From Pulpit to Piston: Moor Row's Primitive Methodist Chapel

​​In the heart of west Cumbria, at the meeting point of Church Street and Penzance Street in the little village of Moor Row, stands a building with a truly unique and surprising history.

Built in 1878, what started life as a grand place of worship for the Primitive Methodist community has become an enduring local landmark for entirely different, and more contemporary, reasons.

​This is the tale of a chapel that found salvation not in sermons, but in the screech of tyres and the roar of a Japanese engine - and is now sending a powerful message of hope to the entire community.

​From Scalegill Road to Church Street
​The story of the Primitive Methodists in Moor Row begins earlier than the grand 1878 structure.

The movement, which sprang from working-class revivalism, was a powerful force in industrial areas like West Cumbria, and the congregation quickly outgrew its first home.
​
The initial Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1863 on Scalegill Road at the relatively modest cost of £115. It was a small but vital spiritual centre, offering 50 lettable and 60 free sittings - a sign of the movement's dedication to serving the poor.

​However, just 15 years later, the community was strong enough to require a far larger building. It is highly probable that the smaller Scalegill Road chapel closed around 1878 when the impressive new structure was completed.

A Grand New Sanctuary
​The new chapel, at the junction of Church Street and Penzance Street, was a significant undertaking. Opened in 1878, it was designed to cater to a large congregation, boasting accommodation for 350 lettable and 120 free sittings.

​It stood as the primary spiritual and social hub for the village for over six decades, witnessing generations of worship and community gatherings.

But as the 20th century progressed, congregations dwindled, and by 1940, the doors of the Primitive Methodist Chapel was closed for good. A significant chapter in Moor Row's religious history had ended.

The Garage that Put Moor Row on the Map
The building lay dormant for a time, but its sturdy structure and excellent corner location made it an attractive proposition for a new commercial venture.

In a remarkable transformation, the former chapel was acquired and converted into a dealership for the Steeles.

It was in the 1970s that this conversion made genuine national headlines. Steeles had secured the local franchise for a relatively new and exotic import: Datsun from Japan.

While other British dealerships were struggling to move British-made cars, Steeles Garage became a local phenomenon.

Datsuns, known for their low prices, high reliability, and generous equipment, proved hugely popular with West Cumbrian motorists. 

The sight of a stream of shiny new Japanese cars rolling off the forecourt of a former Victorian chapel was a striking, almost symbolic, image of changing times.

The garage, and the village of Moor Row by extension, became so synonymous with the brand that locals fondly nicknamed the area "Datsun City".

The story of a Cumbrian dealership selling reliable Japanese imports from a converted church even featured in a BBC Archive short film, cementing its place in local motoring history.

The building continues its life as a motor repair garage today.

A Stunning Mural of Hope
The building's role in the community has evolved once again in recent years.

While still operating as a local garage (JLM Motor Repair/Central Garage), its gable end has been given a stunning and poignant new purpose.

In a powerful collaboration with the Cumbrian charity Every Life Matters and local artists like Beardy Synergy, a magnificent mural titled 'Hope' was unveiled in 2020.

This beautiful artwork acts as a beacon for suicide prevention and awareness. The message is stark and clear: to encourage conversation, remove the stigma around mental health, and remind people that help is available.

The mural stands as a modern-day testament to the building's historical role as a place of community support.

From providing spiritual guidance in the 19th century to becoming a commercial success in the 20th, the former chapel now uses its physical presence to deliver a vital, life-saving message of hope in the 21st century.

It is a stunning example of how old buildings can continue to serve profound new social purposes. Have you ever driven past the old chapel? Do you remember buying a Datsun from Steeles?

Moor Row Primitive Methodist Church Illustration
Moor Row Primitive Methodist Church Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

Comments

  1. Anonymous3 December 2025 at 20:41

    Old buildings have an air of grace about them. Stunning!

    ReplyDelete

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