Introduction
Methodist Circuit Records

When the Compton Census was compiled in 1676 there were 600 conformists with just 6 non-conformists in the village of Rushden. By 1781 there were 15 Methodists attached to the Bedford Circuit but they were transferred to the Higham Ferrers Circuit in 1814 when they joined with Wellingborough Methodists. By 1817 services were held in a barn near the green and ten years later the barn was converted into a chapel. The circuit register from 1814 shows the wide area covered by the preachers.

Bedford Methodist Circuit			1781-1785				NRO ref: ZA 8470
Members at Rushden
Forename	Surname	home parish	status 1781	1781	1782	1783	1784	1785
Thomas	ANGRAVE	Irchester	married	farmer	farmer	farmer, leader	grazier	farmer
Sarah	ANGRAVE	Irchester	married	wife	n.g.
James	BERRIDGE	Wollaston	married	farmer	farmer	farmer	grazier	farmer
Elizabeth	BERRIDGE	Wollaston	married	wife	n.g.
Thomas	CUMBERLAND	Rushden	married	farmer	farmer	farmer	n.g.	farmer
Sarah	CUMBERLAND	Rushden	married	wife	n.g.
Thomas	FISHER	Rushden	married	huckster	labourer	n.g.	n.g.	labourer
Mary	FISHER	Irchester	married	wife	n.g.	n.g.	n.g.	n.g
Mary	WHITLOCK	Rushden	unmarried	servant	servant	servant	no longer listed
Ann	SIMONS	Rushden	married	lacemaker	lacemaker	lacemaker	n.g.	n.g.
Thomas	MACKNESS	Rushden	married	labourer	no longer listed
Hannah	HOOPER	Rushden	married	poor	spinster	spinster	n.g.	no longer listed
Elizabeth	PARTRIDGE	Rushden	unmarried	lacemaker	servant	lacemaker	no longer listed
William	UNDERWOOD	Rushden	married	labourer	no longer listed
Sarah	PETTIT	Rushden	married	poor	spinster	spinster	no longer listed
Sarah	BAKER	Rushden	not listed	not listed	not listed	n.g.	n.g.	n.g.
Sarah	MITCHEL	Irchester	not listed	not listed	not listed	not listed	not listed	servant
			Totals	15	13	14	12	11

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