Built in 1820 as a private Congregational chapel, this Grade II listed building has witnessed two centuries of changing fortunes. Drawing on architectural evidence, historical records and recent conservation work, this article traces its evolution from place of worship to neglected shell, its brief and extraordinary use as an industrial-scale cannabis factory, and its eventual rescue through sympathetic conversion into a family home.
Tag: Nonconformism
Wesleyan Methodists
Wesleyan Methodists emphasized personal salvation through faith, holiness of life, and active social engagement. They stressed free will, the possibility of sanctification, frequent preaching, and Bible study. The movement promoted moral discipline, education, and charity. Wesleyans from Armitage or Handsacre wanting to practice their faith in the early 1800s had to travel to Rugeley or… Continue reading Wesleyan Methodists
Problems for a Rector
In 1662 the Rector of Armitage faced an impossible choice. To remain in office he had to publicly accept the restored Church of England, but to do so meant abandoning beliefs he held deeply. This article tells the story of Nathaniel Mansfield, the local minister who sacrificed his home, income and position rather than compromise his conscience.
Edward Johns
What sort of a person was Edward Johns?