Many people will remember the Mow Cop book sales run by the Rev Dr Stephen Hatcher on behalf of Englesea Brook Primitive Methodist Chapel and Museum. When I heard that Stephen was retiring, I had an idea. Instead of moving more than 250 banana boxes hill of books into a chapel for the annual sale, why not move the people into a bookshop? Along with Elaine and Richard Pearce, who are die editors of the ‘Ranters’ Digest’ (a publication of The Friends of Englesea Brook), we set up and run the bookshop.

I have always had a desire to run a second-hand bookshop and just when second-hand bookshops are closing around the country, the Methodist Church opens one. Since March 2012 we have opened the Methodist chapel at Hassall Road, Alsager (part of the Cheshire South circuit), for second-hand book sales.

We have taken out most of the pews and installed bookshelves in the church and schoolroom. We also have two sheds for extra books.

All the profits from book sales help support Englesea Brook Museum. This is a place where you can explore the story of working-class religion in the 19th century particularly as it was experienced by a group called the Primitive Methodists.

There are large sections on Christianity and theology with particularly strong sections on Methodist and Anglican theology. We have more than 300 Bible commentaries, as well as sections on worship/Bible studies/ preaching/music and drama and also sections on healing/evangelism/leadership spirituality/ pastoral/ethics/Church history/ Christian biography.

We have a large Methodist collection that contains more than 500 church histories/
Methodist history throughout the world/John Wesley biographies/journals etc. Also local histories of chapels etc. Not to be forgotten, good sections on history, art, poetry,
gardening classics, local history, travel, geography, children’s books and an extensive area devoted to crime (more than 1,000 books) and general fiction.

The customers have commented that they like the fact that books are in subject order and even for fiction alphabetical. Refreshments are available and there is a place to relax and read. We are fortunate that people give us the books and we have been blessed with the donations of clergy when they retire. Recently we took delivery of a huge collection of history books written in the last 20 years. I never knew there was so much written on the Tudors!

I help sort the books and you never know what you may find. Recently we had 50 books on building model ships. Lately I was going through an old tatty box with what looked like old magazines and nothing special in particular when there at the bottom were two children’s books in pristine condition - 19th century French lithographs which fetched £200 each at auction.

We accept all kinds of books from modem novels to old and dusty theology. Some of the most rare books are put on the internet. We are hoping to do an auction.

We have found that it is not only a bookshop but also a real ‘Fresh Expression’ of the church with the conversations we have with customers. One of our most popular sellers is Bibles. We have probably 30 different versions at any one time (all new or nearly new). People come and ask questions. We can share our faith when we are asked to and customers like the friendly atmosphere.

We have services at special times in the chapel (the organ is still working) and this year we hope to have monthly discussions on books and local authors.

We open Friday and Saturday each week 10 am - 2 pm, all Bank Holiday Monday: and by appointment. In the summer we have books or tables outside. It is a poor week if fewer than 50 people visit the bookshop. We don’t throw books away to landfill, but some go to Africa and others are pulped to go to making new books. Books can be accepted, but we don’t usually collect unless it is a special library.

You really need to visit the bookshop if you can. If you are looking for a particular book or subjects that interest you, we can let you know when a particular book comes in. Let us know your wants and what you are interested in and we will send e-mail alerts when books come up on your subject. You can keep in touch by our blog on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alsagerbookemporiumforengleseabrook/). The bookshop is certainly worth a visit this summer.

The Rev Malcolm Lorimer is a supernumerary minister

in the Cheshire South circuit

Reprinted, with permission, from Methodist Recorder 8 June 2018