We have given an account of the rise and progress of Wesleyanism, but, as that society eventually made a complete separation from the Church of England, of which its founder remained through life an ordained minister and communicant, so the seeds of disruption spread in itself. At different periods it threw out off-shoots, amounting in all to some eight different daughter societies; such as those which are named “The Original Connection,” “The New Connection,” “The Primitive Methodists,” &c. Of these the last alone is represented in Horncastle. More than 50 years ago {71c} the Primitives had, in this country, 2,871 places of worship, with 369,216 sittings; with the exception of the “Original Connection,” none of the other off-shoots had then as many as 100,000 sittings. In Horncastle the first chapel, opened in 1821, was a small building, situated on the left side of what is now Watermill Yard, to the north of the town. This proving too small for the growing congregation, a larger structure, an oblong building, with front gable at the east end and a gallery, was erected in 1837; the minister’s house being at the west end. This was about half way up Watermill Road, on the north side, now a stable, but still retaining a pointed window. This building was of the date of the superintendency of the Rev. John Butcher. The residence was found to be too damp to be comfortable, and a house was taken for him in Prospect Street. In the early days of this chapel Mary Crossley, a Revivalist, occasionally preached here. Possibly the services at this time were rather too demonstrative, as they were not unfrequently interrupted by roughs, and the sect acquired the name of “The Ranters.” {72} An amusing anecdote is related of Mr. Butcher; he was a somewhat eccentric character, and in the discharge of his intinerant ministrations he usually rode on a donkey, sometimes accompanied by her foal; and a waggish passer-by on the road is said, on one occasion, to have saluted them with the greeting “Good morning, ye three,” adding _sotto voce_, “donkeys.”