The birth of Methodism in Cheshire
Moat House Farm, Alpraham

On the main A51 from Tarporley to Nantwich, just past the small cluster of houses at Alpraham, a left turn brings you alongside Moat House Farm. It is difficult to imagine that almost 250 years this house and orchard was the birthplace of Methodism in this area.

Moat House Farm

In 1743 a non-conformist group had been meeting in the beautiful mediaeval church of Bunbury and using the vestry for prayer and Bible study. They were supported by the vicar and the Bishop of Chester. The Bishop was encouraged by the group and presented them with a copy of Burkitt’s Notes on the New Testament. In 1744 the group fell out with their local vicar who wouldn't allow to carry on using the churhc. They therfore moved to continue their meetings at Moat House Farms the home of Richard Cawley, who was one of the group.

One of the members of the group had a daughter, called Ann Smith, in service in London. She went to hear John Wesley preach and was converted. She wrote to Richard Cawley telling of her experience. Richard therefore wrote to invite John Wesley who replied saying he would come on the 12th October 1749. In the event personal circumstances delayed his arrival until Friday 20th October Wesley’s journal says of this day

“.....in the afternoon I rode on and between 4 and 5 came to Alpraham. A large congregation was waiting for me, who I immediately called to seek God while He may be found. Many came again at 5 the next morning, and seemed just ready not only to repent, but also to believe the Gospel”

John Wesley

From this time onwards the group continued to expand and grew so large that the kitchen of the farmhouse was too small and the group overflowed into the farmyard and the orchard alongside.
A pear tree in the orchard became the focal point for preaching. Wesley, John Nelson, John Burnett and other preachers came to stand beneath the tree and proclaim the word of God.

The pear tree in the orchard at Moat House Farm

The tradition grew and over the years many came to preach here until the tree died in 1856. At that time John Tollemache was busily engaged in the building of his new castle at Peckforton. Hearing the story he came and presented a new pear tree. That tree is still standing and is pictured here.

The brass plate beneath the`pear tree

The plate reads

"In the year 1749 the Rev. John Wesley preached in the adjoining farmhouse. In the autumn of the same year John Nelson preached under a pear tree at this spot. That tree having perished, one was planted 4th March 1856, by kind permission of John Tollemache Esq. M.P. to commemorate the introduction of Methodism into Cheshire."

References Early Methodism in and around Chester –Francis Fletcher Bretherton 1903, Herbert Huges Cheshire and it's Welsh Border 1966 Dobson Books