Society records of the Methodist Church, York, Clifton Methodist Chapel

Register of baptisms, 1902-1965; register of marriages, 1907-1972, 1982-1983.
Records of Trustees, comprising meetings minute books for Avenue Terrace Chapel, 1883-1927, and Clifton Chapel, 1904-1940; Leaders’ meeting minute books, 1902-1925, 1943-1966; register of members, 1951; and pulpit notices book, 1954-1956.
Financial records, including Society Steward’s account book, 1924-1936; collection journals, 1941-1957; and Poor Fund account book, 1905-1910.
Property records, comprising Building Committee minute book, 1907-1908, plans of the Clifton Cottage site, 1903, 1907, and specifications, bills of quantity and plans for Clifton Chapel and schoolroom by Edward Taylor, 1907-1910.
Records of chapel groups and associations, comprising Sunday School records, including Teachers’ Council minute book, 1923-1934, treasurer’s account book, 1940-1968, class book, 1932-1935, and plans of proposed additions to school, 1903; Wesley Guild minute book, 1901-1940; Womens Fellowship Committee minutes, 1990-2001; Young Disciples roll, 1928-1960; Boys’ Club minute book, 1940-1941; Youth Club records, including minute book, 1966, and membership register, n.d; and choir attendance register, with choristers’ addressed, 1950-1962, Monday Fellowship records, 1989-2011.
Records of the Wesleyan Mission Room, including collections accounts, 1864-1876, and receipts and vouchers, 1870-1879.
Historical material, comprising opening services souvenir handbook, 1909; programme of service of thanksgiving and re-dedication following the rebuilding of the organ and decoration of the chapel, 1961; printed history of Clifton Methodist Church 1909-2009 by Richard Parker, 2009.
Unlisted material, c.1975-2014

The first Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built on Avenue Terrace, Clifton, in 1884. Designed by Edward Taylor of York, it could seat 170 people. Prior to this date the local Methodist congregation had met for worship is a nearby cottage.
The chapel was replaced with a new and larger building in 1909, again designed by Edward Taylor, to accommodate the growing congregation. The new Clifton Methodist Chapel was built on the site of Clifton Cottage and could seat 850, although the Avenue Terrace building was retained for use a Sunday School until 1915, when it was used for a soldiers' home and then later as a residential house.
The chapel Trustees purchased additional land in Clifton in 1915 but it was until 1929 that the chapel was extended and a new school room built. The chapel was extended again in 1958 by the addition of a modern kitchen and new toilet facilities and the organ was renovated in 1961. In 1989 more extensive remodelling took place, an upstairs hall was added, the pews were replaced by chairs, two additional halls were sold and land for a car park was purchased from St Peter's School.
The chapel has hosted a number of groups and events over its history, including an annual Christmas Fayre from the 1920s onwards, a Sunday School, Youth Club, Church Choir and Women's Group.
Originally part of the York, New Street Circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, this was renamed the York, Clifton Circuit in 1909. The Circuit continued after the unification of the Primitive, Wesleyan and United Methodist Churches in 1932 as a Circuit of the new single Methodist Connexion of Great Britain.
In 1957 it became part of the merged Clifton & Monkgate Circuit and in 1972 this became York, North Circuit. In 2012 it became part of the single York Circuit of the Methodist Connexion.
As of 2016 it remains in use.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute prior to 2010. Further additions were made to the archive in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

The first Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built on Avenue Terrace, Clifton, in 1884. Designed by Edward Taylor of York, it could seat 170 people. Prior to this date the local Methodist congregation had met for worship is a nearby cottage.
The chapel was replaced with a new and larger building in 1909, again designed by Edward Taylor, to accommodate the growing congregation. The new Clifton Methodist Chapel was built on the site of Clifton Cottage and could seat 850, although the Avenue Terrace building was retained for use a Sunday School until 1915, when it was used for a soldiers' home and then later as a residential house.
The chapel Trustees purchased additional land in Clifton in 1915 but it was until 1929 that the chapel was extended and a new school room built. The chapel was extended again in 1958 by the addition of a modern kitchen and new toilet facilities and the organ was renovated in 1961. In 1989 more extensive remodelling took place, an upstairs hall was added, the pews were replaced by chairs, two additional halls were sold and land for a car park was purchased from St Peter's School.
The chapel has hosted a number of groups and events over its history, including an annual Christmas Fayre from the 1920s onwards, a Sunday School, Youth Club, Church Choir and Women's Group.
Originally part of the York, New Street Circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, this was renamed the York, Clifton Circuit in 1909. The Circuit continued after the unification of the Primitive, Wesleyan and United Methodist Churches in 1932 as a Circuit of the new single Methodist Connexion of Great Britain.
In 1957 it became part of the merged Clifton & Monkgate Circuit and in 1972 this became York, North Circuit. In 2012 it became part of the single York Circuit of the Methodist Connexion.
As of 2016 it remains in use.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This includes all material received up to and including 2010. Later material has not yet been listed, please contact the Institute for more information.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 23.11.16; revised N. J. Melia, 28.06.18.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are expected.

Circuit records for York, New Street (renamed Clifton) Circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion and the York, Clifton; York, Clifton & Monkgate; and York, North Circuits of the Methodist Connexion are also deposited at the Borthwick Institute. These all form a single archive: Circuit records of the Methodist Connexion, York (New Street) Circuit (MRC/1).

Published

GB193