07/09/2026
Mow Cop Chapel makes decision to close
The Trustees of Mow Cop Methodist Church which was once a thriving centre for worship and community engagement have made the difficult decision to close due to falling numbers and challenging finances.
In 1860 the Chapel was built as a memorial to the Primitive Methodist Camp Meetings that took place in adjacent land. Hugh Bourne, one of the founders of Primitive Methodism had lived in the farmstead next to the chapel. For 166 years worship has taken place in this building and it has been a centre for community and church activities. In recent years however the number of worshippers has dropped significantly and it has become harder to fill the roles needed to function as a church and offer necessary oversight and trusteeship. The current trustees have therefore made the decision to begin the process of closing as a Methodist Church in Mow Cop, a decision made with much sadness. The church members do however hope to continue to share in worship, fellowship and friendship together.
The next steps will be as follows
- Permission to close will be sought from the Local Methodist circuit and district
- Taking into account charity commission law and Methodist Church guidance we will explore possibilities for the future of the building
- We will ensure that the artefacts and archives contained in the building will be dealt with in a sensitive way in order to best retain items of historical significance
- We will seek to gather stories locally in order to preserve the local history and memories around the church building and its significance to the local community.
It is important to note that Primitive Methodism will continue to be celebrated in our area through the Englesea Brook Chapel & Museum of Primitive Methodism. There is also an active Primitive Methodism website which we hope to use to record our local stories www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk
