This ceremony was to Bless and Dedicate to God the acquired site for the new Chapel and to lay the first foundation stones. It took place on Thursday 26th 1904 and it was raining. This did not deter, however, a large crowd of people from attending.

Photograph shows the large crowd gathered on the old Chapel site on the Waits, St. Ives for the Stone-Laying Ceremony of the new Wesleyan Chapel on Thursday 26th May 1904. Note the Edwardian clothes worn, probably their "Sunday Best".

Under the first stone laid was placed a bottle containing bronze and silver King Edward VII coins, with copies of the Methodist Times, Methodist Recorder, Hunts. County News and other papers, a list of Trustees of the Chapel, a programme of the day's proceedings and a Circuit plan.

People who had given a significant financial donation towards the New Chapel Fund laid stones with their names on. As a memorandum, they were handed by the Methodist President a beautiful little oak mallet, turned out of the old oak taken from the 1815 Chapel and bearing a silver shield with the name of the person. (One silver shield was found in the river at Earith and nothing remains of the wooden mallet. The name on the shield was H. G. Parker). 14 mallets were produced at the cost of £4.4s, which works out at 6 shillings each. (Hunts County News - May 28th 1904 - page 8).

WOODEN MALLET WITH ITS SHIELD
(Photo: Norris Museum)

The Foundation Stones are not to be confused with the "Guinea Bricks". Those who donated a guinea (£1 and 1 shilling) had their names on "Guinea Bricks", which can be seen on the outside east wall of the church. Most of these names are children of Chapel members.

After the ceremony a tea was laid on in the Free Church schoolroom, two sittings were required. You can see from the photos the large number of people who attended the ceremony.