FIRST METHODIST SOCIETY AND SANCTUARY 1767
The first recorded venue for meetings of the Armagh Methodist Society was in a house in Thomas Street rented by three ladies. It was described by John Lynn as ‘a humble dwelling’ and ‘almost fronting onto Dobbin Street’. Lynn records that this first sanctuary was a small room of dimensions 14 feet by 12 feet in a dwelling house fronting Dobbin Street. Despite the obvious unsuitability of this room the women erected a 'plain little pulpit' in one of the corners of this 'lowly Tabernacle'.
From such humble beginnings Methodism took root in the City.
THE FIRST METHODIST SOCIETY 1767
From 'Wesleyan Methodism on the Armagh Circuit' published in 1885 by Surgeon-Major John Lynn (a prominent Methodist Leader in the City)
The first Methodist Sanctuary in Armagh was rented by Mrs Russell, Mrs Isabella Maxwell and Mrs Jane Justice. It was a humble edifice situated in Thomas Street, on the site of the dwelling-house lately occupied by Mr Chas. Hughes, almost fronting the opening into Dobbin Street, described as a single room measuring 14 feet by 12, unceiled, with very low walls and thatched roof. An ecclesiologist could not have desired a more truly 'dim religious light' than was admitted by its two very small windows; but his tastes and prejudices would have been shocked by the plain little pulpit placed in one of the corners to economise room, and raised but a single step over the level of the floor which was all the elevation that the roof would allow! Yet, in accordance with His promise, God visited this lowly tabernacle, and comforted His servants with tokens of His presence.
These first Methodist women did not feel bound by the customs and norms that restricted the role of women in the 18th century. They moved determinedly to establish the first ‘Methodist Society’. Their bold initiative laid the foundations for the establishment of a more suitable sanctuary in a few years.
Armagh Circuit: Methodist Society Membership notebook 1767-1791
Site map of Methodist Preaching House and adjacent lands 1858 (James Whiteside, Surveyor)
FIRST METHODIST CHAPEL 1786
It was therefore appropriate that in 1786 the first Methodist Church, or Chapel as it was commonly called, should have been built on a site on the North side of Abbey Street. This was the site at the home of Mr William McGeough at Abbey Street where Wesley addressed a large gathering on his first visit. It was to this house and grounds that he returned on his 8 subsequent visits to the city, the last occasion being in 1789. The Methodist Church remains on this Abbey Street site to the present day.
GROWTH OF ARMAGH METHODISM
The growth of Methodism was very rapid in the early years following John Wesley’s visit. In 1770 there were 299 Methodists on Armagh Circuit; in 9 years to 1779 that had increased to 811, and by the end of the century that had risen to over a 1,000.
NEW CHURCH 1835
The Chapel in Abbey Street was finding it difficult to cope with the increasing congregation in the early 1800’s. Stuart in his ‘Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh’ wrote of the Church (Chapel) then as a neat and convenient meeting-house and it served the congregation until 1835 by which time it had become too small to accommodate the increased numbers attending services.
Captain W. W. Algeo laid the first stone of its successor on the 14th September 1835. It was designed to seat twice as many worshippers and to be easily enlarged should that prove necessary. Surgeon-Major John Lynn noted in his account that it ‘was so constructed as to admit of the addition of galleries by which the seating capacity might be doubled’.
1859 IMPROVEMENTS
In 1858 the Church leadership had moved to acquire adjacent property and James Whiteside, Surveyor, prepared a map setting out the land ownership of the properties under consideration. This was to improve and accommodate potential growth, which proved to be the case.
The ‘1859 revival’, what was considered to be significant spiritual reawakening, resulted in a substantial growth in numbers, and the Chapel was then enlarged to accommodate the expanding congregation. Spacious galleries were added at a cost of £560. A hall abutting the Church was also built in 1859 as a Sabbath and Day School to the designs of W J Barrie, who the same year had made alterations to the Chapel, while the substantial dwelling on the lower side was at the time the Minister’s Manse and below a former Primitive Methodist Meeting House. The former Sabbath and Day School are now used as halls, and are known as the Lynn Halls, named after Surgeon-Major John Lynn, the leading Methodist layperson in the Abbey Street Church for 50 years.
