| Description | Circuit records include minute books; schedule books; account books; roll books of class members; circuit plans and circuit reports. Records of churches include baptism and marriage registers; minute books; account books; roll books; correspondence; and printed material. In addition to the records referred to below, there are unlisted records relating to various circuits and churches comprising 24 bundles, 18 other items, c.1815-1983 (ZCR 55; ZCR 459)
Circuits:
St. John's (ZCR 55/1-42; ZCR 55/2/1-10) This circuit was established c.1765, with headquarters at the Octagon Chapel until 1812, when the Wesleyans moved to St. John Street. It amalgamated with Hunter Street Circuit in 1959. 49 volumes., 1 bundle, 2 other items. 1788-1963
George Street (ZCR 55/130; ZCR 55/2/11-13; ZCR 78/1-38; ZCR 94/1-29) This Primitive Methodist circuit was established in 1825, with headquarters in Steam Mill Street. The circuit headquarters moved to George Street in 1863 and in 1963, it amalgamated with Grosvenor Park Circuit and Tarvin Road Circuit. 61 volumes., 10 bundles 1834-1970
Hunter Street (ZCR 55/133-141; ZCR 226/13-18, 20, 22, 24-32, 34) This Primitive Methodist circuit was established in 1874, with headquarters in Commonhall Street. The circuit headquarters moved to Hunter Street in 1899 and in 1959, it amalgamated with St. John Street Circuit. 27 volumes. 1874-1959
Tarvin Road (ZCR 55/156-165; ZCR 94/38) This Primitive Methodist circuit was established in 1889, with headquarters in Tarvin Road. It amalgamated with Grosvenor Park Circuit and Hunter Street Circuit in 1963. 9 volumes., 2 bundles. 1890-1963
Grosvenor Park (ZCR 55/171-173; ZCR 2/14-18) This circuit was established in 1959, when St. John Street Circuit amalgamated with Hunter Street Circuit. In 1963, it amalgamated with George Street Circuit to form the present Chester Circuit. 5 volumes., 2 bundles, 1 other item 1953-63
Chester (ZCR 55/2/19-25) This circuit was established in 1963. 4 bundles, 3 other items 1958-82
Churches:
Aldford (ZCR 55/2/26-31) This church opened in 1891, replacing a previous church built in 1883. It closed in 1979. Its records include a baptism register, 1963-74. 3 volumes., 2 documents, 1 other item 1861-1979
Belgrave (ZCR 55/87-88) This church opened prior to 1908 and is now closed. 1 volume., 1 bundle. 1908-21
Bretton (ZCR 55/89; ZCR 55/2/32-33) This church opened in 1859. 2 volumes., 1 other item 1902-77
Central Hall, City Road (ZCR 55/92-110; ZCR 55/2/34-42; ZCR 415) This church, a major centre of Methodism in Chester, opened in 1873 and closed in 1982. Its records include marriage registers; 1900-82. 27 volumes. 1873-1982
Commonwood, Shropshire (ZCR 55/149) This church opened prior to 1926 and is now closed. 1 volume. 1926-30
Christleton (ZCR 55/90-91; ZCR 55/2/43-46) This church opened in 1888. 4 volumes., 1 bundle, 1 other item 1887-1964 Account books; Ladies Guild minute books 1976-2008 (ZCR 9693); Circuit Fabric and Finance Group, Men's Evenings 1991-2006 (ZCR 55/9730)
Dunham Hill (ZCR 55/111-112, ZCR 55/9111/1) This church opened prior to 1874 and is now closed. 1 volume., 1 doc., 1 bundle 1874-1934
Egerton Street (ZCR 276) This church opened in 1920, following the closure of the United Methodist Church in Pepper Street. It closed in 1932. Its records include a baptism register, 1922-24. 4 volumes., 2 bundles 1907-32
Ellesmere Port (ZCR 55/113) This mission chapel opened in 1908 1 volume. 1908-11
Garden Lane (ZCR 55/114-115; ZCR 226/1-12) This church opened c.1897 13 volumes., 1 bundle 1887-1968
George Street (ZCR 55/131-132; ZCR 55/2/47-57; ZCR 78/39-49; ZCR 94/30-35; ZCR 111/1-26; ZCR 270/1-6) This church opened in 1863 and moved to a new site in 1888. It closed in 1970. Its records include marriage registers, 1917-69. Deeds of the church, which was purchased by Chester City Council in 1970, are also held by the Chester City Record Office (C1954). 29 volumes., 23 documents, 8 bundles, 5 other items 1791-1969
Golly, Denbighshire (ZCR 55/150; ZCR 55/2/58-59) This church opened prior to 1857 and closed c.1970 3 volumes. 1857-1970
Great Barrow (ZCR 55/85-86; ZCR 55/2/60-61) This church opened in 1842 and closed in 1981. Its records include a baptism register, 1924-61. 3 volumes., 1 bundle 1903-76
Guilden Sutton (ZCR 55/2/62-64) This church opened in 1873. 1 volume., 1 bundle, 1 other item 1876-1973
Hamilton Street (ZCR 55/2/65-66; ZCR 238; ZCR 55/7219 ZCR 55/8476) The first church opened in 1903 and was replaced by the present church in 1928. 10 volumes., 1 bundle, 1 doc. 1901-2005.
