List of Methodist churches

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This is a list of notable Methodist churches, either of notable congregations or of notable buildings or other places of worship. This very limited list reflects historically interesting sites, and omits most of the very largest Methodist congregations. Since the founding of Methodism in the mid-18th century, the movement has spread throughout the world, and remains a presence in many countries today.

Many church buildings are notable for their historical or architectural significance. Many of the historic churches can be found in the United Kingdom and the United States, but some are also located in Canada, China, Korea and other in countries where there has been a Methodist presence. In some cases the congregation which established the church has since disbanded but the building remains. This list is intended to comprehensively index notable Methodist churches world-wide.

Australia

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Church Image Dates Location City or Town Description
Wesley Church, Melbourne File:Wesleychurch.JPG 26 August 1858 Consecrated Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Melbourne, Australia Grand Gothic design with high quality architecture

Barbados

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Ann Gill Memorial Methodist Church, in Fairfield Road, Black Rock, St. Michael, honours the memory of Sarah Ann Gill, the sole female national heroine of Barbados.[1]

Canada

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Two British Methodist Episcopal Church churches have been designated National Historic Sites of Canada due to their roles in welcoming Underground Railroad refugees to Canada and their historic importance to the Black community in the Niagara region:

Church Image Dates Location City or town Description
R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church File:R- Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site of Canada 2012-09-17 23-00-39.jpg 1836 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Niagara Falls, Ontario Named in honour of Robert Nathaniel Dett[2][3]
Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church File:British Methodist Episcopal Church - Salem Chapel.jpg 1855 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. St. Catharines, Ontario Linked to Harriet Tubman.[4][5][6]
British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ontario File:British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ontario.jpg 1854 built, rebuilt 1856, rebuilt 1963
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Windsor, Ontario From 1856 to 1963 the BME church was an active church in its original location, 363 McDougall street.[7]

Puerto Rico

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Church Image Dates Location City or Town Description
Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Ponce File:Methodist Church on Villa Street, Barrio Segundo, Ponce, Puerto Rico (IMG 2874).jpg 1907 Calle Villa 135
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Ponce Methodist church built in 1907 that was architect Antonin Nechodoma's first commission in Puerto Rico.
McCabe Memorial Church File:McCabe Memorial Church (Iglesia Metodista Unida) on Avenida Hostos, Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (IMG 2986).jpg 1908 835 Eugenio Maria de Hostos Ave.
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Ponce Another Nechodoma work.
Ernesto Memorial Chapel File:Iglesia de Piedra -3 (4846220764).jpg 1912 Intersection of PR 486 & PR 488
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Camuy Designed by Albert Munson

Singapore

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Church Image Dates Location City or Town Description
Wesley Methodist Church File:WesleyMethodistChurch-sepiapostcard.jpg 5 Fort Canning RoadLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Singapore Oldest Methodist church with an English-speaking congregation in Singapore

United Kingdom

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The first Methodist churches were in Norwich (1757), in Rotherham (1761), in Whitby (1762), and in Heptonstall (1764).

About 700 Methodist chapels in the United Kingdom have been identified as significant buildings for their architecture or history by author Ian Serjeant, who has served as Conservation Officer for the Methodist church since 1996.[8]

A list of Methodist churches that are listed buildings was prepared by the U.K. Methodist church's division of property in 1976.[8] A standing committee of the Methodist Church of Britain is charged with having "knowledge of the history, development and use of Methodist chapels, of Methodist liturgy and worship, or archaeology, of the history and the development of architecture and the visual arts, and the experience of the care of historic buildings and their contents", and to advise on about 250 renovation projects per year to the Methodist listed buildings.[9]

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, is said to have had a preference for octagonal buildings, as exemplified by the Heptonstall Methodist Church in West Yorkshire, England.[8]

Appropriate style for Methodist church buildings was debated during the mid-1800s. Architect-trained Reverend Frederick Jobson argued for "beauty and perfection in design and execution without unnecessary adornment"; the governing body of Methodism adopted his works and Gothic architecture "became the predominant style, particularly within Wesleyan Methodism."[8]