THE CIRCUIT 1884-1885
One of the strengths of early Methodism was the system of local ‘Classes’ where people met in their homes under the leadership of a ‘Class Leader’ to pray, study the bible and have a time of fellowship. Detailed records were kept of the ‘Class Leaders’ and the persons they were responsible for. Such responsibility had spiritual growth at its core, but also in the best tradition of Methodism, there was a pastoral concern for the social welfare of the ‘Class’ families. Armagh Methodism developed the system of Class leaders and Meetings with great success. In June 1884 there were 651 members and 49 Class leaders. The Classes were assigned to geographical areas, for example Armagh had 4 Classes.
Class Leaders and members in Armagh No1 and 2
In c1885 the minutes of the Circuit Quarterly Meeting records the leadership appointments made, including many Class Leaders. The Circuit at that time included Armagh, Richhill, Markethill, Killylea, Caledon and Killymaddy Societies.
The list of numbers in each Class shows a total of 651 members and 49 leaders.
Numbers of each Class per designated area.
Extract from Quarterly Meeting minutes 1885 giving list of Class Leaders, Chapel Stewards, Stewards of the Poor, Divisional Stewards and Sunday School Superintendent for Methodist Societies in Armagh, Richhill, Caledon, Killylea, Killymaddy and Markethill.
CHURCH REMODELLED 1888
[The new inscription] Methodist Church in large and enduring type as if to mark an important stage of progress during the 53 years since the old front was erected... “On entering the Church, the porch leaves nothing to be desired, and the interior of the Church is at once commodious and beautiful. The enlargement is very considerable, as there are seats for 500, so that the church is the largest in the Portadown District. All the seats have been cushioned in uniformed style, both in the body of the Church and on the galleries – an arrangement I never remember to have seen elsewhere except in America. The new ceiling in stained timber, with handsome cornice is a great success, not only in appearance, but in its influence on the acoustic properties, which may be pronounced perfect...
Last, but by no means least, a fine spacious ornamental platform pulpit has been provided for the preacher, just the right height - not so low as to render him invisible to those in the back seats of the house, nor yet so high that the preacher rather preaches before the people than to them. A preacher should, as far as possible, come to close quarters with his congregation, as one who meant business; and those exalted 'tub pulpits' which are monumental of the stupidity of the parties who built them, should all be swept clean away as being fatal to a direct and business-like style of preaching.
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Within 30 years, in 1888, the Chapel was again proving too small as the increase continued. The leadership then decided that it was time to take the bold step of undertaking further development of the Church property. There was no lack of confidence in these Methodist forefathers; it seemed that they strode forward with an unsinkable faith.
The Church was remodelled in 1888; the architect being J. J. Phillips of Belfast, and the contractor was Collen & Son of Armagh. It was at this time that the elegant façade with its incised lettering and double date plaque was put up. The church would be improved - pews remodelled, heating and ventilation installed, a Vestry provided in property acquired fronting Dawson Street and more room developed for the Sunday School. The old designation ‘Chapel’, which was the term frequently used, was formally replaced with the title ‘Methodist Church’ inscribed in gold letters on the front wall of the remodelled building.
Rev William Crook, Portadown District Chairman in a letter published in the local newspaper on 14 December 1888
Advertising Pamphlet November 1888
PAMPHLETS AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS
Pamphlets were produced informing the congregation and public of the proposals. There was an appeal for funds “the outlay upon the Church alone will be upwards of £1,000. Our own people have subscribed £560, and we now appeal confidently our Methodist friends outside the Circuit, and also to the generous Christian public, who love the cause of Christ in all Churches, to assist us in this important work.”
The Armagh Guardian reported on 16th March 1888 that builders had commenced work on extensive alterations and improvements to improve the present Chapel which was too small for the growing congregation. The news report states “that we have not a pew to let in the body of the Chapel and only one or two back ones in the gallery.”
REOPENING SERVICES 25 NOVEMBER 1888
There were joyous Re- opening Services on completion of the work. The first being held on Sabbath, 25th November, 1888, with the Secretary of Conference, Rev. James Donnelly of Londonderry being the preacher at 11am and 7pm, and the second held on the following Sunday, 2nd December 1888, the preacher was Rev. Wm Crook, D.D. of Newry, Chairman of the Portadown District. On Friday, 7th December 1888, Rev. Wesley Guard of Belfast delivered a lecture on “GIDEON OUSELEY – his life and labours”
These services were widely advertised in local newspapers and by distribution of pamphlets There were extensive reports in the local newspapers and the Belfast Newsletter.
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Armagh Guardian Advertisement 28 November 1888
Belfast Newsletter report 26 November 1888
Historical source: 250 Years of Methodism in Armagh, written by Dessie Mitchell.