Article No.16

Stanwick is a parish and village in Northamptonshire, two-and-a-half miles N.E. by N. from Higham Ferrers. The population in 1801 was 332, 1831, 503; 1871, 678; 1901, 912.

Stanwick appears in the preachers plan of 1814 (Wellingborough) with two Sunday services at two and six o'clock. It was first in the Higham Ferrers Book 1828. It is also in a plan of 1832 (January-April), with the same appointments. In the plan of February-April, 1850, it has the same Sunday appointments and Wednesdays fortnightly.

In the accounts of the Quarterly Meeting held March 30th, 1829, it is returned with 15 members and a contribution of 16s. 11½d. (13s. 10d. class and ticket money and 3s. 1½d. quarterly collection; March 27th, 1848, with 30 members, its contribution being £2 5s. 2d. On Oct. 1st, 1849, the members were 26 and quarterage was £2 5s. 10d.; March 25th, 1850, £2 1s. 10d.; June 24th, £1 15s.; Sept. 30th the amount fell to 17s. 6d.; Dec. 30th, to 10s. 8d.; April 3rd, 1854 the members were five and the contribution 11s. 1d. This remarkable and very serious decline is another instance of the blighting effects of the disruption of 1850 and 1851, when such large numbers left our Societies.

The first chapel was built in the year 1814, as we learn from the indenture of bargain and sale, dated Aug. 20th of that year, of a piece of ground and chapel lately erected thereon. The cost was £200. Before this cottage preaching services were held.

Mr. John Clark (aged 56) said: "I believe the Society used to worship in my grandfather's house—Mr. Thomas Smith's. I was brought up in the Sunday school."

Mrs. Carter, born 1834 (formerly Mrs. Mackness, says preaching was held in her grandfather's (Thomas Castledine’s) cottage. It is now two tenements a few yards to the left of the chapel, occupied by Mrs. James Goosey and Mrs. Carter. The latter was born in the house, as was her father. Mrs. Carter does not recollect her grandfather, but she has heard her father say that her grandfather (who gave the land for the chapel) cut down several fruit trees in clearing the orchard for the chapel.

According to the Schedule of Chapels, etc., 1851, the accommodation at that date of the chapel of 1814 was 45 free, sittings and 95 other sittings. The attendance at the morning, afternoon, and evening services on March 30th, 1851, was 7, 52, and 40 respectively. The Sunday scholars attending morning and afternoon were 30 and 31.

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Article No.17

The cause at Stanwick had fallen into a decadent state; in fact, it had never recovered from the shock of the disruption of over half-a-century ago. In the year 1841 the members were ten; in 1848, 80; in 1804, the time of the disruption, it had fallen to five; in 1891, six; in 1895, five. The chapel was used as long as it was possible to do so. The roof fell in, and the chapel was then pulled down. The deplorable condition of the cause at Stanwick received the most serious consideration of the Circuit Quarterly Meetings of Dec. 11th, 1893, and Sept. 10th, 1894, at which proposals by the Stanwick Union Church for uniting with the Methodists were considered. A small committee was formed to visit Stanwick and lay the matter before the members, discuss the situation with them, and report at the next Quarterly Meeting, March 11th, 1895. At this meeting the committee reported that the friends at Stanwick were averse from union, and stated "that they must either have a new chapel or cease to be Methodists." It was resolved to decline the proposal for union with the Stanwick Union Church and to sustain Methodism in Stanwick, giving every possible assistance in providing them a place of worship.

Sustained by the circuit generally, the friends set about building immediately, and on Sept. 3rd, 1895, the foundation stones of the present neat little chapel were laid by Mrs. Chisholm and Mrs. T. Patenall, and on Oct. 21st of the same year the chapel was opened by the Rev. Thomas Champness.

A man named Partrick used to play a clarinet. Cheney Clark (brother of Mr. John Clark) played a bass viol. Henry Clark, the father, raised the tunes. The helpful and self-denying labours in the Sunday school more than 30 years ago of Thomas D. Cunnington, Thomas Patenall, Walter Gadsby, and Samuel Pack, of Higham Ferrers, are still remembered with grateful appreciation. An earlier worker in the Sunday school was Mr. Brown, a farmer. Mrs. Dainty Knight was an indefatigable worker in the same vineyard. The Sunday school was really kept going by the band of workers referred to from Higham Ferrers and a few others.

Mr. Dainty Knight says: "I think the Church to-day wants more prayer; there is plenty of good preaching. They used to tell me when I was a boy (at Addington) they knew who the praying men were by their trousers' knees being so much out of shape and worn so. Mr. Sharp at Addington used to start all the tunes there when I was young. I am 69 years old. I joined the Wesleyans when I was 15 and Mr. Payne in the circuit the first time" (the Rev. Joseph Payne).

The indenture referred to in the previous article, dated Aug. 20th, 1811:

Mr. Thos. Castledine to Messrs. Parker and others.

Bargain and Sale of a piece of Ground and Chapel lately erected thereon at Stanwick,

Between Thomas Castledine of Stanwick, shepherd of the one part and

Jonathan Parker	Raunds	Flaxdresser
Henry Knighton, yngr	Raunds	Farmer
James Merchant	Raunds	Tailor
John Haseldine	Raunds	Butcher
Thomas Goldsborough	Raunds	Schoolmaster
William Bayes	Stanwick	Shoemaker
Thomas Smith (Mr John Clark’s grandfather)	Stanwick	Shoemaker
John Parker	Higham Ferrers	Grover
Thomas Burgess	Higham Ferrers	Farmer
John Burgess	Higham Ferrers	Farmer
Joseph Pack	Higham Ferrers	Baker
John Tibbs	Higham Ferrers	Baker

Other part

All that piece or parcel of land or ground together with the Meeting House or Chapel lately erected upon some part thereof situated in Stanwick. Consideration £5.

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31st March 1903

First part—Mr. William George Daniels and Mrs. Elizabeth Daniels his wife, of Irthlingborough, retired innkeeper.

Second part—Mr. Thomas Sanders and others.

Conveyance in Fee of two pieces of land situated at Stanwick in the County of Northampton, adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel there for purposes in connection with the said chapel. Consideration £17.

Third part—Revd. George Henry Hayes.

Thomas Sanders	Higham Ferrers	Currier
Henry Simpson	Riseley	Farmer
Robert Ponton Payne	formerly of Irthlingboro' but now of Sawston	Leather Dresser
Dainty Knight	Stanwick	Farmer
Thomas Patenall	Higham Ferrers	Shoe Manufacturer
Samuel Pack	Higham Ferrers	Shoe Manufacturer
George Henry Groome	Higham Ferrers	Shoe Manufacturer
George Gibbs	Higham Ferrers	Currier
Thomas Marchant Coleman	Higham Ferrers	Butcher
George Parsons	Irthlingboro’	Farmer
George Groom	Irthlingboro’	Butcher
Isaac Cunnington	Rushden	Shoe Manufacturer
John Clark	Stanwick	Labourer

Fourth Part.