Non-Conformity

The largest collection charting the history of non-conformity is that of the Wesley Historical Society (Yorkshire Branch). This collection which is still actively accruing material, covers circuit plans, leaflets, books and supporting historical material (such as centenary and anniversary brochures for chapels) for Wesleyan Methodist chapels across Yorkshire. It is an equally interesting collection for genealogists as it is for researchers of Methodist history. The history of chapels can be traced, as can the careers of preachers and the involvement of local individuals and families in the history of a particular place. A supplementary reference library also exists to complement the archival collection, which contains original books from the nineteenth century and books providing historical context and analysis of Methodist history, magazines and conference proceedings. The Lumbutts Sunday School Archive is an example of a library collection removed intact from a chapel and transferred to the archives which speaks to the methods used at the time to teach young children, and the type of literature deemed most appropriate at that time.

 

Print of a painting of John Wesley by Frank Salisbury, c1932.
Print of a painting of John Wesley by Frank Salisbury, c1932.
Illuminated certificate presented to Mr George Allen, Leeds First Primitive Methodist Circuit, 1887.
Illuminated certificate presented to Mr George Allen, Leeds First Primitive Methodist Circuit, 1887.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scholes-Monaghan Collection is an archive of the history of a family involved in Wesleyan Methodist missionary work throughout the later nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These contain personal accounts of journeys to and missionary work in China, and ephemera collected during their time abroad. The collection also reflects the history of a family, with photographs and accounts of journeys through Europe, diaries, educational and family documents and correspondence. The Guest collection is another family archive deeply rooted in the Methodist tradition.

 

Summer Bridge Chapel, Easter Tuesday 1894 meeting poster
Summer Bridge Chapel, Easter Tuesday 1894 meeting poster
Huddersfield Mission Annual Report, 1961.
Huddersfield Mission Annual Report, 1961.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are also a number of smaller collections reflecting the history of non-conformity across the past two centuries. The Randerson collection contains Wesleyan Class Tickets from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Pacey Sermons contain transcripts of early twentieth century sermons, whilst a collection of books in the John Lancaster collection chart the history of Christadelphianism and the Leonard Smith collection contains books on Unitarianism.

 

Catalogued Collections

Randerson Archive – http://heritagequay.org/archives/RAN/

Wesley Historical Society (Yorkshire) – http://heritagequay.org/archives/WHS/

 

Uncatalogued Collections

Scholes-Monaghan Archive – http://heritagequay.org/archives/?keyword=Scholes+Monaghan

Guest Family History Archive – http://heritagequay.org/archives/?keyword=Guest+family

Pacey Sermons Archive – http://heritagequay.org/archives/?keyword=pacey

John Lancaster Collection – http://heritagequay.org/archives/?keyword=john+lancaster

Leonard Smith Collection – http://heritagequay.org/archives/?keyword=smith+leonard

 

 

Pursue your own research using the collections

Find out about our events exploring the collections- many free