Wesleyan chapel about 1912 [Z1306/101]

The first record of Wesleyan Methodists| in Shefford may date to 1824 or 1834 - the date on the piece of paper says "1824" but, given the context it may be a mistake [see the transcription below] certainly Shefford first appears in Biggleswade Circuit records in 1835. Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has a stray item [Z170/75] which transcribes thus: 

Money receiv'd for Shefford Chapel
1824 
December seat rents  £1/6/0

1835
March seat rents  £1/6/0
Collection  £1/6/0½
3/18½

Expences Cleaning Candles &c     7/1
Cash sent to Big'de  £3/10/11½ 
do for Hymn Books       8/1
M.C.  £3/19/0½

A Wesleyan chapel in Ampthill Road was registered in 1854 by Robert Maxwell of Biggleswade, minister and licensed for marriages in 1897. In 1912 a new chapel was built on the older building's site. It was Listed by the former Department of Environment as Grade II - of special interest. It is built of red brick with stone dressings, with slate roofs with terracotta ridge cresting. It is rectangular and oriented north-south with shallow transepts at the south end. The Department of Environment described it as: "Art Nouveau Gothic style, remarkably unaltered". They also noted the: "fine Art Nouveau stained glass, and variety of brass fittings".

In 1927 buildings in the town of Shefford were valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; every piece of land and building in the country were assessed to determine the rent to be paid on them. the valuer visiting The Manse [DV1/C290/29] noted that the occupier was Rev.T.W.Kingsnorth, the owner H.Inskip. It was a brick and tile, detached building with two reception rooms, a study and a kitchen and scullery downstairs, with four bedrooms and a bathroom and wc upstairs. A barn and wash- house lay outside. He noted that there was a space 6 feet x 3½ feet "over the porch". The house was: "v.nice". He further noted: "This house is let to Chapel Managers, who sublet to Rev.Kingsnorth".

Methodist church January 2008

Specifically Shefford records held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service are as follows:

• MB991: Trustees' minute book: 1936-1977;
• MB992: Trustees' account book: 1858-1916;
• MB993: Building Fund bank book: 1912-1918;
• MB994: Pulpit notice book: 1958-1960;
• MB995: Pulpit notice book: 1960-1962;
• MB996: Local Youth Council minute book: 1963-1971;
• MB997: Church newsletter: 1978;
• MB998: Shefford & District Council of Churches minute book: 1970-1978;
• MB2896: Leader's Meetings minute book: 1965-1979.