Walter Fytche, are five in number, namely, Union
Street, Walsall Road, Monmer Lane, Short Heath, and High Street,
Portobello. Though the denomination may be as strong as ever
numerically, it can scarcely hope to rival its old-time membership in
verve and vigour. In England fighting days never fail to produce
fighting men.

Primitive Methodism first established itself at Monmer Lane, and then
removed to Little London, but did not meet with much success at the
outset, though it has now four flourishing chapels in the township. They
are all at present under the direction of the Rev. C. L. Tack, and
situated respectively at New Invention, Spring Bank, Lane Head, and
Russell Street.

Nonconformity was first brought into Willenhall from Coseley, the
brethren of the famous Darkhouse Chapel establishing a colony at Little
London, where eventually they erected a pioneer Baptist Chapel. Of this
chapel the Rev. A. Tettmar is now in charge; a second chapel in Upper
Lichfield Street, at which the Rev. D. L. Lawrence ministers, and a third
Baptist Chapel in New Road testify to the growth of the denomination in
Willenhall. At one time the Baptists had day schools in the town.

The Roman Catholics first made their appearance in modern Willenhall some
sixty years ago, when they established a small mission at the bottom of
Union Street, afterwards building their resent chapel, which is dedicated
to St. Mary, and of which the Rev. Walter Poulton (in succession to the
Rev. W. P. Wells) is priest.

A mission of the Catholic Apostolic Brethren, served from Wolverhampton,
completes the list of religious agencies now at work in Willenhall.

In the religious and social history of the place mention cannot be
omitted of some few names which have earned the respect of the
townspeople. Among them, James Tildesley, a large employer of labour,
whose amiability, and kindness of heart exemplified that patriarchal
relationship which once existed between master and men, anterior to the
days of modern limited liability companies; George Ley Pearce, a Wesleyan
of marked personality, and an eminently good man, whose memorial in the
old Cemetery is thus inscribed:--

ERECTED
by voluntary subscription in memory of
GEORGE LEY PEARCE
(of Willenhall),
who died December 31st, 1873,