Trustees hope to save relics from historic Newbiggin chapel

TRUSTEES of a former methodist chapel are bidding to have its organ and pulpit moved to new homes to keep its story alive.

World renowned Newbiggin Methodist Chapel held its final service in May with dwindling membership and rising running costs forcing it to close its doors.

Plans have now been submitted to Durham County Council to remove the chapel’s famous pulpit which is believed to have hosted Methodism founder John Wesley twice in the 1700s.

Revd Beverley Hollings said the pulpit could find its way to one of two homes.

She added: “The first place we think it could be going is the new Faith Museum, at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland.

“There is going to be a Methodism section and we thought that would be the ideal place for it.

“It’s certainly of interest to Methodism and we want to keep its history and its story alive.”

Revd Hollings gave the final blessing from the pulpit at the chapel.

Should the new Faith Museum find that there is insufficient space for the pulpit then there has been an offer for it to be housed in Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum – a Methodist heritage project in Cheshire.

Meanwhile, the church’s organ, which originally came from Bowlees Methodist Chapel in 1969, will be listed with the Institute for Organ Building in its redundant organ section.

“It was obviously an instrument for worship and we would like that to happen in future,” added Ms Hollings.

“Many organs get sold for scrap but we want it to be preserved.”

The Grade II listed building, known by many as being the world’s oldest Methodist chapel in continuous use, is in the process of being sold with the possibility of it becoming a home looking increasingly likely.

A plot of land at Newbiggin was bought for £5 by three of John Wesley’s travelling Methodist preachers and four lead miners on August 30, 1759.

The chapel was built for £61 13s 5d to provide for the spiritual needs of the lead miners working for the London Lead Company.

Despite the chapel’s closure, Revd Hollings said its trustees were determined to find churches for its contents if and when plans were given the green light.

Planning permission has to be sought to move the pulpit and the organ from the listed building.

A design and access statement for the proposal said any damage done by removing the brackets attaching the organ to the chapel wall would be “made good” and repainted.

The church organ will appear on the Institute for Organ Building website soon.