Providence Chapel, Dacre, was built in 1827, although it is likely that Congregationalism was present in the village prior to that date, with services probably held in farmhouses acting as 'mission stations' for Pateley Bridge. The Chapel began as an adjunct to Bridgehousgate Chapel in Pateley Bridge, its first ministers were the ministers from Pateley - a practice that persisted until 1917. During this period, the multiple responsibilities of the minister imposed the need to travel extensiveley on Sunday and for the weekday meetings, a process that gave rise to some amusing anecdotes. See Journeying.
Thomas Whitehead, (see Bibliography), quoted the first entry in the old Minute Book as follows:
“Providence Chapel, at Dacre, in the Parish of Ripon, was opened for Divine Service on September 25th, 1827. The Revs. J. Jackson, from Green Hammerton, Wm. Eltringham, from Harrogate, and Ralph Holgate, from Pateley Bridge , preached on the occasion. The Chapel is held in trust under the Lord of the Manor, Sir Wm. Ingilby, Bart., of Ripley Castle . The first trustees are Messrs. Smith Skaife, of Dacre, Geo. Whitley, of Hayshaw, John Milner, of Low Hall, and the Rev. R. Holgate. In order to provide a permanent trust for the place, it is determined that ‘when any one of the existing trustees shall die, or remove from the place, or cease to attend upon Divine Service in the Chapel, the three survivors, or the three who remain in the neighbourhood, and who continue to worship in the Chapel, shall have power to choose another from the Church, or from the seat-holders who have been in attendance twelve months preceding the time of the election.'
(Signed) Smith Skaife, Geo, Whitley, Ralph Holgate, John Milner.”
The next Minute refers to the formation of the Church :
“The Church assembling in Providence Chapel, Dacre, was formed on January 15th, 1828, by the Rev. R. Holgate, who preached from 1 Corinthians 1. 2. The following persons were joined together in the fellowship of the Gospel—Ed. John Kitchen, James Beecroft. Sarah Beecroft, Elizabeth Wigglesworth and Ann Benson; Matthew Wigglesworth and Thos. Adamson were transferred from Pateley Bridge .”
Jennings, in 'A History of Nidderdale' noted:
"The Dacre chapel was hit by the depression of 1829-33, which led two of its original seven members to emigrate to America and another to move to Bradford in search of work, but its numbers grew steadily if slowly. The first trustees were, besides Mr. Holgate, two farmers and a linen manufacturer. Fifty years later the trustees were drawn from a wider social range, although no effective comparison can be made because of the small number of original trustees- four farmers, a grocer, a wood cutter, two linen weavers, a factory overlooker, and William Bell, a partner in a flax-spinning firm at Dacre Banks. "
The 'Year Book of the West Riding Congregational Union and Home Missionary Society' of 1854 records that the Chapel cost £280 and could seat 200. It went on to note..."it is hoped that in the course of a short time the forty or fifty persons who now worship in it on a Sunday morning will grow into a flourishing congregation, out of which will be formed a Christaian Church'.
In 1874, the congregation was recorded as, 'eighty four sittings let' In 1878 Sir H. Day Ingilby conveyed the site upon which the Chapel was built, subject to ground rent, enacted on a 999 year lease.
The Chapel was subject to extensive renovation and remodelling in 1895.
The transport o problems of the minister may have given rise to some amusing anecdotes but the problem was a real one. It also prevented the provision of afternoon services on Sunday that would be of benefit to the commuity, particulalry the farmers. In 1911 a missioner or lay preacher was appointed to share the burden of ministering to the congregation.
In 1917, during a period when the Chapel was without its own minister, Methodist lay preachers filled the breach and when a new minister was apointed to Pateley Bridge his age prevented him taking on Dacre as well. Providence Chapel appointed Miss Nelie Butterwick, Sister Nellie, to the post of pastor in 1920
Interior from Thomas Whitead, 'Illustrated Guide to Nidderdale and History of its Congregational Churches' , published 1932.
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