Church Image Dates Location City or Town Description
St. John’s Methodist Church, Arbroath File:Arbroath St. John's Methodist Church.jpg 1772 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Arbroath Angus, Scotland A listed building in Category B that is identified by Serjeant as particularly notable. It was opened by John Wesley in 1772. Remodellings and other changes in 1882, 1896, and 1946 have hidden the octagonal chapel behind the later frontage.[8][10]
Wesleyan Church, Aldershot File:Aldershot Methodist Church 2016.jpg 1874-77 built
Grade II* listed building
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Aldershot, Hampshire Built to reflect the expansion of the town of Aldershot with the arrival of the Military Camp during the mid to late 19th-century. Now redundant and used as offices, homes, a dental surgery and gymnasium.
Altarnum Methodist Chapel File:Altarnun, Cornwall, The wesleyan Chapel - geograph.org.uk - 223519.jpg 1859 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Altarnun, Cornwall A typical building reflecting the values expressed by Jobson.[8]
Wesley's Chapel File:Wesley's Chapel 1.jpg 1777–78 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Islington, London Known as 'The Mother Church of World Methodism', having been built by John Wesley, and acting as his London base. The portico was added in 1814–15, and there have been other alterations and additions since. The building is listed at Grade I.[11][12]
Methodist Central Hall File:Methodist Central Hall.JPG 1905-11 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Westminster, London Built in order to commemorate the centenary of the death of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.
Heptonstall Methodist Church File:Heptonstall Methodist Church - geograph.org.uk - 771259.jpg 1764 built
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. West Yorkshire Octagonal chapel whose foundation stone was laid by John Wesley. Church was completed in 1764 in symmetric octagon shape, but was extended in 1802 to provide for more space. Wesley recommended the octagonal shape to differentiate from the established church.[13] The building was featured in a 2010 BBC Four series Churches: How to Read Them,[14] in which Dr Richard Taylor named it as one of his ten favourite churches, saying: "If buildings have an aura, this one radiated friendship."[15] See photo here [1].
Moor Park Methodist Church File:Former Moor Park Methodist Church, Preston.jpg 1861-62 built Preston, Lancashire, England Designed by Poulton and Woodman, opened 1862, seating for 900, closed 1984.
Preston Central Methodist Church File:Central Methodist Church, Preston.jpg 1817 built Preston, Lancashire, England Active, Methodist church whose building was one of the first public buildings in the country to be lit by gas.
Surrey Chapel, Southwark File:The Ring (15326766471).jpg 1783 built
1881 demolished
London Independent Methodist and Congregational church, located at first in open fields, then enveloped by industrial development. Circular in plan with domed roof, its design was of interest.
Trinity Independent Chapel 1841 built
1944 demolished
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. London
West Street Chapel File:26 West Street, London (3).jpg First leased in 1743 by John Wesley London
West London Methodist Mission File:West London Mission of the Methodist Church - geograph.org.uk - 1053024.jpg Established in 1887 under Hugh Price Hughes London
Bethesda Methodist Chapel File:Bethesda Methodist Church, Hanley.jpg 1819 built
1972 Grade II*-listed
Stoke on Trent [16]
Brunswick Methodist Chapel File:Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne - geograph.org.uk - 939386.jpg 1820 built
1987 Grade II-listed
Newcastle upon Tyne [17]

United States

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In the United States, numerous Methodist churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places[18] and on state and local historic registers, many of which reflect the values of plainness, of Gothic architecture, of simple adornment. The Greek Revival style is also simple and came to be adopted for numerous American Methodist churches.

Several, selected significant Methodist churches in the U.S. are:

Church Image Dates Location City, State Description
Barratt's Chapel File:Old Barratt's Chapel (Methodist), Route 113, Frederica vicinity (Kent County, Delaware).jpg 1780 built
1972 NRHP-listed
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Frederica, Delaware "Cradle of Methodism", where Methodism first took hold in the United States in 1784
Lovely Lane United Methodist Church 1884 built
1973 NRHP-listed[18]
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Baltimore, Maryland Romanesque Revival style, known as the Mother Church of American Methodism
St. George's United Methodist Church File:Philadelphia StGeorgesUMC from West.jpg 1767 built
1971 NRHP-listed
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Philadelphia The oldest Methodist church worship in continuous use in the United States.[19]
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church File:Mother Bethel Philly a.JPG 1794 built
1972 NRHP-listed
Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. Philadelphia Romanesque style, The founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[20]

For a more complete list, see List of Methodist churches in the United States.

References

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  1. ^ Barbados Today, Ann Gill Memorial Methodist Church celebrating 125 years, published 3 November 2018, accessed 23 December 2019
  2. ^ R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  3. ^ R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places
  4. ^ Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  5. ^ Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places
  6. ^ See also Tubman Home for the Aged, Harriet Tubman Residence, Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church, Auburn, New York.
  7. ^ British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor Mosaic
  8. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Heptonstall Trail, A Calder Civic Trust publication, 1996
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  18. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ St. George's United Methodist Church Archived July 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).