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The Chapel, Main Street, Middleton

New on this page - Text of the first deeds
Coming soon to this page; diary notes concerning our purchase of the chapel and the progress of our planning application.
More historical notes
Work in progress
Notes about Middleton itself - we have some interesting material concerning Cornelius Vermuyden - famous engineer mainly responsible for draining the fens but also for draining Derbyshire lead mines. He lived at 'The Hall', Middleton



Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.
'Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right' by Karl Marx, Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher February, 1844

“ENTER INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE”





Work in progress - Basement Window Renovations January 2002

round windowRound window on the operating table, parcel taped to stop glass from falling out during removal
round window Everything recycled except for new stiles and bottom rails, all glued up and wedged round window
round windowFinished window
13/4/01 We have received a bundle of old documents including the various deeds and conveyances made as the chapel land was acquired. The first one is a large single sheet of parchment hand written and this is the text below. Note absence of punctuation marks - it makes it impossible to alter the sense of the text by retrospectively slipping in the odd full stop or comma! It indicates that an earlier chapel was built some time before 1816 - presumably by John Spencer - on a plot of ground now occupied by about half the area of the present building, at the Eastas lane end.
This is presumably the first formal document and concerns the sale of the land and a chapel to the trustees for 5 guineas and also the formal establishment of the trustees. Later documents record changes to the list of trustees, property additions and one disposal (2 square yards for road widening in 1962). They record the names, addresses and employment of the trustees over a period of 190 years, which make interesting comparisons. I will put extracts up here soon.
Dated October 16th 1816
Bargain & Sale of a piece of land in Middleton. Wirksworth.
Mr John Spencer to Mr Joseph Lomas sold
Trustees of the Methodist Chapel in Middleton

