North Street Primitive methodist church was situated on South Street, Bacup erected at a cost of £2,000 North Street Primitive chapel was opened on Good Friday 14th April 1854 by the  Rev Jeremiah Dobson. The following Sunday the Rev J Woodward was the preacher with Mr John Dawson occupying the pulpit in the evening.

On April 24th the preachers were Rev's George Herod

J Cheetham and George Mitchell  the latter being the pastor of Irwell Terrace Baptist church. At the  Primitive Methodist conference  in 1854 Bacup was created a branch of the Rochdale circuit obtaining the separate status of full circuit in 1868. The Sunday school which was situated under the chapel was opened on October 14th 1865. The building committee comprised : James Cockerill, John Coupe, William Coupe, Robert Halstead, John Pilling, James Gregory, John Lloyd, Thomas Leach, John Goddard, and William Taylor. The first preacher appointed after the circuit had been formed was the Rev W Ball.

 

The Primitive Methodists were known for going about the town in their singing bands inviting people to come to service and holding out of door meetings in the summer season which were called camp meetings. In 1856 the Rev Richard Weaver was brought to the town, and a wave of religious enthusiasm spread throughout the district. For many years women had their names on the preaching plan and the  first and second wives of Thomas Leach took their places  preaching regularly.

 

 

 

 

The following ministers all preached at North Street.

Revs W Ball, George Smith, J Dunbell, J Aspinall, T Doody, T H Hunt, James Peel, Thomas Bennett,

James Compton, J Prestwich, W Thorley. Thomas Hindley, James Hall, W Harris, J B Buglass, Thomas Wiltshire, J H Southahll, W KLitchen, W J Tristram.

 

The first organist was Mr Edward Dearden who kept a music shop in St James Street.

 

 

 

 

Extracts from Chapel Committee Book.

1862.

8 March : Over 40 sinners have been converted among us since last Sept.

 

1863.

7 March : This meeting did not consider Bro Halstead a fit person to hold any office in the Prim Meth Connexion inasmuch as there is a deficiency in the Bacup S School accounts of some £29.00 of which he was treasurer and for which he cannot satisfactorily account for.

 

1864.

5 March : The reason we are not prosperous is a great depression in trade. Members and supporters have been through sheer necessity when obliged  to leave the station in search of employment.  we have had 20 removals.

39 have been put off the books by the leaders for neglect 4 expelled ( 2 for fornication  1 drunkenness 1 dishonesty )

46 have been converted for which we thank God.

 

1865.

7 April :  Thomas Sugdens name to come off the Bacup Society roll h having been sent to prison for  fourteen days for fighting. Should T Sugden come to our chapel after his release he shall be cautioned not to pray in public.

 

2 June : To visit John Crabtree about the treatment he has recently shown to his wife.