We are a friendly and inclusive rural congregation, enjoying traditional services and the well-known methodist hymns (if it's in parts so much the better)
Our regular services are at 2.45pm on the third Sunday of the month.
We are a chapel steeped in history and tradition. It is said "The seed of Methodism was first sown in North Derbyshire at a lonely farm house known as "Barmoor" in the year 1738" Initially meetings were held in the barn at Barmoor Farm on the hillside opposite the current chapel, but after about 50 years a small chapel was built in the village. The current Chapel and School were built on the same site in 1892 at a cost of £740 which was raised in a short time after the opening.
CHRISTMAS MORNING 6AM SERVICE of WORSHIP – What to expect......
It's 5am, the alarm goes off, Christmas lights switched on, big coats at the ready, Father Christmas has visited and some seasonal weather too.
By 5.30am a choir has assembled – a bit croaky at first but we manage 2 verses of 'Christians Awake' at 5 locations in the village. A final rousing anthem outside the Chapel at 6am and 25 or so hardy souls troop in with a number of bright eyed and bushy tailed children. We are proud that our Christmas Morning service has probably taken place every year for well over 150 years. For anyone checking, during the Covid years, a sturdy little choir sang outside well socially distanced!
Although our Chapel was built in 1892, the Methodist fellowship here is much older. A strong local tradition has it that David Taylor of Sheffield visited a farm house in nearby Barmoor in 1738. A class meeting was formed and there is evidence that it continued there for over 50 years before moving to a building on the site of the present Chapel. Records from the 19th century include that, in 1845, John Hallam, the famous 'Blacksmith of the Peak', celebrated his last Christmas on earth by "passing a little company through the village and awakening the cottagers with a well know carol to salute the happy morn". Anne, one of our members is a direct descendent of John Hallam.
Do come along this year and join the fellowship and fun.
Expect some rousing music – the carols (including the Sparrowpit version of 'Peace O're the World') go on way after the tea and biscuits!
Long may the Christmas worship and tradition here in Sparrowpit continue.