This Indenture made the sixteenth .. day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixteen Between John Spencer of Middleton in the Parish of Wirksworth in the County of Derby miner of the one part and Joseph Lomas of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham Gentleman Robert Spencer. Daniel Spencer John Clayton Joseph Moore Thomas Doxey George Clayton and Joseph Lee all of Middleton aforesaid Miners and Thomas Thompson of Wirksworth in the County of Derby Limeburner of the other part Whereas the said Joseph Lomas and the said Joseph Lomas and the said several other persons above named parties hereto have contracted and agreed with the said John Spencer for the absolute purchase of the plot piece or parcel of Land or Ground hereinafter particularly mentioned and described and intended to be hereby granted and conveyed free from Incumbrances at or for the price or sum of Five Pounds and five shillings Now this Indenture witnesseth that in pursuance and performance of the said recited contract and agreement and for and in consideration of the sum of Five pounds and five shillings of lawful British Money to him the said John Spencer in hand well and truely paid by the said Joseph Lomas, and the said several persons parties hereto at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt and payment whereof the said John Spencer doth hereby acknowledge and thereof and of every part thereof doth fully and absolutely acquit release exonerate and discharge the said Joseph Lomas and the said several other persons parties hereto and their several and respective Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of a them forever by these presents He the said John Spencer Hath granted bargained and sold and by these presents Doth grant bargain and sell unto the said Joseph Lomas and the said several persons / parties hereto / and to their Heirs All that small plot piece or parcel of Ground situate lieing and being in Middleton aforesaid being part of the Dole of Land called the Meadow Piece containing by admeasurement in breadth from East to West seven yards or thereabouts and in length from North to South thirteen yards and an half (be the same more or less) and which said small plot piece or parcel of land is bounded by a Lane on or toward the East by a garden or piece of Ground of Hugh Walker on or towards the West by a garden or a piece of a Ground of Gilbert Goodall on or towards the North and by a Garden of John Spencer on or towards the South Together with all that Chapell or Meeting house lately erected and built thereon and the rights Members and Appurtenances to the same belonging and in any wise appertaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders yearly and other rents issues and profits thereof and every part thereof and all the Estate right Title Interest Use This property possession benefit claim and demand whatsoever both at Law and in Equity of him the said John Spencer and his Heirs of in to or out of the same To have and to hold the said plot piece or parcel of Land or Ground Hereditaments and all and singular other the premises hereinbefore particularly described and hereby bargained and sold or intended so to be with the Appurtenances unto the said Joseph Lomas and the said several persons parties hereto and to their Heirs To the only proper use and behoof of Joseph Lomas and the said several persons parties hereto and to their Heirs forever Upon the Trusts nevertheless and to and for the several Ends Intents and purposes and subject to the provisoes declarations and agreements hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared or referred to of and concerning the same that is to say In Trust and the said Joseph Lomas and the said several persons parties hereto and the survivors and the survivors of them and the Heirs of such survivors and the trustees for the time being to be appointed as hereinafter mentioned do and shall permit and suffer such person and persons who shall from time to time be appointed at the yearly conference of the Society or people called Methodists to be held at London Leeds Bristol Manchester or such other place as the said conference shall or may happen to be held at and no other person or persons whomsoever to have and enjoy the free use and benefit of the said new erected Chapel or Meeting house to preach and expound Gods Holy Word therein according to the directions true Intent and meaning of a certain Deed Poll made and executed by the Reverend John Wesley Clerk deceased late of Lincoln College Oxford and inrolled in his Majesty's High Court of Chancery on or about the twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty four provided that such person or persons to be appointed at such conference as aforesaid do preach expound and teach no other Doctrine than such as is contained in Mr. Wesleys printed annotations in the new Testament and his four printed Volumes of Sermons and provided that such person or persons be subject to the Mode of Trial as mentioned in Page 46 and forward of the large Minutes respecting erroneous doctrine immorality of Conduct or want of Abilities and it is hereby further agreed between the said parties of these presents that the said trustees for the time being shall annually choose from amongst themselves and appoint some fit and proper person to be steward and Treasurer who receive all seatments and such other Collections as shall be made for the purpose of paying Interest of Money that shall or may become due upon any Sum of Money it shall be deemed necessary to borrow upon security of the said premises or for paying any necessary expenditure in and about the premises and that such Steward shall keep proper accounts and books provided for that purpose which books shall be open to the inspectors of the said trustees for the time being or any of them and audited in their prescence once every year or oftener and that such Steward shall at the same time balance his accounts and transfer the books to another And Upon Trust that when and as soon as the said Trustees shall by death or otherwise be reduced to the Number of three the surviving and remaining trustees shall meet and choose from amongst themselves of the Methodists Connection so many new Trustees as together with themselves shall make up the Number nine and convey and assure all and singular the said chapel or Meeting house Hereditaments and premises with the Appurtenances hereby bargained and sold or intended so to be as aforesaid to the use of the surviving trustees and such new appointed trustees their Heirs and Assigns upon such and the same Trusts intents and purposes ans subject to the same powers provisoes covenants and Agreements as are in this present deed expressed concerning the same Provided always that in case of neccesity the said Trustees shall apply to te Methodist conference for relief and if the said conference do not provide relief in three months from the time of such application that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said trustees to mortgage the said premises in order to reimburse themselves all such Money Costs and charges as they shall advance lay out expend or be put into in or about the Execution of the Trusts hereby in them reposed Provided further that if the Methodist Society at Middleton aforesaid shall be dissolved or come to nothing or if a larger or more convenient chapel shall be wanted then and in either of the above mentioned cases it shall be lawful for the Trustees for the time being to let or sell the said premises and in the latter case dispose of the purchase Money and rents in the nearest adjoining place to Middleton aforesaid as the Majority of the said Trustees for the time being shall agree on but in either of the said cases notice must be given in writing by the Steward for the time being to the above conference six months previous to the chapel being sold and Lastly the said John Spencer does hereby for himself his Heirs Executors and Administrators covenant promise and agree to and with the said Joseph Lomas and the several other persons parties hereto and the survivor of them and his Heirs in Manner following that is to say that he the said John Spencer and his Heirs do and shall and will (??) and forever defend with the said Joseph Lomas and the several other persons parties hereto and the survivor of them and his Heirs the said plot piece or parcel of Land or Ground Hereditaments and premises hereinbefore mentioned and hereby bargained and sold or intended so to be with the Appurtenances against him the said John Spencer and his Heirs and against all and every other person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim any Estate right Title or Interest in to or out of the said Hereditaments and premises by from or under him them or any of these In Witness whereof the said parties to these present have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written of.

John Spencer Josh.Lomas Robert Spencer David Spencer John Clayton Joseph Moore Thomas Doxey George Clayton (his mark and seal) Josh. Lee Thomas Thompson

(various other notes added - witnesses to signatures and a note signed by John Spencer acknowledging receipt of £5 5s )

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