These villages are in north-west Leicestershire. Packington is one mile south of Ashby de la Zouch, Normanton le Heath is two miles south-east of Packington, while Ravenstone is two miles east of Packington. A small part of Ravenstone-with-Snibston parish was transferred to the new Urban District of Coalville in 1894.
Packington
General Baptists
A large General Baptist Chapel was built on Mill Street in Packington in 1832, with 270 free sittings. They had already been meeting for worship in Packington since at least 29, when a congregation of 60 was recorded. On the afternoon of Sunday 30 March 1851, 110 people attended the service, the only one held there that day, and 30 were at Sunday school. The chapel had its own adjacent burial ground.
Wesleyan Methodists
This chapel was built in 1837, with 110 free sittings, but like the General Baptists they were already meeting in the village, with a congregation of 40 recorded in 1829. There was just one service on Sunday 30 March 1851, in the afternoon, and 49 people attended. There was no Sunday School. A new chapel was built in 1906 with 110 sittings, at a reported cost of £800. Following closure of the church, it was placed on the market in 2013, with planning permission for conversion into a 4-bedroom house.
Normanton le Heath
Wesleyan Methodists
A small chapel was built in 1822, with 70 free sittings. It was said that 24 Methodists worshipped there in 1829. There was just one Sunday service on 30 March 1851, in the evening, and 50 people attended. The chapel was rebuilt in 1860.
Ravenstone
Wesleyan Methodists
The first Wesleyan chapel was erected here in 1806, at a cost of £600-£700. The congregation in 1829 was said to comprise 50 people. This chapel was replaced in 1838 with a building that could accommodate 96 worshippers, with 70 of those seats kept free. Only an evening service was held on Sunday 30 March 1851, with an attendance of 60 people.
Independents
The Meeting House return of 1829 records 30 Independents meeting in Ravenstone. Further research is to be undertaken on this congregation, which is not recorded in the ecclesiastical census of 1851.
Return to Protestant Nonconformity: A-Z
Sources
- Leicestershire trade directories
- 1829 Meeting House return
- 1851 ecclesiastical census
- http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32889518.html