Mount Zion Chapel Halifax

30th April, 2010. Very sad news of the death of Miss Irene Cunliffe, Mount Zion's staunchest worker and promoter of our history and Connexional heritage.

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October 2009

A New Old Picture?

June 2009

It was decided to restore and repaint all the outside doors. This was carried out by Graham Wood, the son-in-law of Rosalind and Anthony Greenwood. He is a Cabinet Maker, and expert in all things wood.

October 5th 2008

Mount Zion exhibit at the Southowram Church Flower Festival

August 2008

Keighley Tree Services came to tidy up Mount Zion graveyard trees. They removed lower and overhanging branches, and thinned out their crowns as neccessary.

Sunday 6th July 2008 Anniversary and Reunion

Saturday 28th June 2008 Wesley Historical Society Annual Meeting and Lecture

Mount Zion was the venue for the Wesley Historical Society Annual Meeting and Lecture on Saturday 28th June 2008.
The day began with a welcome to Mount Zion by the friends and heritage secretary, Irene Cunliffe. Dr John A Hargreaves, general secretary of the Wesley Historical Society, then provided a brief history of Methodism at Mount Zion.
Donald Ryan spoke about the Hird Collection of Ceramics, which is on permanent display at the centre and, following lunch the annual general meeting chaired by John A Newton.
Tim MacQuiban introduced Prof. Edward Royle, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of York, who gave the annual lecture entitled ‘When did Methodists stop attending their parish churches? Some suggestions from mid-nineteenth century Yorkshire.’

Thanks were given to members of Mount Zion who provided refreshments throughout the day.

Anniversary and Reunion Service, Sunday 2nd July, 2006.

It was a beautiful, warm day. The congregation were reluctant to leave the stone chair, seats and benches, outside the Chapel, to come in for the service at 2.45 p.m!

The visiting preacher was Rev. Stan Brown who is chaplain at Kingston University, Kingston-on-Thames. Stan was on the staff of the Halifax Methodist Circuit some time ago and had pastoral oversight of Mount Zion. He was also Chairman of Governors at The Ridings School and many in the community may remember him from that.

The service had some rousing hymns, well accompanied on the organ by Stephen Illingworth of Denholme Clough. The Bible Readings were read by members of the congregation.

After the service afternoon tea was served in the cottage and on the seats outside and many stayed on to talk to Stan and old friends. There were visitors from Leicester and Bingley as well as many from the local area. It was a very friendly and pleasant Reunion and the storm did not break until we had all got home. Unfortunately it took Stan much longer to get home because of traffic on the M1 and a fire on the M25 - 2 a.m. after a nine hour journey.

Two people from Leicester brought photographs of Mount Zion groups, and a programme from the Sunday School Sings, which were held in the Piece Hall in the latter part of the 19th century.

We have recently added to our collection of medals from the Sunday Schools sings of 1880, 1885 and 1890. We already have medals from Mount Zion, Illingworth, and Ovenden scholars and one for "Band". We have recently acquired more - Southowram, Salem, Miall Street (forerunner of Trinity Methodist, Pellon Lane/Queens Road), and a "Singer" one.

We were also given a commemorative mug from the Sing which had been found at the Hipperholme Methodist premises. Also recently added to the collection were some Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee sings and a medal commemorating the Union of Methodism in 1932. I had not seen one of those before so it was good to acquire it.

More Pictures

June, 2006.

The graveyard wall has been repaired near the front gate. The trees were causing it to bow out. It was decided after good natured local opposition, to retain the trees, and just repair the wall. It will be interesting to see if and when it needs repairing again!

28th/29th September 2005.

As a result of a survey carried out to check the state of the graves, it was decided to have professional repairs done.

Paul Bonner and his memorial team from Huddersfield spent two days making around 33 graves, mainly memorial crosses safe.

They did this by drilling a half inch hole downwards through each grave plinth, cleaning and grouting between the plinths then fitting a stainless steel bar down the hole. The graves should now last many years without further repair. Paul can be contacted on 01484 311669.

Sunday 11th September. 2005

Mount Zion celebrated Harvest Festival, following a successful Heritage Open Weekend.

The Rev. Lisa Quarmby led the service.

This was in support of the work of the Huddersfield Mission in the community through a collection of 'dry goods', as well as fruit and flowers.

Flowers

Fruit

Grub

3rd July, 2005

The Anniversary and Reunion Service was held at Mount Zion on Sunday, 3rd July, 2005 at 2.45pm. The preacher was the Rev. Cyril Blount, an active supernumerary minister in the Halifax Circuit.

Cyril is very interested in the history and heritage of Methodism so was a very appropriate person to be taking the service. He began by playing some bird song on a CD. It was quite a surprise to many of the congregation who wondered where it was all coming from! One lady remarked, "Oh no, - now they've got birds in the Chapel". (I think she was considering them in the same light as the mice!).

The Rev. Blount spoke about our singing out the message of the Gospel, making a lot of noise about it and using it to encourage people to come and join us.

The hymns were all rousing - 'All hail the power to Diadem', and we did very well with that! Perhaps the highlight was 'Come ye that love the Lord', to the Tune 'Marching to Zion'. This is not in the Methodist Hymn Book nor Hymns and Psalms - it is in Sacred Songs and Solos by Sankey and is one of his perhaps better known hymns.

The Anniversary and Reunion grew out of the old Sunday School Anniversary, but when the Sunday School at Mount Zion was no longer there it was changed to a Reunion event. It was enjoyed by everyone and there was a good number at the service.

The photograph below shows some of the congregation who stayed for the 'team photo'.

Irene.Cunliffe

Copyright: Mount Zion Chapel,