Weardale Museum curator Kate Gill tells of the battle to save the oldest Methodist chapel in the Dale and of plans for an exciting new exhibition this autumn
In the beginning...
Weardale Museum and High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn
IN 1985, the Weardale Museum was set up in the manse of High House Methodist Chapel, Ireshopeburn. Run entirely by volunteers this small museum celebrates the history and heritage of Weardale and its people.
In 2019, High House Chapel closed and the museum decided to purchase this fine heritage building not only to save it for the Dale but to extend the current museum and create a much larger heritage centre for the area.
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High House Chapel
The chapel is of great significance to Weardale, being the first one in the area when it was built in 1760. At the time of its closure, it was the world’s oldest Methodist chapel in continuous use. Enlarged twice in the 19th Century to accommodate growing congregations, it was the focus of many of the life events of working men and their families. The building is Grade II listed.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached near and inside the chapel on many occasions and drew large crowds; a memorial plaque is situated in a private garden near the Museum. According to Simon Jenkins in his England’s Thousand Best Churches it was here that the fires of Methodism took hold.
High House was the centre of Methodism in the North Pennines and over time, even the smallest villages had both Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels.
Inside High House Chapel in Ireshopeburn
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A scene from the Methodist Tapestries which will go on display next month in the Weardale Museum. This has been stitched by a primary school and tells of Jane Ansdale, the first female preacher in the Dale who arrived in the early 1820s, and many of the converts to Methodism were because of the seeds she had sown
The Methodist Tapestries Project
Our latest project was the brainchild of one of our volunteers. Recognising that our new museum and heritage centre needed a unique selling point, and having viewed the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry Collection, the idea was formed of developing a collection of tapestries on the theme of Methodism. The project started with panels designed around the Methodist heritage of the historic chapel and Weardale and was then extended to cover the region, the nation and the rest of the world. We plan to launch next month – more details to come in Memories!
A scene from the Methodist Tapestries which will go on display next month in the Weardale Museum
Saving the chapel
Saving the chapel is no easy task. It is a very old building in need of much repair, and the Covid crisis meant that little work could be carried out to stabilise it and do essential repairs.
As it is listed, all the work has to be to conservation standards which inevitably pushes up the costs.
The museum wants to preserve the chapel building as part of Weardale’s heritage and so avoid it being turned into a house, as has happened to almost all of the chapels in the Dale.
Incorporating the current small museum with the larger building means that our collections can be more fully displayed and new collections, such as the Methodist Tapestries, can be added.
At the same time, the history of the building will be preserved by retaining the communion rail, pulpit and organ, and the history of the chapel and its community will be told in the new centre.
The condition of the High House Chapel
The plans are to have a multipurpose display area on the ground floor which can be used for community events and exhibitions. The gallery floor will house the Methodist Tapestry Collection along with complementary displays on Methodism in the Dale. A through floor lift will enable full access in the chapel building.
The museum trustees know that it is important that this significant building is saved and protected and the support of local people is key in being able to achieve this. Support can be given to the project by volunteering time and expertise and also with financial contributions. If you would like to support the chapel project and help build a home for the Methodist Tapestries you can donate through our website weardalemuseum.org.uk or by contacting our Treasurer at john.jackson@weardalemuseum.org.uk.
For further details on the Tapestries Project please contact David Heatherington at david.heatherington@weardalemuseum.org.uk or Liz Walsh at liz.walsh@weardalemuseum.org.uk
For general information about the Museum contact Kate Gill, Curator, at kate.gill@weardalemuseum.org.uk or call 07990-786220.
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