Oatlands Methodist Church
The Oatlands Methodist chapel is found off Leeds Road near the parade of shops in Harrogate. Map.
The chapel held its last service on Sunday 16 July 2006.
There have been close links with St Mark's church and the South Side Local Area group of Churches Together.
Facilities for the disabled included wheelchair ramps to the church and most of the meetings rooms as well as an induction loop.

Closure:
The closing service in the chapel saw a packed congregation with worshippers in the entrance vestibule. Previous ministers included Keith Cribbins (1989-94), Michael Wearing (1969-72), John Sadler (1994-99, superintendent minister for Harrogate Circuit) and Colin Emerson (1999-2006). Contributors included Brian Hulme, (Senior Steward), Fred Thompson (Worship Leader), Bob Wise (Local Preacher), Moira Fallow and Helen Evison (Local Preacher) and organists Ann Abbott and John Astin.

The service sheet noted how none of the churches started by St Paul after his conversion still exist today; yet while those churches no longer exist, their ministry continues to touch us today. Isaiah 55:12 closed the service: "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed "

Following concern that the chapel would not hold all wishing to come to the closing service, Harrogate Methodist circuit held an outdoor service on the Oatlands fields at 4:30pm on the day; the weather turned out warm and sunny.

Mission:
Oatlands Methodist Church; last published Mission Statement:
We believe that our Church exists to fulfil the mission of God, in partnership with others, within the community of Oatlands. In doing this we are called to be a welcoming, serving and worshipping, community centred church.
Welcoming
We are called to offer a warm welcome to all people, without favouritism or discrimination and to provide a place where the members of our local community may meet with God, and with one another in a loving and safe environment.
Serving
We are called to be aware of the needs of those within our local community, and to the best of our abilities address those needs. It is our duty to help everyone to realise their worth within the sight of God.
Within the wider world we have a duty to care for our brothers and sisters across the globe, through action, finance and prayer.
We have a responsibility to be good stewards of God's creation
Worshipping
We are called to be a worshipping community where all are encouraged to live and grow in the love of God and to be a beacon of that love to the world.
Within our worship people are enabled:
to receive the gifts of the Risen Saviour at their point of need.
to express their love for God and their commitment to service in His name.
to understand and learn more of their faith

History:
Oatlands Methodist Church was built in 1883 at a cost of £700 at the sole expense of Samuel Meggitt, a local Wesleyan of some substance. Below is a brief history of the development of the church.

The Development of Oatlands Mount Area
Since the beginning of the century, there had been rapid development based around the wells of Low and High Harrogate so that by 1884, the year of Harrogate's Incorporation, the population of Harrogate was about 20,000. Building was of course impossible on the Stray but, maps of the area to south show that by the 1870's there were not only substantial developments such as Royal Crescent and the villas on Leeds Road but cheaper houses for workers in Oatlands Mount. Originally the Oatlands Mount area was known as the Brickfields due to the large brick works which stood on what is now the playing fields. The Brickworks were owned by Henry Greensmith, a prominent Liberal and Wesleyan Methodist who was Chairman of Harrogate's Improvement Commissioners.

The First Church in Oatlands
By 1883, the Harrogate Advertiser was able to report that "the growth of the Oatlands district has been most marked and continuous, so much so that the Friend's of St Mary's Church (Low Harrogate) have erected a school and mission room for the educational and spiritual requirements of the neighbourhood ". This is the earliest mention of any kind of church work in Oatlands, and this mission, now used by the Oatlands Tyre and Motor Company, must have been something of the air of a missionary outpost.

The Building of Oatlands Wesleyan Chapel
Long before 1883, Henry Greensmith had a vision of building a Methodist Chapel on the Brickfields. In 1874 he conveyed to the Harrogate Superintendent, Rev F. J Sharr, a plot a land " for the specific purpose of erecting thereon a Chapel ". However by the time of his death in 1878, the plot remained unused.

The Oatlands chapel was really an off shoot of Trinity, which had been built in 1878. It was here that a historic meeting took place recorded as follows:

"Minutes of the meeting of the Trustees of the site for a Wesleyan Chapel in the Brickfields held at Trinity Wesleyan Chapel at half-past two o'clock p.m. on Saturday, 24 February 1883." The Secretary crossed out the name "Brickfield", which was in common use at that time, and replaced it with the more respectable "Oatlands Mount". Mr Samuel Meggitt was unanimously elected as Treasurer for the Trust - the reason being plain. Samuel Meggitt, a Wesleyan of some substance, had generously agreed to foot the bill and even had the plans drawn up. It was recorded that "the meeting agreed to accept Samuel Meggitt's offer to build the chapel at his own expense and approved the plans ".

Within two months, on Saturday 21 April 1883, the foundation stone on the new chapel was laid by Mrs Mary Meggitt with an open air dedication service with appropriate but long-lost hymn "This Stone to Thee in faith we lay".

The church was officially opened on Friday 9 November 1883. The first service began at 3.00 pm and according to the Harrogate Advertiser there was " a large attendance of members and friends of the Wesleyan Society present ". The Rev H W Holland preached on 1 Kings 9:3:
"I have hallowed this House which thou hast built, to put my Name there for ever."

And the cost: £700. Developments in 1894 included the installation of a new heating appliance and the abolition of pew rents (one shilling to one shilling and sixpence per quarter; the side pews were free already). In March 1895, a strip of land to the side of the chapel was purchased for £62 10 shillings. In 1901, the gable front was added with the existing porch being turned into a vestry. By 1956, a facelift with pebble dash to cover the old Oatlands bricks was completed. In the summer of 1964 an electric organ was purchased to replace the harmonium, and the first floor was created in 1967.
Arnold Kellett, local Methodist and historian, wrote a comprehensive booklet for the centenary in 1983. The minister, Rev Colin Vere, wrote of the traditional warm welcome at Oatlands.

Activities:
Up to the closure of the chapel on Sunday 16 July 2006, the congregation ran many activities including: Sunday Club, Tuesday Forum, House Group, Play Group and TocH. The Coffee Mornings raising money for charities continued beyond the closure.

Redevelopment plans:
Several years before the closure, the congregation were seeking to further redevelop the building with a new look and better facilities.
A New Look for Oatlands Methodist Church
A new entrance with larger porch on Gladstone Street
Redeveloped Vestibule with access to a new balcony
Restructured Worship Area providing flexibility for use with comfortable chairs rather than pews
Improved Kitchen and Meeting Rooms
New Vestry with prayer Chapel
New Toilets including disabled facilities
New Extension designed with the Playgroup in mind with its own entrance from Gladstone Street.
New Play Area and Garden
Complete redecoration, rewiring and new heating.
Whilst the pews were removed in 2004 and various small works completed, the main developments were not approved at circuit level.

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Last updated July 17, 2006 by Webmaster

This webpage is provided by Churches Together in Harrogate. Loving God and Neighbour - together

Regular Circuit Specials
Circuit blessing and healing service at Bar: first Wednesday, 7:30pm
Second Saturday, 7:30pm Praise at Wesley Map

Last Pictures
Taken on Sunday 16 July 2006

Historic Services
Sundays: 10:30am and 6:00pm
First Sunday: 9am Communion and 9:45am family breakfast

Midweek
Monday: ...
Wednesday: 7:30pm Prayer meeting
Bible study (in homes)
Friday: Scouts

Website
Oatlands Methodist own website