The Methodist Church

As early as 1802 a cottage, either owned or occupied By Thomas Chambers was used as a Meeting House, this was usual in the early days of the Methodist movement in this area and continued in the smaller villages until the turn of the century.

In 1814 a dedicated building for the congregation was registered, this could have been the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Royal Oak Lane (now an attractive house).  Originally mentioned in a Will dated 1762, the premises which included a cottage, or cottages with garden and a barn or weavers shop were eventually acquired by the trustees of the Chapel in 1849 for the sum of £70.

Although the attendance of the Church was fairly good up until the 1850s the membership began to decrease and eventually the property was sold in two lots in 1896.

In 1866 a meeting was held in Banbury where it was agreed that a new Chapel should be built in Middleton Cheney instead of repairing the old one. The building, situated in Queen Street was to seat 300 people at a cost of £500. Mr Jones, a prominent Middleton farmer agreed to guarantee four-fifths of the debt and the Wesleyan Quarterly Magazine recorded the laying of the Memorial Stone on Friday 16^th August 1867. The premises were later enlarged when the Sunday School was added in 1907 on the site of two cottages and outbuildings.

The village chapels were involved in Band of Hope gatherings but in 1870 the Wesleyans took up the cause of Temperance in earnest. (In the 19th century Methodism identified itself with the 'total abstinence' temperance movement. This was at a time when social evils such as poverty and domestic violence were greatly exacerbated by drunkenness. Strong drink was cheap, and many suffered. By encouraging and helping people to abstain, many lives were improved). This is illustrated in an oral history account by Mr Harry Bonham (1872-1962), who spent his childhood years in Middleton. He had signed the pledge when he was seven years old without tasting the one pint he had promised himself when he became a man. He recalled that his father was a hard worker but sometimes he returned home he seemed to be ‘possessed with evil spirits.’ However this all changed after a visiting preacher came to the Methodist Chapel –

‘…the next day father was out in the field dibbing beans and he buried his pipe and tobacco. He used to smoke a clay pipe and Black Jack tobacco, only a small packet, but tremendously great was the breaking of that habit. He never appeared to have any desire for them again. I recall Mother’s comment that she was so pleased at the change in Father’s life as we boys were growing up at the time. I refer to his home-comings once the drinking sprees were at an end. What a change!’

After the turn of the century the Methodist congregation started their brass band, known as the Wesleyan Temperance Band. It was customary for this band to assemble outside the chapel and march down to the village green. To the great delight of the school children the band was led by a person carrying an oil lamp on a long pole during the winter months. After their march the band returned to the Chapel to take part in the Sunday evening service. This Band did not continue after 1914.

The Methodist Sunday School treats were always popular with the children as they were transported to the various locations by wagon. These outings generally took place at Lodge Farm along the Astrop Road (the farmer being Mr James Jones), Warkworth Gardens, the home of Mr Jim Claridge and also Castle Farm at Chacombe (Mr Adkins)

Information from –

• A Brief History of Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire; with Childhood Memories. Author Leonard W. Jerrams. Published 1984
• Rural Life in Victorian England. Author G.E. Mingay. Published 1990
• Middleton Cheney Oral History – Harry Bonham 1872 - 1962