Shared description
Methodism in Weardale
Weardale is noted for almost 400 years of Christian religious dissent or nonconformity.
The 'Old Dissent' of the mid-C17th which saw the rise of Baptists Link
and Quakers or Society of Friends Link had little lasting influence on upper Weardale.
The 'New Dissent' of the mid-C18th though had a huge following. John Wesley, who remained an Anglican clergyman, and his followers, preached widely in the dale after 1740 and set up a strong Methodist movement among the working people. Large Wesleyan Chapels were built in many centres along the valley. Those in authority largely stayed with the Anglican Church but noted the peaceful and crime-free nature of the religious people.
In the early 1800s Primitive Methodists, popularly known as 'Ranters', revitalised the movement among the working class. Preaching was often in the open air but large chapels were also built, often co-existing in the villages with the existing Wesleyan Chapels, which had more of a genteel following.
By the end of the C19th, both strands of Methodism were in decline, along with the end of the lead industry and population movement out of Weardale. The two groups re-united in 1932 usually agreeing to keep just one of the two chapels in each village.
Taken from The Archaeology and Architecture of Weardale by Caroline Hardie and Niall Hammond. The Weardale Society (2007).
The 'Old Dissent' of the mid-C17th which saw the rise of Baptists Link
and Quakers or Society of Friends Link had little lasting influence on upper Weardale.The 'New Dissent' of the mid-C18th though had a huge following. John Wesley, who remained an Anglican clergyman, and his followers, preached widely in the dale after 1740 and set up a strong Methodist movement among the working people. Large Wesleyan Chapels were built in many centres along the valley. Those in authority largely stayed with the Anglican Church but noted the peaceful and crime-free nature of the religious people.
In the early 1800s Primitive Methodists, popularly known as 'Ranters', revitalised the movement among the working class. Preaching was often in the open air but large chapels were also built, often co-existing in the villages with the existing Wesleyan Chapels, which had more of a genteel following.
By the end of the C19th, both strands of Methodism were in decline, along with the end of the lead industry and population movement out of Weardale. The two groups re-united in 1932 usually agreeing to keep just one of the two chapels in each village.
Taken from The Archaeology and Architecture of Weardale by Caroline Hardie and Niall Hammond. The Weardale Society (2007).
Created: Sun, 15 May 2011, Updated: Sun, 15 May 2011
7 images use this description: (all images taken in 2011)
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2011 Andrew Curtis.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
View images using this "Methodism in Weardale" Shared Description
View images mentioning the words [Methodism in Weardale] anywhere in text
Links for NY90713829
This description is located in NY90713829.
Other shared descriptions
Descriptions nearby
Related descriptions
- Westgate 'Castle'
By Andrew Curtis. Used on 6 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
