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the Chapel in Coalpit-lane, and chose Mr. William Downes (one of themselves) to be their minister. After some tine they determined upon the erection of a larger place of worship; and the chapel at Town-head Cross was built by them, and opened in 1814. On Mr. Downes's removal, the Rev. Mr. Jones settled for awhile amongst them. He was succeeded by the Rev. C. Larom, the present highly-respected pastor.

METHODIST CHAPEL, NORFOLK-STREET.

The Wesleyan Methodists are a numerous body in Sheffield, the members in society amounting to 2103, according to the returns made to the Conference of 1827. The first race of this people experienced in Sheffield a full share of those persecutions, obloquies and other vicissitudes, which so generally at tended their appearance in other places. Mr. Everett, one of the ministers of the body, and who resided several years in this town, first as a stationed preacher, and subsequently as a respectable bookseller, has published a History of Methodism in Sheffield, which contains not merely a copious and accurate account of the rise and progress of the society to which he belongs, but likewise many striking anecdotes and curious particulars, characteristic of the local manners, and several interesting individuals of those times, which were rapidly passing from remembrance to oblivion, with that ancient race of oral chroniclers, many of whom had not only had them from the parties who are mentioned, but had themselves been actors in the scenes which they describe.

The chapel in Norfolk-street was opened on the 30th of June, 1780. It is a large and commodious place of worship, capable of seating about 1300, and contains a large proportion of free sittings, a mode of accommodating the poor, of which Methodism may be justly proud, having herein set an example which has been worthily followed by other religious denominations, who are anxious that to the poor the Gospel should be preached. On the first opening of this chapel, and for a considerable time afterwards, the congregation within exhibited an arrangement peculiar to early Methodism-the men and women seated on different sides a regulation which, however commendable at the time, has long ago very properly given way to the preference of individuals, and the comfortable adaptation of family pews.

CARVER-STREET CHAPEL.

In the year 1804, the large, handsome, and commodious chapel, at the top of Carver-street, was erected by the Wesleyan Methodists, partly by public subscription, but principally through the influence of several opulent members of the body, who contributed munificently to this work. The building is of brick, and is very judiciously designed, not being chargeable either with a lack or with a profusion of ornament: it is correspondently fitted up in the inside, and contains within the pews sittings for 1150 individuals: besides which there are free seats for 350 persons. Within the chapel there is a neat mural monument in memory of the late Mr. Henry Longden, a man whose zeal, piety, and usefulness, secured for him a considerable share of respect not only amongst the Methodists, where he acted as a local preacher, but with all who knew him. A considerable plot of ground, attached to this chapel, is occupied, partly as a cemetery, and partly by the dwelling-houses of three of the preachers.

EBENEZER CHAPEL.

In 1823, another large chapel, calculated to seat nearly 1600 persons, was erected by the Methodists, on a piece of land, belonging to T. Holy, Esq., near Moorfields, in the south-western suburb of the town. This chapel is built of stoue in the pseudo-gothic style; and is more to be commended for its present and prospective utility-and even for its internal fitting up, than either for the beauty or excellency of the external architecture. The chief entrance is a vestibule under a well proportioned tower, which rises at the south end of the building, and is itself surmounted by a light wooden erection-fancifully composed, but in our opinion, neither an harmonious, nor an ornamental appendage. The whole is enclosed within a good fence.

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BRIDGEHOUSES CHAPEL.

We lastly notice this place of worship belonging to the Methodists, as being the smallest chapel which they occupy in the town; although, in the order of time, it was erected before the two last mentioned, having been built in 1795.

SCOTLAND-STREET CHAPEL.

According to Mr. Hunter, the chapel in Scotland-street was built about 1764, by Mr. Bryant, one of the persons who received ordination from a bishop of the Greek church, who was in London about 1760. He preached above thirty years in this chapel. Since his death, the place has been occupied by the Methodists of what is called the New Connexion. They separated from the great body of Wesleyans on a point of internal discipline. Mr. Alexander Kilham, a leader in the se cession, was for some tine minister here.

QUAKERS' MEETING HOUSE.

