Our History
History of the Methodist Church Chapeltown
The vision to build the Methodist Church Chapeltown started around 1989 under the leadership of Revd Keith Lackenby. It brought together congregations of Burncross and Mount Pleasant Methodist churches after the Station Road Chapel congregation had joined with the Mount Pleasant congregation some years before.
From as early as 1983, there was talk at Mount Pleasant of needing a new building as structural work was required. Worship in the church was only possible during the warmer months so the congregation worshipped mainly in the Sunday School building. When Revd Keith Lackenby came, it was part of his mission to set up a new church on a new site.
It took much time and prayer to find the right plot of land in the right area on which to build the new Church. Nether Ley in the centre of Chapeltown has proved to have been the perfect location for the new Church. Once the new site was bought, Mount Pleasant Church and Burncross Church were sold, and both congregations worshipped together in the Mount Pleasant Sunday School building. Then fund raising began in earnest. Fundraising activities included selling pictures of the two old churches, a “buy a brick” scheme, laying a mile of pound coins, collecting paper and activities by the Brigades along with chapel bazaars, teas and concerts. It was hard work but brought families together for fellowship and fun. A new name was agreed which was The Methodist Church Chapeltown.
Building started in May 1992 with the foundation stone being laid by the Chair of the District, Revd Bryan Rippin, in a service led by Revd Keith Lackenby. The first service was conducted on Advent Sunday 1992 by Revd Keith Lackenby with Mrs Norma Lackenby playing the piano. The church was officially opened on March 13th 1993.
Since opening, the Methodist Church Chapeltown has welcomed members from other churches including Ecclesfield Ebenezer, Ecclesfield Trinity, Trinity Fir Vale and Warren. Most recently after the congregation at Grenoside Methodist Church merged with Chapeltown, members have come to worship at Chapeltown while still holding services at the Reading Room in Grenoside.
When the new building was opened, the new 1st Chapeltown Girl`s Brigade colour was presented in church, which was previously 1st Burncross Brigade. There remains a strong tradition of Boys` and Girls` Brigades at Chapeltown and the groups meet weekly at the church.
The Methodist Church Chapeltown celebrated its 25-year anniversary in March 2018. In a year of celebration, the church enjoyed social evenings with games and quizzes, a barbeque and a church birthday party! To celebrate the anniversary a rainbow of hands was created in the church with the handprints of all those associated with the church from the oldest members at over 100 years old to new babies only a few weeks old. The church is an active and vibrant Christian presence in the community with numerous activities for all to enjoy, outreach work with many groups in the community and a strong foundation in Jesus Christ.
