The Early Years: The First Methodists in Bakewell
Although there is no record in John Wesley's Journals of any visit to
Bakewell, there is a local tradition that Wesley did hold services in
the town, in an old cottage in Church Lane, built more than 500 years
ago. Wesley is stated to have stood in the old dining room, near the
fireplace, with forms placed across the room for his congregation. This
cottage was for many years the home of the Noton family, and it was
demolished some years ago, regretfully, perhaps, without any reference
to its possible previous use by the founder of Methodism.
However, it was not many years later that Methodism developed in the
town. White Watson the local sculptor, mineralogist, antiquarian and
geologist, and the author of 'Derbyshire Strata' who died in 1835 and,
who lived at Bath House, (the headquarters of the local branch of the
British Legion in 1967) wrote a diary and one of his entries reads
"About 1777 Samuel Smith, breeches maker, was the first dissenter here
who followed Wesley."
The name Smith figures prominently in the early history of Bakewell
Methodism and no doubt Samuel or his descendants were among those who
paved the way to the building in 1799 of the first Methodist Chapel in
Bakewell. This chapel was on the site in Matlock Street now occupied by
London House. When it ceased to be a place of worship it was apparently
demolished.
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Building the Chapel
