HAPPY DAYS
by Jenny Scott
The book which tells the story of the Methodist community in Saxilby.
Welcome to the website “SAXILBY HAPPY DAYS” associated to the book which tells the story of the Methodist community in Saxilby.
It was very sad to see the chapel close during the pandemic and when it was being sold, it felt as if 200+ years of history could quickly disappear as members transferred to other places of worship, so the idea of writing a book was born.
My maternal family had joined the Methodist movement when it first came to the village, so I’d been brought up with stories of what the chapels had been like in those early years, helping me make sense of why a small village like Saxilby in the 1800s should have three thriving chapels. My own early years were spent within the chapel family, with fond memories of concerts, anniversaries, garden parties, candlelight services etc., so together with the help of members and friends, the book began to take shape.
The News
Comments
"Thanks for writing this Jenny. I couldn't put it down. I'm not one for reading many books, but I found this really interesting and can remember quite a few of the people mention." "Really enjoyed the book. I'm a History/RE teacher and found the historical section...
Publication of “Happy Days”
"Happy Days" was finally published on the 16th of September 2022, and can now be purchased directly from Mereo Books, all good booksellers including Amazon, as well as locally in the village at M. R. Poole and Saxilby History Group or direct from Jenny.
The Gallery
First Chapel
The original chapel built around 1808
Wesleyan Centenary chapel
Built in 1839 and extended 1885
Primitive Chapel
Built in 1875 and extended 1888
The United Methodist Free Church
Built in 1881 and sold to the Parish in 1937 to become the village hall
Godfrey Memorial Chapel
Built in 1940
One of many outings
Guild trip taken around 1951
Young people
Group of Sunday School children taken around 1948
Godfrey Memorial Methodist Church 2020
The chapel closed in 2020 and was sold in 2021
About Jenny
Hello my name is Jenny Scott but some people may remember me as Jenny Rawson, as I grew up in Saxilby, living at the shop on the High Street, Grayson’s Stores, later becoming the post office. The village was much smaller in the late 1940s-50s, before all the development took place, and it felt as if the whole community knew each other.
My parents, Connie & John, were active members in Saxilby chapel with my mum organising the music there for most of her life, both as organist and leading the choir. My early memories were of the house full of people coming round for my mum to help them practice their singing or to plan the music for their weddings. It felt as if our house was an extension of the chapel at times, especially as various friends and family, young and old, would come in after the evening service on a Sunday and enjoy socialising over coffee.