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Wesleyan Methodist Mission,
New Houses, Bottomhill Road,
Litton, Derbyshire.

Cemeteries

We believe the Church did NOT have a graveyard.

Note: any church within an urban environment may have had its graveyard closed after the Burial Act of 1853. Any new church built after that is unlikely to have had a graveyard at all.

Church History

This Place of Worship was founded in 1826, though it is now closed, but we don't yet know when.

"New Houses" is a group of four residences with 3 stories - which were, perhaps built originally as weavers' cottages, with hand loom weaving being carried out on the upper floor.

The 1851 Civil Census lists the heads of household as #1 Ann Bennet, a widow aged 65, living with her daughter and son in law, Abraham Wood, a Powerloom Weaver of Cotton & Wool; #2 James Warhurst, a Schoolmaster, aged 50, and his wife Lavinia, who was a Schoolmistress, born in Dudley, Worcester[shire]; 1 uninhabited; and #3 Ann Stone, married aged 58, living with her son John aged 24 who was a Leadminer, 3 daughters, and 3 Lodgers.

For such a small population, however, the return to the Religious Census of 1851 (HO 129/449/3/19/24) reveals a place of worship "in a Dwelling House" in "Litton, New Houses" for a Wesleyan Methodist congregation. It was erected in 1826, not separate, and not used exclusively as a place of worship, with seating for 60, all free. The estimated congregation on March 30th was 52 in the evening, and the average over the last 12 months was 49 in the evening. The return was completed by James Warhurst, who described himself as "Leader", and of "Litton Slack, Near Bakewell". He remarked that this was a Wesleyan Methodist Preaching House for the accomodation of parties residing at Litton Slack in the parish of Tideswell".

He completed a second form (HO 129/449/3/21/30), again for a Dwelling House, in "Litton Slack in the Parish of Tideswell", with "Divine Service once a Fortnight held in the Dwelling House above mentioned for the accomodation of the people at Litton Slack". It had the same attendance on March 30th, but a lower average congregation over previous months of 44. Perhaps services alternated between the two premises!

Denomination

Now or formerly Wesleyan Methodist.

If more than one congregation has worshipped here, or its congregation has united with others, in most cases this will record its original dedication.

Maps

This Church was located at OS grid reference SK1635673877. You can see this on various mapping systems. Note all links open in a new window:

• Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Litton shown on a Google Map.
• Places of Worship in Litton shown on a Google Map.
• Streetmap.co.uk (arrow on map shows the Place of Worship's location) (verified 2018-10-15)
• Bing (Ordnance Survey option) (verified 2018-10-13)
• Bing Maps ('Bird's Eye' View) (verified 2018-10-15)
• Ordnance Survey "getamap" (NB some of the 'Change Map' options may require a subscription) (verified 2018-10-15)
• OpenStreetMap (Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA) (verified 2018-10-15)
• A Vision of Britain Through Time - useful for Boundary Changes (verified 2018-10-15)
• www.magic.gov.uk (Modern Maps with various overlays) (verified 2018-10-15)