home

The Methodist Church in Cumbria

Bassenthwaite Methodist Church

Methodist Symbol

[Home]

The Bassenthwaite Methodists have a long history of co-operation beginning in an era when this was unusual. Wesleyans began a cause in 1839 with two members, and one 'On Trial'. One of their early meeting places was in a farmhouse at Scarness, by Bassenthwaite Lake, but soon after 1843 they began to meet in the village at Robert Briscoe's house.
By 1861 the membership threw their lot in with a Primitive Methodist cause in the village which was building a chapel there, which opened in 1868.
However, the Wesleyans' services began again in 1879, meeting at Dyke Nook Farm.
Bassenthwaite Methodist Church When in 1882, these Wesleyans bought the Primitive's building for £75, one can only presume that the latter's numbers were down, though by 1887 Wesleyan membership was only 4 and only rose above that figure in 1906. Happily the membership is much stronger today.

The premises bought in 1882 were extended in the 1930s with the addition of a schoolroom.

Most Sundays there are visitors in the congregation, and organ music is often supplemented with other instruments.

The present membership of the church is 33.

[Back to Bassenthwaite]

Copyright © 2004