Historical information

In 1823 the membership of the Primitive Methodist church in the UK was 33,000. Forty years later, in 1863, membership had grown to half a million making it the third largest religious group after Anglican and Wesleyan Methodist. Primitive Methodism came to Australia in 1840.
Source: https://www.movements.net/blog/2016/02/08/lessons-from-the-primitive-methodists-dave-price.html

Physical description

CH019.1 - Primitive Methodist white commemorative plate with grey, green, brown and gold illustrations and text. Images: Top: "First camp meeting, held at Mow Cop, May 31 1907". Right side: "Jubilee Chapel, Tunstall". Left side: "Memorial Chapel Mow Cop". Bottom:" Clowes Memorial Chapel, Burslem". Centre: "Hugh Bourne. Born April 3rd 1772. Died Oct 11th 1852" "William Cowes Born march 12th 1780 Died March 2nd 1858". The is text around the rim of the plate: "The little clouds increasing still which first arose upon Mow Hill" "The Centenary Camp Meeting was celebrated at Mow Cop on May 26th & 27th 1907". The back of the plate gives church statistics: "Truly What Hath God Wrought. Chapels & Preaching places 4,905. Ministers 1,153. Local Preachers 16,209. Church Members 210,173. Congregational ... 607,682. Sunday Schools 4,209. Teachers 61,275. Scholars 477,114. Value of Property 4,958,978 pounds.
CH019.2 - Same as CH019.1 in white, blue and gold.
CH019.3 - Same as CH019.1 with more gold and colour. The wording around the rim is the same but differently placed.

Inscriptions & markings

"1807 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CENTENARY 1907"