Community News

See below for information about community activities taking place as well as information on hiring the rooms in the Chapel & Community Centre,  updates on the Lumsdale Valley (and a book you can buy), and the story of the building work to change the the Methodist Chapel into a Chapel & Community Centre.

 There is also Something’s Brewing for coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) morning on MONDAYS: open from 10am – 12 noon. 

Kids’ Club  4-5pm on Wednesdays

Al-Anon Wednesday evenings

YOGA GROUP  – Thursday mornings and evenings 

Contact Rachael for further information (r-claxton@sky.com)

PIZZA FRIDAY  – on the first Friday of the month

QUIZ SUPPERS  –  on some Saturdays.

See the Family Focus or What’s On pages for more details.

The Chapel & Community Centre

The Centre was finished a year before COVID-19 led to  cancelled or altered activities.  So, after the enforced break, we are  again working to create the Chapel Community Centre: our belief is that every person is of value to God and we are called to help create a community that is life-enriching for all.

Our risk assessment now allows all three rooms to be available for independent use and hire. 

The rooms can be hired for weekly activities or for a one-off event such as a children’s party. There is access to the new kitchen and the accessible toilets (although the kitchen can be used only for drinks unless allowed by the Trustees).  

Special occasions: the church is also registered for marriages and welcomes enquiries about weddings and blessings as well as baptisms and funerals.

LUMSDALE

The upper part of the LUMSDALE VALLEY  below the dam wall is still closed because it is too dangerous but the lower part of the area is now open all the time. It is possible to enter at the middle or bottom gate.

Unobtrusive fencing has now been erected around the most vulnerable areas which are still accessible.

 

The area is owned by the Arkwright Society and looked after by volunteers.

Matlock Town Council, the DDDC and Derbyshire County Council all felt closure was necessary in May 2020 because of  COVID-19 safety concerns, notably the impossibility of social distancing with very large numbers of people visiting. However, although now partially reopened, the damage and erosion has still to be addressed and will necessitate large grant applications.

None of the public footpaths are affected.

Working parties are now operating although they are smaller groups.

A book about the valley is available locally.

For both the above items see below under ‘The Lumsdale Project’.

New housing estates

The Thornberries estate: over three years  86 homes were completed on the land immediately to the south-east of the chapel. Residents moved in from February 2018. Some of the houses on the estate are managed by the Nottingham Community Housing Association.

Along the Chesterfield Road the Moorcroft estate has all homes occupied.

Until COVID-19 disrupted our lives, members of the Methodist Church delivered cakes and welcome packs to all new residents – over 140 houses were visited before the lock-down.

 

Opposite the chapel  – below Matlock Golf Club – the Fairway View estate of 58 houses was also completed, the majority of which sold as shared ownership (part rent, part buy) or are available to local people at an affordable rent.

A new estate has gained outline planning permission and building has started. It is on land immediately to the north of the Chapel and will have 85-90 houses. Richborough Estates have sold on the land to the developers who are Honey Homes.

 

The Lumsdale Project

There is a  book about Lumsdale (Lumsdale: The Industrial Revolution in a Derbyshire Valley) which can be purchased in the shop at Cromford Mills, from Bannister Publications or via the authors (contact alan@piper.nu) and all profits go towards the upkeep of the valley.

Before lockdown there were regular, large working parties in the valley but these have been reduced as the Arkwright Society is too stretched.  However, if you are interested in joining a working party contact jtaylor@arkwrightsociety.org.uk.

Approved tour leaders are able to take people on a 2 hour guided walk down the valley to include much of the fenced off area.

Contact alan@piper.nu.

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The leaders are also currently able to give talks about the history of the valley and have several booked for 2024-6.  If you wish to request a talk now or a tour in the future contact the Arkwright Society on 01629 823256 and say it is about a Lumsdale tour or talk.

The Lumsdale team also raise money for the valley – many issues need specialist advice and help.  In 2019 the Garden Party raised more than £2,000 towards the cost of protecting the habitat and conserving the important industrial ruined buildings in the valley.  Plant, cake and bric-a-brac stalls were held  in 2021 and raised £700 and then in 2022 we were able to hold a ‘real’ garden party when the Lumsdale Garden Party on Saturday 20th May 2023 raised £1,700. This has also had to be curtailed but donations to the Arkwright Society for use in their Lumsdale estate are always welcome.

Changes to the Methodist Church

The extension and modernisation work to create the Chapel & Community Centre started on June 11th 2018.  Planning consent had been given at the end of August 2017 and in September the Methodist Circuit Meeting gave its consent to take the project forward. In October the Methodist District gave a £20,000 grant and just before Christmas the Methodist Connexional Grants Committee promised £50,000 towards the £210,000 project. The Norwood and Newton Settlement made us a grant of £15,000 and another grant  – this time for £21,000 from the Methodist Insurance Company – was awarded in April 2018. The Mid-Derbyshire Circuit has also made us two very generous grants and in October 2018  the All Churches Trust awarded us £3000.

It was anticipated that the work would take 16-18 weeks but that was before wet rot was found in the floor joists. However the Methodist Circuit Meeting generously voted a grant to cover the work and the celebration re-opening service was held on November 18th 2018.

The plans have enabled the creation of  a multi-purpose space in the larger hall and a larger and more welcoming porch facing the main road. The old smaller Sunday School room has been modernised as a warm, comfortable meeting room – or food area for quiz evenings and special services when the doors are opened.  In an extension at the rear of the current premises a new entrance has  been created, with a lobby or small meeting room linked by folding doors into the main hall. Further, a small kitchen has been created and there are 3 toilets, including a toilet for the disabled.