Catalogue description BARNSTAPLE METHODIST CIRCUIT

This record is held by North Devon Record Office (South West Heritage Trust)

Details of 2347D
Reference: 2347D
Title: BARNSTAPLE METHODIST CIRCUIT
Description:

Circuit registers, minute books, committee papers, accounts, schedules, plans, property documents, membership records; Chapel records of Boutport Street, Bittadon, Braunton, Knowle, Fremington, Landkey, Loxhore, Marwood, Sticklepath, Swimbridge Wesleyan Chapels, Thorne and Ebberley Lodge Bible Christian Chapels and Chapelton and Hiscott United Methodist Chapels, minute books, account books and bank books of Gaydon Street School, Barnstraple
Date: 1811-1969
Held by: North Devon Record Office (South West Heritage Trust), not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Barnstaple Methodist Circuit, Devon
Physical description: 174 Files
Administrative / biographical background:

Wesleyan Circuits and Chapels

 

In 1811 the Wesleyan Bideford Mission changed its name to the Barnstaple Circuit, and in 1826 Bideford left to form a new circuit. South Molton did the same in 1846, Ilfracombe in 1869 and Lynton in 1884. Lynton was not able to continue independently and relied upon help from Barnstaple, rejoining it in 1928. In 1932 the Barnstaple Wesleyan Circuit became Methodist, and was known as the Barnstaple (Boutport St.) Circuit. Records of the following Wesleyan Chapels are contained in this collection: Boutport Street, Barnstaple; Bittadon; Braunton; Knowle, Braunton; Fremington; Landkey; Loxhore; Marwood; Sticklepath; Barnstaple and Swimbridge.

 

Bible Christian Circuits and Chapels

 

The Bible Christian movement began at Shebbear in 1815. In 1839 the Torrington Circuit was formed, becoming Tawstock and Torrington in 1842. These had separated by 1849. By 1860 the Tawstock Circuit had become Barnstaple and North Devon, and by 1868 simply Barnstaple. It had become the Barnstaple and South Molton Circuit by 1878, but had reverted to the Barnstaple Circuit by 1887. In 1907 the Circuit became United Methodist, and in 1932, like the Wesleyan Circuit, became Methodist. It was known as the Barnstaple (Bear St.) Circuit. Consequently, there were two Methodist circuits co-existing in the Barnstaple area in 1932. In 1955 they amalgamated to form the Barnstaple Circuit. At this time the former Wesleyan chapels at Lynton, Barbrook and Parracombe were transferred to the small Ilfracombe Circuit. In the 1960s the chapel in Boutport Street was closed and members transferred to the Bear Street Chapel. Records of the following Bible Christian/United Methodist Chapels are contained in this collection: Thorne Chapel, Bear Street, Barnstaple; Ebberley Lodge, Roborough; Chapelton, Tawstock and Hiscott, Tawstock.

 

Primitive Methodists and Free Methodists

 

In 1830 Primitive Methodist missionaries came to Barnstaple from Cornwall and established Societies, but for various reasons they withdrew after a few years, and their members joined the Wesleyans and Bible Christians.

 

In 1852 Dunn, the Free Methodist leader visited Barnstaple, but any support gained must have quickly died out, as no Free Methodist work in the Barnstaple area is known.
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