Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

92 ANCIENT AND
that society. The original intention of the founders of the
Presbyterian chapel at York has been a matter of warm,
controversy ; it being keenly contended, on the one hand
that the present recipients of the revenues are the legiti
mate successors in office and doctrine of the first pastors ;
and on the other, that the old Presbyterians held doctrine*
that are plucked up and contravened by the principles of
Unitarians.
Cht dfrmrtw' fHUttins^tmit, Caatltgate.
The society of friends have very commodious premises
in Friargate, the principal entrance to which, is from
Castlegate. There are two houses contiguous to each
other; the larger of which, was erected in the year 1816,
and is a plain but substantial and handsome building,
calculated to accommodate from 800 to 1000 persons.
The members of the society in the city and neighbourhood
meet regularly for religious worship in one of the houses ;
and they are also used for the quarterly meetings of the
friends, from various parts of the county, for the regula
tion of the affairs of their community. The premises
have been in the hands of the society for nearly 200 years ;
a considerable number of the citizens of York being among
the early converts to the doctrines of the quakers, and
among the sufferers for their religious opinions and
practices.
WLtiltgm ifHethtrtJfet Cljaptl, ;ptfo*sJtrot.
The Wesleyan methodists had a place of public worship
in the city of York prior to the year 1755. It was situated
in the parish of St. Sampson ; the curate of which, as we
have already seen, was presented to the dean and chapter
on the charge of frequently and obstinately resorting
thither. Before the erection of New-street chapel, the
Wesleyan methodists assembled in a house in Peaseholmegreen,
and, for the two years preceding its opening, in
Grape-lane chapel. On the first of January, 1805, the
foundation stone of New-street chapel was laid, and it