To the casual passer-by on the busy main road between Bradford and Halifax, Bethel Chapel, may signify nothing more than a large sombre building with a very large well-kept graveyard. Yet many of the persons commemorated within these grounds have worked and sacrificed, over the last 167 years, to build and maintain a place for Christian worship.
Bethel was built in 139 days, starting on Good Friday and opening in September 1853. When the Chapel was opened it was connected with the Wesleyan Reform movement but in 1873 it joined the United Methodist Free Church. Between 1853 and 1882 Bethel had numerous ministers but in 1882 when the Reverend Mitchell left it was decided to do without a minister as there was not sufficient money to pay one and upkeep his house. Although the United Methodist Free Church society were not happy with this decision, no minister was appointed and a Pulpit Plan Secretary was elected to book Lay Preachers for the Services. From the mid 1930s until in the mid 1950s Bethel relied on part-time Pastors but then it was decided to revert to Lay Preachers. This has continued up to the present time very successfully. The members of the congregation believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to individuals and these are used to maintain Bethel as a place for Christian worship.
Bethel was built in 139 days, starting on Good Friday and opening in September 1853. When the Chapel was opened it was connected with the Wesleyan Reform movement but in 1873 it joined the United Methodist Free Church. Between 1853 and 1882 Bethel had numerous ministers but in 1882 when the Reverend Mitchell left it was decided to do without a minister as there was not sufficient money to pay one and upkeep his house. Although the United Methodist Free Church society were not happy with this decision, no minister was appointed and a Pulpit Plan Secretary was elected to book Lay Preachers for the Services. From the mid 1930s until in the mid 1950s Bethel relied on part-time Pastors but then it was decided to revert to Lay Preachers. This has continued up to the present time very successfully. The members of the congregation believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to individuals and these are used to maintain Bethel as a place for Christian worship.
Financial problems have persisted throughout the years but these have always been overcome by various methods, including in 1879 asking the minister who was leaving if they could borrow his salary. In 1877 it was decided to have a New Sunday School Building committee with the idea of building it next to the Chapel. In the end this was ‘put on hold’, as it would prove too costly, so it was decided to purchase the old Carr House School in 1886 to use as a Sunday school. Again money was borrowed and events had to be held to clear the debts. It was about this time money was borrowed from the Methodist Connexion. At the end of the 19th century the money was paid back, but due to many misunderstandings, Bethel never joined the Methodist Circuit and has remained independent for all its 167 years.
In the mid 1990s, after much thought, prayer, fund raising and work by the members of Bethel, the Chapel was altered to incorporate the Sunday school so that everything was on one site, fulfilling in 1995 the dream their forefathers had ‘put on hold’ approximately 100 years earlier. In 1997 the faith of the members was sorely tested as rampant Dry Rot was found in the new wood, plaster and cupboards in the Chapel and Vestry. To rectify the matter over £35,000 was needed but only a few hundred pounds were in the Chapel funds due to the large alterations only two years before. Again with prayer, fund raising and hard work by its members, and the salvation of the Government’s Landfill Tax, the work was done and no debt incurred.
In 1999 a much-needed car park was built on the Halifax side of the Chapel and in 2001 a chair lift was installed from the Chapel to the Sunday school.
In 2016 a problem was noticed on the upstairs Grade Two Listed Victorian Ceiling. The roof had to be re-tiled as the ceiling problem was cause by rain getting in. Money was raised and the work on the roof was done. In 2019 the internal ceiling had deteriorated and we were advised not to use it. After much research about what action had to be taken and what cost would be incurred, hopefully by this time next year the problem will have been fixed and paid for.
But what of the future? This is in the Lord’s hands, and he will continue to call people to himself to carry on his work in Shelf both now and in the future years to come. Buildings may change but the Rock (Jesus Christ) on which we stand will never change, he is the same yesterday, today and forever.
In 1999 a much-needed car park was built on the Halifax side of the Chapel and in 2001 a chair lift was installed from the Chapel to the Sunday school.
In 2016 a problem was noticed on the upstairs Grade Two Listed Victorian Ceiling. The roof had to be re-tiled as the ceiling problem was cause by rain getting in. Money was raised and the work on the roof was done. In 2019 the internal ceiling had deteriorated and we were advised not to use it. After much research about what action had to be taken and what cost would be incurred, hopefully by this time next year the problem will have been fixed and paid for.
But what of the future? This is in the Lord’s hands, and he will continue to call people to himself to carry on his work in Shelf both now and in the future years to come. Buildings may change but the Rock (Jesus Christ) on which we stand will never change, he is the same yesterday, today and forever.