The society of Friends, as the Quakers call themselves, assemble in a large and substantial meeting-house, built with brick in the year 1800, and situated between the top of Watson's-walk and Bank-street. The interior is furnished with an ample gallery, which is fitted up, as well as the space below, with plain but substantial benches, with back-rails, and an elevation at one end below for the accommodation of the elders, as is usual among this people. The whole chapel is eapable of containing 1200 persons, but is rarely so filled-nor indeed is the gallery ever opened, except on particular occasions, as the visits of strangers, &c. Connected with the meeting-house is a verdant burying-ground,

"Where weary pilgrims find their last repose:

The little hills are ranged in comely rows,

With walks between, by friends and kindred trod,
Who dress'd with duteous hands each hallow'd sod:
No sculptured monument is taught to breathe
His praises whom the worm devours beneath :”

thus exhibiting in its unadorned simplicity of appearance, a striking contrast to those fashionable grave-yards which are crowded with every description of memorials, from the rudest inscription-stone to the richest tomb.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL.

The severity of the laws once in force against popish recusants, prevented, for a long time, the regular assemblage of Roman Catholics for purposes of worship according to the

ritual of their own church. On the subsiding of many of those anxieties arising out of the circumstances of the Revolution, and the consequent relaxation of these enactments, and when Catholics were fully tolerated in the exercise of their religion, they continued to assemble in a large room, which heretofore had been regarded in the light of a private chapel, in the ancient house belonging to the Howard family, commonly known as "The Lord's House," which stood at the upper end of Norfolk-row, and in which the present Duke of Norfolk first drew breath. In 1816, assisted liberally by his Grace, the Catholics in this town erected the present respectable place of worship, containing a small gallery, a good organ, and the usual conveniencies and paraphernalia of a Roman Catholic Chapel. Annexed is a small enclosed cemetery, neatly palisadoed from the street, and planted with trees and flowers, which give it that pleasing air so uncommon in the burial-grounds of large towns. It contains a neat monument to the memory of John Curr, Esq., late of Belle Vue House, in Sheffield Park; a man distinguished as an engineer, and especially deserving of remembrance as the inventor and original patentee of the flat rope, alike calculated for coalpits and ship cables. Present priest, the Rev. Richard Rimmer; assisted by the Rev. Mr. Macartney.

BOW-STREET CHAPEL.

This chapel was erected in 1820, by a society denominating themselves Independent Methodists, whose distinguishing characteristic is, that instead of maintaining their ministers apart from secular employments, they supply their pulpit from among themselves, by the gratuitous services of those who may be able to read, pray, and expound, for the general edification, and whom they deem, on these accounts, eligible for pastors.

SOUTH-STREET CHAPEL.

The New Connexion of Methodists increasing in numbers and respectability, and Scotland-street Chapel, heretofore their only place of worship in this town, being both incommodious and out of repair, they resolved, in the year 1827, upon the erection of a neat, comfortable, and additional chapel, on a

convenient piece of ground belonging to Earl Fitzwilliam, and adjoining the great south entrance into the town. This chapel, Now nearly finished, and which is intended to accommodate 1000 persons, will be opened during the present year. We trust the demolition, and re-edification in a lighter style, of the old chapel in Scotland-street, (a thickly populated neighbourhood,) will speedily follow the opening of this place.

In concluding our brief notices of the different places of public worship, we may just remark, that there is not a town in the kingdom where religious liberty is better understood, or its principles more extensively practised, than in Sheffield. There is the utmost good-will prevalent amongst the ministers of the various denominations; and they are not more generally unanimous in their efforts to do good, than they are individually respected by the inhabitants for the excellencies of their cha racters and conduct.

But one of the most attractive and lovely features in the History of Sheffield remains yet to be noticed-its charitable institutions. In the ancient world nothing like these had existence. Greece and Rome with all their boasted valour, their public edifices, their games, shows, and triumphs, with all the trappings of a gorgeous hierarchy, and a pompous display of military parade, wanted charity. For this benignant and most prominent outline in the character of the moderns, we are indebted to the spirit of the gospel. Carp at the gospel as unbelievers may, had it no other recommendation than its humanizing principles, its good-will towards men, and its amiable and benificent inculcations, it is worthy of our regard, and excels every other system of ethics, whether ancient or modern.

We shall not stop here to minutely examine the revenues of these interesting charities, but the subject should not pass wholly unnoticed. In A.D. 1786 or 1788, the net annual sum of their joint produce exceeded two thousand pounds. What the real product may now be we are ignorant, but if they have been well attended to, the annual income is much greater than the last parliamentary return reported them. It is probable that they may realize from four to five thousand pounds per

annum.

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