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Regarded by some as the 鈥榗athedral of the Potteries鈥�, Bethesda Methodist Chapel was built in Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent in the 19th Century. During World War One, the chapel collected and put together comfort parcels to send out to 鈥淏ethesda Our Boys鈥� 鈥� men connected with the chapel who were fighting on the front lines.

Money was raised through events like luncheons and music recitals to help pay for sending the parcels. The parcels themselves contained items like gloves, socks, scarves, tobacco and OXO cubes. More than 500 were sent from Bethesda during the war.

Like other churches and religious groups, they did not stop at that 鈥� during the war around 40% of the population were church-goers and, with the casualties at the front, Bethesda and other churches/chapels held memorial services and supported families after the loss of loved ones.

Location: Bethesda Chapel, Albion Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1QH
Image: Comfort Parcels collected by Bethesda Chapel in Stoke-on-Trent for troops on front-line during WW1. Photograph courtesy of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent