A SMALL plain brick edifice, built in the old, familiar Grecian style,
and situated in Fowell-street, in the Potteries, Notting-hill. The
building is a square; and has in the interior on three sides a gallery,
the other being occupied with a platform for the preacher. In all,
ground floor and galleries, there is accommodation for about 200 people.
On a memorial stone outside is the following: “This stone was laid August
2, 1864, by J. Fowell, Esq., who kindly gave the land, Rev. J. Phillips,
Superintendent Minister. J. Carrud, Architect and Builder.” The chapel
is connected with what is called the “Second London” Primitive Methodist
Circuit, in which there are about a dozen different localities
associated, and of which the Rev. Mr. Toulson is the present
superintendent minister, having with him four colleagues. As one of the
earlier branches from the old Wesleyan body—dating as far back as
1812—the “Primitives,” as their adopted name implies, conceive that they
follow more closely in the steps of Mr. Wesley than the parent body.
Nevertheless their doctrines and their practices are precisely the same,
except in a few minor matters, which it would seem impossible to trace to
a Wesley origin. Camp-meetings was the question upon which they first
separated from the conference, which disallowed them; but this
peculiarity has much declined of late years. Female preaching was
another peculiarity, and at one time female preachers were frequently
found upon their plans; but this, too, may be said to have well nigh
passed away. In general church arrangements and working they assimilate
to the old body in everything, except in the constitution of their
Conference, in which there is a considerable difference. The Conference
proper of Wesleyanism is composed entirely of ministers, but preceded by
“General Committees,” where the laity are admitted. In the Primitive
Methodist Connexion, the Conference itself is composed of both ministers
and laymen, and the latter are in the proportion of two to one of the
former. The two bodies, however, work side by side without antagonism,
but it may be said also without much fraternising. The social status and
monetary power of the two communities are widely different. The
Primitives are poor, their chapels are of the least costly kind, and
their ministers have barely a subsistence, yet are they highly
respectable in their order, and exert themselves with vigour and
enthusiasm in their calling. One of the junior ministers, the Rev. Mr.
Knipe, was officiating in Fowell-street, and offered extempore prayer
with an ardour, read with a homely emphasis, and preached with a
demonstration of manner that can seldom be heard except in a Primitive
Methodist chapel. His congregation consisted of about 70 or 80 of the
adult population, respectable-looking poor people, by no means the lowest
class to be found in the Potteries. The latter is not the class that
attend either church or chapel. The _society_, or the church proper,
consists of from 50 to 70 persons, recognised as members of class. There
is a Sunday-school with about 80 children, held in the morning and
afternoon. The services are on Sunday at 11 A.M. and 6.30 P.M.;
Wednesday, 7 P.M.; prayer-meetings, Sunday morning at 7, and on Monday,
Tuesday, and Thursday evenings at 7. The society, according to Methodist
custom, contributes its quota towards the support of the ministry by the
weekly pence of the members, quarterly contributions, and collections.