As the sun rose silhouetting Conisborough Castle, on a cold clear December morning in 1987, the arm of a crane swung the last symbol of mining at Cadeby Colliery on to a low-loader, for transfer to its present position in the new Miners´ Chapel. The massive wheel which brought up the final Cadeby coal for Eggborough Power Station is now there to work in a different way. It will impress upon future generations the severity of the way their forbears worked and lived; and along with other items which are incorporated within the Chapel buildings, serve as a reminder of the dangers still facing these upon whose courage we depend for our coal. The wheel is one way to light and life.
The Church of All Saints (of which the chapel is a vital and living part), itself reflects the life and changes of our community. When families first gathered in homes around the Denaby shaft, they were cared for by Mexborough clergy, but as Cadeby opened so the homes around that shaft came under the ministrations of Conisborough Church. It was the growth of the mining village that brought about the consecration of the first Parish Church within its own parish boundaries, carved out of both neighbouring Church areas.
Churches of all denominations have been important in the life of the village.
The dangers of mining and the harshness of life ignored the divides of Church. Along with the spiritual and pastoral ministry, came the fun, laughter and friendship for example, of Sunday School outings and picnics on the Twenty Acre Field. The clubs and activities that grew out of the churches gave support to these faced with poverty and toughness of the work that was their only way of life. That is why it is so good that the chapel has had the active support of St. Albans´ Church, Father Bambury, and his congregation. The interest and help of the clubs and of the Unions is no loss important. Without their contributions, both in community life and in work, improvements which have been hard won may not have come about
The New Parish Church which replaced the original as now houses have replaced the long terraces, was opened in 1975. It was the model by which the Chapel would be built later. The untiring dedication, enthusiasm, and work of volunteers saw the lights come on for the first time, to reveal a place of worship beyond their hopes and dreams. Alas as fire destroyed so much of what had been lovingly built to Cod´s glory, so it drew out the indefatigable nature of the people who had already known grief and suffering over and over again, enabling them to triumph once more
With the help of all the Churches, clubs and community, so the Church and hall were rebuilt, and into the new Church of 1975 was drawn all the items so much loved from the past, from windows to floor timbers, from pews to ceiling timbers: font to pulpit. One final thing was added after the fire of 1977. Along the length of the wall behind the Holy Table is the brick-on- end, Wall of Friendship. Each brick requires the support of the next to stand upright. It has been this way throughout the history of our village; it was our experience at the time of the fire; and so has it been with the work of the Miners´ Chapel.
Under the list of acknowledgments we have recorded the names of firms and people who have volunteered their help and skills to create this unique Chapel which we all hope will be worthy of those in whose memory it is built – all who worked our pits down through the generations — and that it may inspire in us the spirit which we need to face the future together.
Our thanks are unbounded before God. In the name of Jesus Christ, we offer gratitude to all who shared in its conception, and worked for the vision to come true. Without them, and many others not mentioned by name, the opportunity to build this chapel of vision, and hope would have been lost.