1932 to 1956

Subsequently the Wakefield Methodist Circuits (Wesleyan, Primitive and United) were amalgamated and the Walton Methodist Church was one of the thirty seven Churches (now 30) in the newly formed Wakefield Methodist Circuit. prior to the amalgamation, Walton was in the Wakefield United Methodist Circuit which comprised twelve churches with three ministers.

In the year of 1949 the whole of the Chapel and Sunday School premises were renovated and beautified, electric lighting installed, the organ cleaned and reconditioned, plus an electric blower, at a total cost of £1,263, and the entire sum was raised before the close of the re-opening services on the 23rd and 24th July 1949.

Appreciation

The scope of these few pages does not allow the inclusion of personal references to the many men and women of outstanding character, who have studied in order to teach and preach; or who, by their thought and work, have kept organisations and premises up to a standard of service; or those who by regular attendance at Divine Service, have borne their witness; or those families who have supported the work of the Church through many years.

Especially do we bear in mind those who have given the whole of their adult lives in the service oft he Master.

The re-appointment of ministers after three years in one place, has meant that many ministers have left an impression on the Society and we are indebted to them for their guidance and expositions. The circumstances of war kept two of our ministers with us for much longer periods and we feel the Rev. Conrad  E. Job and the Rev. H. R.Rowe to be permanently identified with the Walton Society.

The New Century

Now, we face the beginning of the Second Century. The problems of 1956 are not the same as the problems of 1856, but the basic needs are the same.

Today, the whole of the population is expected to be literate and is surrounded with an amazing variety of literature, and the spoken word can be turned on at almost any moment. A hundred years ago many people could neither read nor write and few homes possessed books or took in newspapers, and the chapel was the place where minds and souls could feed.

As we start the new century we have still a large family in our Sunday School, with a loyal band of workers ,but we need others to follow on to ensure that the boys and girls of the future are not left as spiritual orphans.

In the chapel there is no shortage of accommodation today, there is a seat waiting for any who would humbly join in simple corporate worship and help maintain a place where Christ's teaching is proclaimed and expounded.