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History Excerpts from Muker: The
story of a Yorkshire Parish by
Edmund Cooper
"By the time of the year of our Lord 1870, the Wesleyan chapel at Muker became too strait for its worshippers, so the Lord put it into the hearts of the brethren to enlarge the House of the Lord, which was carried into execution with much Labour, Perseverance, Patience and Prayer." Again the congregation raised funds to increase the accommodation for a growing membership. Subscriptions amounted to £74 towards a total cost of £112. On the list of subscribers were the names of the local member of Parliament, Mr. Millbank, and Dr. Rudd, the village doctor. This enlarged building, 20 feet by 44 feet, with a small vestry at one end, served the Wesleyans in Muker until 1934. It stood on the Thwaite road a quarter of a mile from the village, near Ducking Dub Bridge. It was a simple, dignified and plain edifice, but its use for religious purposes was discontinued after the modern chapel was built in the village in 1934-35 |
Muker chapel was built in 1845
and only cost £96. Its cheapness was
largely due to the fact that its
members contributed their labour
free. This figure included a sum of
£71 9s 3d from 470 separate
subscriptions and 344 people
subscribed under 2s 6d. The building
was designed and supervised by John
Rawson, a well known Wesleyan
minister who died at Reeth in 1850
aged 73. His knowledge of building
and architecture was such that he
was entrusted with the erection of
chapels at Barnard Castle, Low Row,
Healaugh and Whaw. On the 11th
November, 1845, the new chapel was
opened for Divine Service by the
Rev. Henry Richardson and the Rev.
Thomas Savage. There were 36 members
in all, of whom James Cottingham,
James Calvert and Cherry Kearton
were leaders.