1816 Dec 20
Agreement made at the Black Bull with John Greaves for a piece of land for a chapel at the bottom of his croft. 20yds in length and 14yds in breadth for £14. We wanted 18yds in breadth. Writings to be made in three months or fined £20.
1817 Jun 17
Mr Thomas Ellis laid the first stone for the foundation of the Methodist Chapel.
1818 Jan 1
The Methodist Chapel was opened by Messrs Brownell,Wood and Jackson.
1845
The Sunday School was built next to the chapel. To the right in the photograph.
1884
At a cost of £1,350 the Methodist Chapel was enlarged across the rear onto land given by John Greaves and soon after a house for the Minister was built at a cost of £800.
All the old Methodist Chapels are built away from the main thoroughfares.
1897
After 25 years of planning and fundraising the new Methodist Chapel was built on the High St. This Chapel has now been sold and is currently private accommodation.
1917
A Centenary Souvenir booklet was produced documenting the first 100 years of Trinity Methodist Chapel.
1980
Ecclesfield Priory Players bought The Trinity Methodist Chapel for £6,260 and spent eight years converting it into The EPPiC Theatre.
This website has documented the subsequent years.
ANN ELLIS HEADSTONE
A friend has kindly given us the following information which was difficult research.
Thomas Ellis was baptised at St Mary's Ecclesfield on 4th August 1754 and married Ann at St Mary’s, on 19th October 1778, with Thomas' occupation given as Filesmith. It is likely that Ann was born Ann Raworth, daughter of John Raworth, and was baptised at St Mary's Ecclesfield in April 1753. They had three daughters, Ann 1781, Mary 1783 and Hannah 1788.
Thomas Ellis died aged 49 around 11th November 1803 and is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Ecclesfield grave reference 835. Ann died in 1826 and on her death a headstone to her memory was erected on the south wall of the chapel. It is still standing there and can be seen on the 1917 photograph.
The inscription says: In Memory of Ann, wife of Thomas Ellis who died Nov 4th 1826 aged 73 years.
Methodist churches rarely had graveyards, simply because they couldn't afford them. An entry in the Yorkshire Burials Records states These are to certify that the remains of Ann the wife of Thomas Ellis was buried in the Methodist Chapel yard in Ecclesfield the 5th day of November 1826 aged (about) 73.
COMMEMORATIVE STONES AT THE ENTRANCES
The stones are weathered and so the descriptions may not be accurate.
There is a picture and a very flattering tribute to Miss Ann Hasland in the Centenary Souvenir booklet produced in 1917.
"Quite the great woman of the Ecclesfield Chapel for fourty years. A maiden lady who brought up a houseful of nephews and nieces and with Mrs Greaves took charge of all the efforts made by the women of the congregation. She loved the chapel and all connected with it " Ann died in 1882 before the extension was completed.
