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Archiver > LANCSGEN > 1999-12 > 0944056236


From: "Geoff Heath" <>
Subject: Re: [LAN] Primitive Methodist Stations
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 13:50:36 -0000


Gordon wrote:
> An ancestor of mine was a "Primitive Methodist Minister" in Lanc.
> from 1865 until 1873. How would one find the names of the churches he
> would have been at in the various "stations". Have been in touch with
> the Methodist archives and they have provided me with the Parishes he
> preached in.

First, let me explain that Methodism is not divided into Parishes, but
'Circuits'. A minister was (and still is) stationed in a circuit which may
contain several churches. Circuits with a dozen churches are not unknown,
and they may have several ministers, one of whom will be the Superintendent.

You have supplied a list of circuits:
> 1865-Chester
> 1867-Knowlwood
> 1868-Manchester II
> 1869-Liverpool III
> 1871-Rochdale
> 1873-Castletown

I assume that you now wish to discover the names of the churches within each
of these. Circuit boundaries have changed over the years, so this may be
difficult. Your best bet is the John Rylands Library, Deansgate,
Manchester, which has a good number of Methodist records. The Library has a
book 'Primitive Methodist Ministers' by William Leary (1981) which I have
found useful in determining the stations of two ministers in my family tree.
However, I don't think it lists individual churches.

Not sure if this has been useful; please come back if I can help further.

Geoff Heath
Mellor, Stockport, Cheshire
For my family history, see
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wgh/pref.ht

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