Primitive Methodist Chapel. Castle Street and Chapel Street Oswestry

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL AT OSWESTRY. The memorial stones have just been laid of the new Primitive Methodist Chapel at Oswestry. The architect is Mr J D Mould of Manchester and the builder is Mr Jabez Higgins. The building will occupy the plot of land at the corner of Castle-street and Chapel-street, the main entrance will be from Chapel-street. The extreme length will be 69 ft., the width of the nave 36 ft. 8 in., and on each side there will be transepts. The end facing Chapel-street will be apsidal and will contain the rostrum and seats for over sixty singers. The building will have a battlemented tower at the entrance corner, surmounted by a tower. Mr William Hudson of Gobowen is the clerk of the works. (Builder 2 July 1898 Page 13)

A new Primitive Methodist Church has just been opened at Oswestry at the corner of Chapel and Castle streets. Perpendicular Gothic in style, the walls are of Ruabon red brick with white sandstone dressings, and a tower with spire marks the angle formed by the streets, the principal front being in Chapel-street. The internal fittings are of pitch-pine and the seating accommodation, which is designed to provide accommodation for 425, is arranged in amphitheatrical form. The architect is Mr J D Mould of Manchester and the contractor Mr John Higgins of Oswestry; the cost of the new building is close to ,2,000. Mr Evans of Manchester was responsible for the electric light installation and Messrs John Minshall & Company of Oswestry supplied and fixed the heating apparatus. [Builder 8 April 1899 page 352]

NEW PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL AT OSWESTRY. On Thursday afternoon the ceremony of opening the New Primitive Methodist Chapel. Castle Fields was performed, when the Mayor and Corporation attended in state. A new chapel had long been contemplated by the trustees, and the present handsome structure, which was situated at the corner of Chapel Street and Castle Street, is the result of an immense amount of labour on the part of the minister of the circuit (the Rev. P. Kay). Councillor Samuel Lloyd, who acted as treasurer, and the hon. secs. (Messrs. H. Garner Pugh and T. F. Tunna). The architect was Mr. J. D. Mould, F.R.1.B.A., of Manchester, and when tenders for carrying out the work were invited a popular choice was made by the trustees the acceptance of that of Mr. Jabez Higgins, Oswestry, one of a family well known in Shropshire Primitive Methodist circles, whose tender amounted £1,546, and has done the work entrusted to him in an admirable manner. The pulpit is octagonal in shape and nicely carved. At the north end of the chapel are the choir seats, with accommodation for 70 singers, and in front of this are the minister’s and deacons’ seats and table. On the right of the choir is the organ chamber, and in front the communion rail, underneath which is the preacher’s vestry and lavatories, &c. The chapel estimated seat 425 persons and is fitted throughout with electric light. Facing Chapel Street is a very fine stained-gloss window. dimensions being 16 feet wide and 18 feet high, which is stone-mullioned with perpendicular tracery. The two transept windows and window in the chancel are wood tracery with stained glass. The whole of the stained glass was supplied by Mr. J. Davies, Wyls Cop, Shrewsbury. The church is surrounded with neat railings and has pretty entrance gate. There are three entrances, two under the tower, and also a minister’s entrance, making four in all. The tower, which is 52 feet in height, is a battlemented one, out which rises a pretty spire built of Ruabon tiles. [Wellington Journal - Saturday 25 March 1899 page 6]

The foundation stone of the new chapel was laid on 16 June 1898.  It replaced Oswestry's first Primitive Methodist chapel, called "Ebenezer", which was built on the same site in 1840. The present chapel with its adjoining Sunday Schools (which were built in 1890) cost a total of £3548. A sepia photograph of the chapel under construction  in 1898‑9 appeared in the Shropshire Magazine, October 2006, page 47.

Reference    Building News 4 March 1898 p328 - contracts
Reference    Builder 5 March 1898 page 242
Reference    Builder 2 April 1898 Page 339 (tenders)
Reference    Builder 2 July 1898 Page 13
Reference    Building News 1 July 1898 Page xiv
Reference    Builder 8 April 1899 page 352
Reference    Wellington Journal - Saturday 25 March 1899 page 6