Hargrave (ZCR 55/116; ZCR 55/2/67) This church opened in 1859 and closed in 1981. 1 volume., 1 bundle 1896-1974
Hoole (ZCR 55/117) This mission chapel opened in 1888 and closed in the 1890s. 1 volume. 1888-93
Hough Green (ZCR 55/118-126; ZCR 55/2/68) This church opened in 1856 and amalgamated with Saltney church in 1961. Its records include baptism registers, 1854-1960. 9 volumes., 1 bundle 1854-1961
Hunter Street (ZCR 55/142-148; ZCR 55/2/69-80; ZCR 270/7-11) This church opened in 1899 and closed in 1967. Its records include marriage registers, 1916-67. 14 volumes., 10 other items. 1878-1967
Huxley (ZCR 55/2/81) This church opened in 1842. 1 volume. 1936-78 Llay, Denbighshire (ZCR 55/151; ZCR 55/2/82-84; ZCR 226/19, 21, 23, 33) This church opened c. 1923, replacing a previous church and closed c.1970. 7 volumes. 1923-68
Manley (ZCR 55/2/85; ZCR 94/36) This church opened in 1859 and closed c.1970 2 volumes. 1915-70
Mickle Trafford (ZCR 55/2/86-87) This church opened in 1885. 1 volume., 1 other item 1918-77
Milton Green (ZCR 55/127-128; ZCR 55/2/88-90; ZCR 270/12) This church opened in 1862 and closed in 1967. Its records include a baptism register, 1916-74, which also contains entries for Christleton and a marriage register, 1909-54. 5 volumes., 1 doc. 1862-1974
Pipers Ash (ZCR 55/2/91; ZCR 234) The first church was built in 1891 and replaced by the present church in 1914. 2 volumes., 5 bundles, 8 other items 1892-1977
Queen Street (ZCR 286) This Welsh Wesleyan church opened in 1884 and closed c.1972. Its records comprise marriage registers, 1900-72. 3 volumes. 1900-72
Rossett (ZCR 55/152-154) This church opened in 1882 and is now closed. 3 volumes 1881-1958
Rowton (ZCR 55/2/92) This church opened in 1865. 1 volume. 1958-77
St. John Street (ZCR 10; ZCR 55/43-84; ZCR 55/2/93-121) This church, a major centre of Wesleyan Methodism in Chester, opened in 1812. 45 volumes., 59 documents, 7 bundles, 20 other items 1620-1970
Saltney (ZCR 55/155; ZCR 55/2/122-127) The first church opened in 1900 and was replaced by the present church in 1961. Its records include a marriage register, 1954-61. 2 volumes., 5 other items 1942-62
Saughall (ZCR 55/2/128-129; ZCR 94/37) This church opened in 1865 2 volumes., 1 other item 1882-1977
Stapleford (ZCR 55/169-170, ZCR 55/9111/2) This church opened c.1890 and closed c.1970 2 volumes. 18909-179
Tarporley and Duddon (ZCR 55/129) These churches opened prior to 1839 and are now closed. There is one register of baptisms, which includes entries for other churches. 1 volume. 1839-94
Tarvin Road (ZCR 55/166-168; ZCR 55/2/130-133; ZCR 55/7759) This church opened in 1884. The records include a register of baptisms, 1889-2008.
Wrexham Mission and Station (ZCR 78/52-55) A mission chapel opened in Wrexham in 1832, on the Chester Primitive Methodist Circuit. Wrexham became the headquarters of a separate circuit in 1868. 1 volume., 3 bundles 1850-64
General (ZCR 55/174-180; ZCR 55/2/134-154; ZCR 78/50-51) These records do not relate to specific circuits or churches and include Primitive Methodist Society baptism registers, 1845-1959; printed histories of local Methodism; and preachers' plans. 4 volumes., 26 other items 1837-1964
ZCR 55/7972 - Documents and papers of Mr Eric Spencer including Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District Synod handbooks and directories 1958-1985, Synod agendas 1963-1986, Chester circuit plans 1961-1989, St John Street Church newsletters 1959-1987, files re Chester Council of Churches 1970-1983, Christian Aid Sub-Committee 1968-1974, Mission Together Committee and Mission to Chester 1977-1983, Methodist Missionary Society 1970-1974, Call to the North 1972-1976; Chester and Warrington District Foreign Missionary, later Overseas Missionary Committee minutes 1932-1957; Chester and Warrington District Youth Missionary Association minutes 1955-1960; miscellaneous service sheets and infomration leaflets re St John's church c1968-1992
ZCR 55/9185 - Event programmes for YMA garden party and youth sports (1965), Youth Council music and arts festival (1963, 1965), Circuit Youth Sports (1964, 1966), Circuit Youth Council music and arts festival (1972), newspaper cutting regarding arts and music festival (1968); and Tarvin Road Methodist Chapel centenary booklet (1984) |
| Administrative History | Methodism was introduced into Chester c.1746 and the first local Methodist Society was formed at the home of Richard Jones in Love Lane in 1751. The growth of Methodism was encouraged by visiting preachers, including the Rev. John Wesley, who made periodic visits. In 1764, the Chester Society built the Octagon Chapel at the Bars, Foregate Street, which became the headquarters of an extensive circuit. A small group seceded from the Octagon Chapel c.1795, to form an independent society in Trinity Street, which later joined the Methodist New Connexion, also known as the United Methodist Church. In the early 1820s, Primitive Methodism, a rival branch to the Wesleyans, came to Chester. The first meeting place was in Steven Street and in 1823, a chapel was built in Steam Mill Street. Support for Primitive Methodism grew rapidly and by 1889, there were three circuits based upon Chester, as opposed to the single Wesleyan circuit. In 1932, the three main branches of Methodism (Wesleyan, Primitive and United Methodist) came together to form the Methodist Church. However, there remained four separate circuits based upon Chester until 1959 and the final unification of the circuits took place in 1963. From an early period, Methodist churches were organised in circuits, each of which was based upon a headquarters church and served by a number of preachers, who visited the churches in rotation. This organisation is reflected in the records, some of which relate specifically to the circuits and others to the numerous circuit churches, many of which have now closed. |