Article No.26.

Souldrop (Higham Ferrers Circuit)

Mrs. Harriet Betts, of Knotting Green, says: "I am nearly 77. I remember the first chapel at Souldrop. People outside used to speak of it, in a scornful way, as 'the little shoemaker's shop.' It was only the size of a cottage. Poor old Woods was determined to get some place to worship in. The second chapel was built about 50 years ago. It was not a circuit chapel. The Church people did not like it; no more do they the present one."

According to the Schedule of Chapels, etc., 185l, the place, then occupied for worship was a private house, and was first used for worship in 1840. There was accommodation for 70 persons. The attendance afternoon and evening, March 30th, 1851, was 47 and 43 respectively.

The present chapel at Souldrop was originally a Primitive Methodist Chapel and is a wood and iron structure which was erected by the Primitives at Irthlingborough and still has the words painted over the door "Primitive Methodist Chapel, erected September, 1876." It was bought from them and opened in August, 1890. In 1885, when the division of the circuit took place, Souldrop does not appear.

Mr. Hulatt says: "I remember one Sunday evening driving home from preaching with Brother Woods. We overtook old Dawson on the road; he had been preaching at Tilbrook. I had been to Hargrave and Brother Woods I think to Thrapston. Old Brother Dawson was walking with two sticks and carrying an umbrella. This was only a year or two before he died. 'Looking for a ride,' we laughed, and I said, 'What! a young man like you don't want a ride!'

''I have heard some of the old ministers say that in travelling from one place to another their closet for prayer was often in the ditch by the highway. The great idea with the old ministers and locals was soul-winning. The great question when they were discussed was 'Are they soul-winners?' and this was the test for students and young ministers."

Conveyance

Dated 16th August, 1890.

Charles Turney, formerly of Stevington in the county of Bedford, farmer, but now of the town of Bedford, the Vendor of the one part.

The Rev. James George Lawrence 2nd part.

Conveyance in Fee of a Plot of Land or ground situate at Souldrop in the County of Bedford near to and fronting the Western-most side of a certain road or lane called the Greenway Lane, as a site for a Wesleyan Chapel.

Thos. Sanders	Leather Merchant	Higham Ferrers
Saml. James Joll	Grocer
Geo. Hy. Groom	Shoe Factor
Thos. Patenall	Shoe Factor
Oliver Patenall	Currier
Thos. Marchant Coleman	Butcher
Saml.  Pack	Shoemaker
Isaac Cunnington	Shoe Manufacturer
Abraham Gadsby	Currier	Rushden
Thos.  Hulatt	Foreman Plate Layer	Souldrop
Thos. Rollings	Yeoman
Jonn   Woods	Labourer

Hereinafter called the Purchasers - 3rd part.

The earliest authentic mention of Souldrop was in 1839. Earliest date of chapel 1890. Souldrop first appears in the Triennial Schedule for the years 1842-5 with three members on trial, which fell by declension to one at the end of the period.

1840 is the date of first preaching in a private house. The free sittings were 70. Attendance March 30th, 1851: Afternoon 47, evening 43.