With all the recent refurbishment work being carried out on the Bedford Road Chapel it is worth stopping for a moment to look at the magnificent building and reflecting on its origins.

A full account of the many historical aspects of the ‘New Chapel’ is being prepared but Mr. David Allen, who has dipped into the Leaders Minute Book of the Methodist New Connexion for St. Ives to give a brief glimpse of some of the decisions taken nearly 100 years ago.

There were two interesting resolutions contained in the Leaders Minute Book of the Methodist New Connexion at St. Ives dated July 9, 1860 to July 1866.

At a meeting held on February 18, 1863 it was resolved ‘that there be a leaders and Trustees Meeting convened to take into consideration the Building of a New Chapel’.

On March 2, 1863 the Minute Books records: ‘This meeting having been called in accordance with a resolution of a Leaders meeting held 18^th ult. to taken into consideration the Building of a New Chapel it was resolved that the subject be deferred for six months.’

It was 30 years before there was a further reference to the building of a new chapel. Given here is a short account of the stone laying ceremonies relating to the building of the chapel and school.

Several invitations were accorded to a number of people to be present including Sir C. Skelton, Mr. J.B. Bolitho, Mr. William Wilson, Mr. E. Hain and Mr. W. P. Burley. Mr. Bolitho’s health prevented him from attending but he sent a donation of £60, neither Mr. Wilson or Mr. Burley could attend.

The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Edward Hain and Rev. E. Faull and Mr. J. Daniel and Mr. L. E. Comley presented trowels. It was followed by a tea at Wesley Chapel at 4.00 p.m.

However, two months later there was a further ceremony, the laying of the foundation stone of the school which took place on Thursday, August 4, 1898.

In all the recorded minutes relating to the building of the new chapel and school there are none more poignant than the details relating to the thought and care that was put into the school buildings.

‘The stones were to be laid by children. That any child contributing 10/- to the building be entitled to lay a stone in the school room. That Mr. Faull be authorized to order mallets for presentation to the children. Price 9/- a dozen (cost price). That the Male Teachers be asked to assist the ladies in the tea arrangements’

Fifty children gave their names to lay stones. The Minute Book records so much history, all is important and now is perhaps the best time to recall the details of the past. It maybe that in a hundred years from now it will be done again.

Of all the children who laid the stones and received a presentation mallet it is believed only one still survives in St. Ives: Lydia Berriman, Nancy J. Berriman, May Curnow, Emma Docton, May Faull, Lillian Faull, Bessie Faull, Marion Faull, Maggie Faull, Minnie Hain, Miss B. Hodge (teacher), Martha Luke, Mary H. Luke, Lottie Oliver, Ethel M. B. Pearce, Mary Uren Richards, Hannah Richards, Maggie Stevens, Mary Trevorrow, Ada Warren, Emmie Wright, Lillian Wright, Henry Berriman, Thomas J. Berriman, John Burrell, Ernest Burrell, Elvin Comley, Curnow Comley, Hubert Comley, Willie Docton James Daniel, John Daniel, Eldred Faull, Richard Faull, Wille Faull, Henry Faull, Frank Faull, Sidney Faull, James Hain, Edward Sidney Hain, John Hain, Harold Hodge, Harry Hodge, Jack Hollow, Harold Jenkyn, Edward Ninnis, Mike Ninnis, Louis H. Richards, Ernest A. Stevens, Henry P. Thomas.