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Abbeydale,SheffieldNinthCircuit,YorkshireABBEYDALE,SouthViewRoadChapel,theheadoftheNinthCircuit,intheCityofSheffield,isamagnificentbuilding.Thekindofarchitectureisrevealedbythepictureitself.Acommodiousand

well-lightedSundaySchool,withsuitablevestries,areunderthechapel.ThewholeofthestructureisatthebottomofSouthViewRoadandVincentRoad,andfacesdirectlyuponAbbeydaleRoad,andhasanimposingappearance.Theoriginalcostwas£5,100.Towardsthisourfriend,H.Adams,Esq.,gaveonesumof£700,andafterwardspresentedtheTrusteeswithanorganwhichcost£400.Theannualgroundrentis£2611s.8d.

ThefoundationstoneswerelaidAugust29th,1891,andmemorialstoneswerelaidNovember19thofthesameyear,andFebruary20th,1892.TheopeningservicescommencedonFebruary21st,1893,andonApril17thand20thabazaarwasheldintheMontgomeryHall,whichrealised£68219s.9d.TheRev.JohnSlater,withunweariedenergy,ablysupportedbyhiscolleague,theRev.PaulPeacock,andthesagaciousRev.WilliamCutts,andtheRev.JohnHirst,ofhonouredmemory(supernumeraries),withastaffofableofficialsandapeoplewillingtoworkandgive,withH.Adams,treasurer,andAlbertPayton,secretary,carriedtheworkouttoasuccessfulissue.OurpeopleforaconsiderabletimeworshippedinaroominSellersStreet.Theywerehamperedintheirworkandinconveniencedforwantofbetteraccommodation.Neverthelesstheneighbourhoodwasgreatlyinfluencedbytheirpresenceandwork.Thefruitoftheirlabourscontinuesuntilthisday,intheactiveandvaluableservicesofJosephEarnshaw,WilliamWoods,DavidCroft,&c.WhenthecircuitlaunchedtheschemeofAbbeydale,itwasevidentthatSellersStreetMissionpeoplethemselveswerenotequaltothe

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undertaking,thereforeJohnStreetchurchmustpreparetomakeagreatsacrificeandadviseandarrangeforsomeofthebestlifetojoinwiththefriendsfromtheMissionRoomtomaketheprojectasuccess.TheChurchatJohnStreetwillinglyprepareditselftomeettheemergencyandarrangedtodraftoff,agreeablytoallconcerned,butnotwithoutapainfulsenseofseparation,someoftherisingandmostpromisingpersonsandfamiliesintheirmidst.Thesacrifice,however,hadtobemade,andmadeitwasinallgoodgrace,andfriendlyrelationsstillexist.AmongthosewhoonceservedtheConnexionatJohnStreet,andwhoarenowzealouslyaffectedinthegoodcauseofGodatAbbeydale,areEdwinWellsSmith,JamesSivil,JohnLomas,WilliamSchorah,N.Ross,ErnestandGladstoneAdams.TherearealsoseveralusefulfamiliesfromBethel,CambridgeStreet,whoworshiphere,R.F.

HirstandthefamiliesofCapewellandGlossopareactivesupportersintheChurch.Theyall,withbecomingpride,delighttocallthiscentreofreligiouslifeandoperation‘TheAbbeydaleChurch’Fromthefirstthesuccesshasbeengreatandencouraging.Thepresentdebtisonly£1,447.Thereisnowalargeandgrowingcongregation;amembershipof188;awell-organisedSundaySchoolwith404scholarsand47teachers;membersabove14yearsofage,40;under14years,120;aBandofHopewith185JuvenileAbstainers,and70AdultAbstainers;abranchoftheBibleandPrayerUnionwith100members;aChristianEndeavourSociety,ActiveMembers136,Associates,6.WhilstthisChurchislessthanamilefromJohnStreet,itisinthemidstofatleast30,000people.TheenterprisingspiritoftheChurchisclearlymanifest.ChieflythroughitsinstigationSheffieldFifthCircuitwasdividedintothreestations,thatthisChurchmighthavepastoraloversightofamarriedminister,andforthispurpose,withDoreandDronfield,smallcountrysocieties,itacceptedtheresponsibilityofsupportinghim.TheRev.J.R.Tranmerisnowincharge,bytheappointmentofthelastConference,andshouldthebeginninggivedirectiontothecourseanddeterminetheendheissuretohaveahappyandusefulterm.SomeconsiderationwasgiventoextendtheworkofGodbeforetheFifthCircuitwasdivided,andprovisionwasmadebythekindnessoftheCircuitSteward,Mr.H.Adams,bysecuringeligiblesitesinthegrowingneighbourhoodsofJunctionRoad,whichisallottedtotheFifthCircuit,andCarterKnowleRoadwhichisinthehandsoftheNinthCircuit;whilethewholeofthedistrictofWoodseats,wheremostofthespecialimprovementsoftheMidlandRailwayarenowbeingmade,Ann'sRoad,Keeley,willfindan

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opportunitytodevelopitslifeandresources,andshowtherealspiritandgeniusofChristianitybysecuringland,andwithaslittledelayaspossibleenteruponevangelisticworkwithadeterminedpurposetocreateanewinterestwherealreadymanyofourpeoplereside.Herewearesuresoonavigoroussocietymightberaised.Theonecircuit,SheffieldFifth,nowdividedintothree,theFifth,Eighth,andNinthstations,goodandcompactastheyare,mightbeconsiderablyimprovedandstrengthened,andinsteadofhavingonlyonepreachereach,theymighthavetwo,iftherapidlyincreasingdistrictsreferredtoweremissionedandcentresofreligiouslifeandactionbroughtintoexistence.ThespiritthathasanimatedPrimitiveMethodismintheFifthCircuitfromitsoriginuntilthisday,wefeelconfidentwillinthefutureshowitselfineachsection,withenergy,strength,andusefulnessinextendingtheKingdomofGod.—APHA.__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesChristian Messenger 1900/21