List of Methodist churches
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This is a list of Methodist churches and campgrounds, either of notable congregations or of notable buildings or campgrounds or others places of worship. 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.
Canada
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 | 100px | 1836 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Niagara Falls, Ontario | Named in honour of Robert Nathaniel Dett[1][2] |
Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church | 1855 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | St. Catharines | Linked to Harriet Tubman.[3][4][5] | |
British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ontario | 100px | 1854 built, rebuilt 1856, rebuilt 1963 |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Windsor, Ontario | From 1856 to 1963 the BME church was an active church in its original location, 363 McDougall street.[6] |
Singapore
Church | Image | Dates | Location | City or Town | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wesley Methodist Church | 100px | 5 Fort Canning RoadLua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Singapore | Oldest Methodist church with an English-speaking congregation in Singapore |
United Kingdom
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.[7]
A list of Methodist churches that are listed buildings was prepared by the U.K. Methodist church's division of property in 1976.[7] 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.[8]
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.[7]
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."[7]
(by city or town)
Church | Image | Dates | Location | City or Town | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's Methodist Church | 1772 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' 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.[7][9] | |
Altarnum Methodist Chapel | 1854 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Altarnun, Cornwall | A typical building reflecting the values expressed by Jobson.[7] | |
Wesley's Chapel | 1777–78 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' 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.[10][11] | |
Methodist Central Hall Westminster | 1905-11 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Westminster, London | Built in order to commemorate the centenary of the death of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. | |
Heptonstall Methodist Church | 100px | 1764 built |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' 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.[12] The building was featured in a 2010 BBC Four series Churches: How to Read Them,[13] in which Dr Richard Taylor named it as one of his ten favourite churches, saying: "If buildings have an aura, this one radiated friendship."[14] See photo here [1]. |
Moor Park Methodist Church | 100px | 1861-62 built | Preston, Lancashire, England | Designed by Poulton and Woodman, opened 1862, seating for 900, closed 1984. | |
Preston Central Methodist Church | 100px | 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 | 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 | 100px | 1841 built 1944 demolished |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | London | |
West Street Chapel | London | ||||
West London Methodist Mission | London | ||||
Bethesda Methodist Chapel | 1819 built 1983 Grade II-listed |
Stoke on Trent | [15] | ||
Brunswick Methodist Chapel | 1820 built 1987 Grade II-listed |
Newcastle upon Tyne | [16] |
United States
In the United States, numerous Methodist churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places[17] 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 | 1780 built 1972 NRHP-listed |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' 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[17] |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Baltimore, Maryland | Romanesque Revival style, known as the Mother Church of American Methodism | |
St. George's United Methodist Church | 1767 built 1971 NRHP-listed |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Philadelphia | The oldest Methodist church worship in continuous use in the United States.[18] | |
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church | 1794 built 1972 NRHP-listed |
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Philadelphia | Romanesque style, The founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[19] |
For a more complete list, see List of Methodist churches in the United States.
References
- ↑ R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
- ↑ R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places
- ↑ Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
- ↑ Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places
- ↑ See also Tubman Home for the Aged, Harriet Tubman Residence, Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church, Auburn, New York.
- ↑ British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor Mosaic
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Heptonstall Trail, A Calder Civic Trust publication, 1996
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ event Archived December 10, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ St. George's United Methodist Church Archived January 31, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.