Text of address by Cecil McFee at the centennial service of Croit e Caley chapel, held on 30 October 1981
Date(s): 30 October 1981
Creator(s): Mcfee, Cecil C.
Scope & Content: McFee provides an outline history of the chapel and its work setting it in the context of John Wesley's visits to the Island in 1777 and 1781 and conversion of a lady by the name of Kneen whose family went on to have a longlasting connection to the chapel. He covers the coming of Primitive Methodist Rev John Butcher in 1823 who was based in Colby and the influence of Hugh Bourne and William Clowes and relays information told him by his great grandmother (b.1828).
McFee states it was the coming of the Primitives that made its impact in Croit e Caley district, 'Like the movement in the UK it seemed to prosper among, and appeal to, working class communities, and the miners of Ballacorkish, Scholaby and Ballsherlogue, with the numerous fishermen and agricultural workers, became the fertile ground for the Ranters. They formed a Society and later negotiated with Mr Mylcraine the Miller of Kentraugh Mill (The Little Mill) and for the sum of £20 fitted up the little store room in the Miller's garden as a preaching place. It is still standing - the original Croit e Caley Chapel'.
The building of the new chapel and fabric of the building is explained and families associated with it are named and anecdotes relayed. 'The closing of the mines, and the fishing failure, caused many members of Croit e Caley to emigrate to England, Canada, Australia and Africa, and possibly the Island's loss was gain to the world'.
In his closing remarks he states, 'No paper or address, however brief, should end without a reference to Mr J R Corrin who had a lifetime association with Croit e Caley. He was a preacher for 70 years. Always a Radical, and vitally interested in the application of Christianity to social and political life, he stood for election in 1921 for the House of Keys and was elected. The first Labour man to represent Rushen sheading. If it is true to say that the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were Methodists, started the Farm Workers Union in Lancashire, and were transported as exiles to Australia for it, then it could be said that Croit e Caley became the birthplace of the Rushen Labour Party, where after 60 years it still has its Centre here.'
Language: English
Extent: 7 pages
Physical description: typescript
Item name: text of address
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 12920
Record class: Private
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