A ONCE familiar sight in Rawdon the Primitive Methodist Church on Harrogate Road is now long gone.

Built in 1866 it played a central role in the community for more than a century until its closure in 1971.The church, which was close to Littlemoor Primary School, was demolished in 1974 and replaced with housing. Before the chapel was built the area's Primitive Methodists met in a small building in Canada Road, which is now two houses.

The Primitive Methodists were a 19th century working class movement.Primitive meant "simple" or "relating to an original stage" and this type of Methodism was seen by its adherents as a purer form of Christianity. Many of its followers were among the poorer members of society.

These pictures of the Rawdon Chapel are from the online archive of Aireborough Historical Society.

An image showing children and adults at an outside gathering was taken in 1914.

The AHS website says: "Schoolchildren are gathered with their parents on Littlemoor Methodist recreation ground for the Whitsuntide Walk and hymns.

The Walk was a declaration of faith, the Feast of Pentecost falls on the 7th Sunday after Easter and commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples of Jesus.

"The name 'Whitsuntide' is is a corruption of White Sunday, a traditional day for baptisms when those to be baptised would wear white garments.

"This gave rise to the custom of children having new clothes to wear on Whit Sunday.

An undated multi-view postcard shows images of the church and some of the people connected to it.

The postcard includes a picture of a memorial to Thomas Rigg who died in 1907. He had been a member and office bearer of the church for more than 40 years.

The memorial says: "This tablet was erected by the members of this church and his fellow townsmen in recognition of his zeal for the welfare of the church and village." The Rigg family were local butchers and strong supporters of the church. Such was their importance the chapel was even nick-named Rigg’s Chapel.

The postcard also has photographs of a group of people who were most likely members of the chapel, as well as the Rev J Harding and the Rev T Dawson.

A picture taken in November 1936 shows female members of the church in a sketch called Gwynne v Gwynne.

Another, undated, image shows a group of women from the Primitive Methodist Chapel who were the cast of A Village Wedding.

According to Aireborough Historical Society: "This was a popular play which many amateur groups performed."

Another undated photograph shows The Merry ‘Un’s Concert Party. Among those pictured are Ronald Rollinson, Iva Price, Evelyn Pullan, Margaret Rigg and May Bantin.

A picture from 1955 shows officials and judges of the 4th Flower, Fruit, Vegetable and Produce Show. Second from the left on the back row is Edward Rigg, left on the front row is Margaret Rigg who taught at Rawdon Littlemoor School. Among others pictured are Mr Winfield, Mr R V E Taylor, Mrs Kathleen Creasey, Mr J Blea, Mr and Mrs L Pettit and Mr and Mrs F Howlett.

A 1966 photograph was taken at a party connected with the chapel and show children who were winners of a fancy dress competition. At the back on the left is Miss Marion Rigg, on the right is Mrs E Myers. At the front from left to right are Mark Burton, Joanne Penny, Mr Neville, Mrs Neville, Melanie Stapleton and Paul Greenwood.