A view of Bowesfield Lane Primitive Methodist Chapel which closed in 1957. This building later became the Rainbow Centre, workshops for the mentally handicapped. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A view of Bowesfield Lane Primitive Methodist Chapel which closed in 1957. This building later became the Rainbow Centre, workshops for the mentally handicapped.
Picture Stockton Archive 
I also attended Bowesfield Lane Methodist Sunday School, with Gordon and Brian Trenholm, your father was leader. I was in the 2nd Stockton Boys Brigade, captain Be Webb, Oxbridge Lane Chapel.
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A new purpose built mosque will stand were once stood the Rainbow Centre.
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Anyone know what happened to the organ? My parish church – York St Luke – has an organ acquired from a closed Methodist chapel in Stockton in 1959, but we can”t find any more details of its origins.
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The Boy Scouts/Cubs that Colin Booth remembers was the 14th Stockton which was located in the Lightfoot Grove Baptist Church which I have great memories of when living in Mitre Street. I also attended the Primitive Methodist Sunday School during the late 1940″s early 50″s. Along with Geoff Eggett and many other young people at Bowesfield Lane I took part in the Christmas Pantos, but best remember the Anniversary Sundays when we attended the impressive galleried main Chapel.
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Sadly, prior to it”s demolition some weeks ago, this former Methodist Chapel on Bowesfield Lane was a sorry sight to behold. It had been left vandalised and in disrepair for some considerable time, a shadow of the building shown in the photograph. I understand the large Muslim community in the area are planning to build a Mosque on the site.
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I think the building just visible next door, to the right of the photo, is what was the Sea Cadet HQ and I think it was originally named Hugill House (after a naval Capt, I was once told). To the right of that (not visible in the photo) is Robsons Maternity Home/Stork Hotel.
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My grandparents were active members of this chapel from the late 1890s. My parents married there and as a baby I was baptised there. I attended the sunday school and the Boys Brigade and in the mid 1950s became an active member of the Methodist Church. Now as the archivist for the Methodist churches in the Stockton Circuit I can confirm that the chapel closed on Sunday 6th July 1958.
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Hello Geoff. I believe my Great Great Grandfather James Shaw was a minister/member of the methodist community in Stockton in the 1850/60’s. I am trying to trace the origins of an old bible from the same time that he has written some family history in.
Any information you may have in the archives may help me greatly. Thanks in advance for your help and time.
Helen
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I remember being in the scouts in Bowesfield Lane, in this church I think.I thought it was a baptist church. Do I have the right church?? There were 3 of us from Newtown, Trevor Briggs, John Griffin & myself.
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How can this wonderful building be demolished ?…dear me how things have changed.Very very sad.
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This building I can remember as a kid being for disabled adults and making things out of wood to sell in the local community i.e birdtables etc. It has laid derelict for years now and now like its neighbor (boys brigade or sea cadets)it is to be demolished to make room for a giant mosque. This will be in about 3yrs time as planning permission has been granted but the council is waiting for local residents to comment etc. Regards.
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During the war, there was a “British Restaurant” in the crypt, the entrance was from Westbourne Street.It was a big help for people if they could eat out at lunch time, it helped out with their rations. I think the main course was about 6 old pence( and the sweet 3 old pence.
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