHARPENHOE see STREATLEY P SHILLINGTON - BURY END (1878) Transferred from the "Herts. & Beds. Mission" to Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. Register of deeds gives a deed of conveyance 1878. W SHILLINGTON - HIGH ROAD (1842) New church built 1872. Luton to Waller St 1880; Luton 1933; Luton North 1965. W SHILLINGTON - PIRTON (1864) Luton to Hitchin 1864 P SLAPTON, BUCKS. (1845) Luton 1845. Disappeared by 1858 W SOUTH MIMMS, Herts. 'MIMMS' (1813) On Luton Circuit plan 1813 - 1814. P STANBRIDGE (1845) Luton to Dunstable 1866. W STEVENAGE (1791) Luton to Hitchin 1864 STOPSLEY see LUTON P STREATLEY (1845) Luton 1845. Disappeared by 1858 P STREATLEY - SHARPENHOE (1845) Luton to Luton I 1879; Luton High Town 1933; Luton 1944. Closed 1964. W STUDHAM (1854) Luton to Chapel St 1880. Another chapel built 1898. Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942. W SUNDON (1836) Luton to Dunstable 1843 TEBWORTH see CHALGRAVE W TODDINGTON (1836) Luton to Dunstable 1843 P TODDINGTON (1845) Luton to Dunstable 1866 W TODDINGTON - CHALTON (1808) Luton to Dunstable 1843 P TOTTERNHOE (1845) Luton 1845. Disappeared by 1858 TROWLEY BOTTOM see FLAMSTEAD W WALKERN, Herts. (1857) Luton to Hitchin 1864 W WATFORD, Herts. (1813) Luton Circuit plan 1813 - 1814 W WESTON, Herts. (1808) Luton to Hitchin 1864 W WHEATHAMPSTEAD, Herts. (1813) Luton Circuit plan 1813 - 1814; still in Luton 1836 but no further mention. W WHEATHAMPSTEAD, Herts. - BATFORD (1905) New chapel built to replace one known as Cold Harbour. Chapel St to Luton 1933; Harpenden 1942 W WHEATHAMPSTEAD, Herts. COLD HARBOUR (1884) Appears to have commenced about this date. Chapel St. Replaced by a new chapel at Batford. W WHIPSNADE (1836) Luton to Dunstable 1843 WOODSIDE see CADDINGTON |
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