Past Circuit Heritage Events
Please see below events that have happened in the Circuit to celebrate the history of the Burnley & Pendle Circuit.
August 2021
Higherford
What a celebration indeed ……..
Yesterday’s launch of the Burnley and Pendle Methodist Heritage trail was an amazing event. Sixty-seven people, of all ages and from across the Circuit and beyond (Preston and Haslingden) joined in the 4 mile circular walk across the fields from Higherford to Roughlee. There were two stops along the way for worship – one in a field overlooking Roughlee where Richard Hoyle shared an extract from John Wesley’s journal on his visit to this area in 1748 and the second one on the site of the previous Wesleyan Chapel in Roughlee where Revd Keith Richardson led the singing of the hymn written by Charles Wesley ‘And can it be that I should gain’. As we left the second location we were thanked by the local residents for our singing!
Everyone managed to return to Higherford, including the well behaved dogs. The ladies at Higherford church certainly did us proud with the delicious afternoon tea which over 100 people joined in and nearly £200 was raised. There was a Circuit information stall hosting details of forthcoming events and products to support churches in outreach and prayer plus a Christian book stall. It was good to see people gathering together as we come out of the pandemic restrictions. The event ended with a short meaningful worship on ‘Jesus: the Way, the Truth and the Life’ led by the Revd Paul Davis, Chair of the Lancashire District and the prayers were led by the Circuit’s new Superintendent, Revd Rick Ormrod who starts this week.
Many thanks to everyone who supported this circuit event and don’t forget:
- to visit the Circuit website later this week and in the following few months as more information on the trail is release
- a second heritage walk is being planned for next spring and a third one for June 2022 so keep an eye out for details in the Circuit newsletter.
Every blessing
The Circuit Heritage Group
March 2022
Greenbrook
June 2022
Trawden
Another successful Circuit Heritage event
Circuit Heritage event was another great occasion for people to come together and share their stories. The William Pickles Hartley exhibition provided interesting information on this local Methodist man who founded Hartley’s jam. The exhibition also included items on Methodism from the Trawden and surrounding areas. Barbara Easton, the Vice President of the Methodist Conference and Revd Paul Davis, the Chair of the District joined in the 5-mile circular walk from Trawden to Wycoller. During the walk, they visited Trawden Cemetery where William P Hartley is buried and a short act of worship took place. Barbara dedicated the new Heritage plaque at the cemetery before laying some flowers on William’s grave.
A second circular walk for those who wanted to amble along at a relaxed pace took place simultaneously to the five-mile walk. This walk followed footpaths around Trawden and Cottontree.
Refreshments were served by a willing team of volunteers in Trawden Community Centre and over £70 was raised.
Grateful thanks to Kath Yates, Kath Heyworth, Keith Richardson and Richard Hoyle for organising this event and many thanks to all who attended the exhibition or participated in one of the walks.
For Highlights of the day check out the Circuit YouTube
January 2023
Colne
May 2023
Southfield
September 2023
Rivington
February 2024
Central
Methodism in the Centre of Burnley
An event was held at Central Methodist Church, Burnley, on 10th February 2024 to celebrate Methodism in the centre of town. There were short talks on Samuel Chadwick, Silas Hocking and the visit of John Wesley to Burnley in 1786. More information on these and other significant characters in the story of local Methodism can be found elsewhere on the website.
A plaque commemorating Silas Hocking was dedicated and placed by the front door of the church, beside the one to Samuel Chadwick. There was also an exhibition of photographs and information regarding the
past and present Methodist Churches of central Burnley. Attendance was very good and soup cake and hot drinks were served to complete this winter celebration of Methodism in central Burnley.
April 2024
Colne
A Spring Celebration on Saturday 20th April 2024 from 11.30am-1.30pm
A successful event was held in April to celebrate the dedication of the heritage plaque for Mary Taft (nee Barritt) heritage plaque. Cllr Brian Newman and his wife Lynne, the Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle attended this celebration. This was very special as the Mayoress is a descendant of the Barritt family. There was an informative exhibition on the life of Mary Taft and a small display on past and present churches in Colne and the surrounding areas. Also, the Circuit Prayer walk in Colne was available to view.
The event was held at the Exchange Project/ St John’s in Colne. After a hot lunch, a number of people led by Kathryn Yates set off on Colne Town Trail. For those remaining in the venue Kath Heyworth gave an interesting talk on the town of Colne highlighting key heritage sites. This event was well attended.
The heritage plaque for Mary Taft can be seen on the Exchange Project / St John’s church building.
July 2024
Wheatley Lane
A Summer Celebration at Wheatley Lane on Saturday 20th July 2024
As part of the 200th anniversary at Wheatley Lane (WL) Methodist Church a heritage summer celebration was held on Saturday 20th July 2024.
Two heritage walks prepared by members of WL church took place. The 5-mile walk started at WL church in Fence at 1pm and took a scenic route in the stunning local Pendle countryside before descending into the neighbouring village of Higham.
A short act of worship took place at 2.15pm In Higham on the site where the Methodist Chapel had previously stood led by the Revd Keith Richardson and Richard Hoyle. It was great that many local people joined the walkers for this special celebration.
Following the worship the 2-mile walkers joined the other walkers as they returned through the fields parallel to the Padiham to Barrowford by-pass to WL church. In WL church cream teas were being served. The local methodist heritage group had
put on an interesting exhibition of documents and photos of WL church and Higham chapel. A heritage plaque was dedicated for Harry Hartley, a past headteacher at WL Primary school and a methodist local preacher who had a heart for mission
throughout the local area. This plaque can be found on the school’s wall facing Wheatley Lane Road near to the school’s main entrance.
November 2024
Preston
A Visit to the County Archives in Preston
On 26th November 2024 three members of the Heritage Group visited the County Archives in Preston to view and catalogue documents from the Pendle section of the Circuit. Kathryn Yates, Rev Keith Richardson and Richard Hoyle spent a few hours sifting through 35 boxes of documents dating back to the 19th century. Circuit and Church Minute books, Sunday School registers, pulpit notices and account books were amongst the hundreds of items we came across. It was a fascinating experience, even though we could not spend too much time reading the documents – we would have been there for days had we stopped and read each one!
These and documents from the Burnley section of the Circuit are all available for viewing by appointment at the County Archive. More information can be found by following this link:
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