Article No.22

"Little Addington: A very small and insignificant village and parish about one mile from Great Addington. There is one Wesleyan Chapel. Population, 299." Great Addington is four miles south of Thrapston, Population 1841, 260.

The writer is indebted to Mr. George Sharp, the Society steward at Addington, and to Mrs. Sharp, and to Mr. Thomas Coleman, residing since 1887 at Finedon, Society steward for a great many years at Addington, for much interesting information relative to Addington Methodism. The last-named says: ''My name is Thomas Coleman; my age is 78. I was the Society steward at Little Addington. I took office about 50 years ago. I remained in office till I came to Finedon about 15 years ago. There was a chapel opposite the present chapel and at the back of the cottages. It could not be seen from the street; I think it was formerly a barn, judging from appearances. The man to whom it belonged sold the cottages but reserved the chapel and gave it to the Methodists for ever. He gave my Father, Thomas Coleman, a strip of paper containing his wish before he died; he signed it. His relatives disputed it, but they gave in. It was all settled in favour of the Wesleyans at last. The family was rather awkward about it. I remember my father going to Kettering several times about it and taking the minister old Mr. Dunn, I think it was. The relatives wanted us to buy the site on which the present chapel stands, but when they found we could claim the old chapel they agreed to exchange the plots of land. The old man was, I think, a prayer leader, and he would often give out the verse beginning 'Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing, Bid us now depart in peace.' We had some gipsies come to Addington, and they were 'brought in.' They were not allowed to camp out by the police; they took two cottages and always attended the Wesleyan Chapel; their name was Smith. They settled there and died. The daughter of the old man Elijah Smith, who had married before they came to Addington, made a most triumphant end. After her death her husband (Teddy Herne was his name) went away. They were all converted there, and the children were in the Sunday school; they had three daughters and a son. This was soon after the present chapel was built 1811. The Rev. Samuel Wesley preached the funeral sermon for the daughter. They used then to preach funeral sermons for all the members.

"There was a revival 30 years ago, when 22 were brought in; but for that there would hardly be anybody to carry on the work now, as nearly all the old ones are dead or have left. The present Society steward, Mr. George Sharpe, and his wife were brought in in that revival.

"I don't think people are so zealous now. In ordinary conversation you don't hear religion so much brought in, and not so much when they visit at each other's houses. The conversation is now about what is going on—business and all that. From what I see, it don't make much difference between Sundays and weekdays as to their talk. I never remember my parents entering on business matters on Sundays. They would not allow us to read books but what they knew were suitable for Sundays. We took the Wesleyan publications.

"My opinion is that the people were more hearty and earnest in all the services than people are now. Religion was more the one thing then. They have lost the Puritanic spirit. They do not see the harm in lots of things now that our fathers would.

"I remember a circuit effort on behalf of old Brother Isaac Dawson. There was no local preachers' benefit society then. He always made his home at my house, in later years staying overnight. Until he got too old he walked both ways from Dean. He told me the story of the men sent to waylay him at Leighton. He was a brave man."