Chippenham, Wiltshire

Although John Wesley mentions Chippenham in his Journal 17 times between 1742 and 1790 he only stopped for refreshment or just passed through. There is no record of him preaching in the town.

Wesleyan preaching in Chippenham began around 1805. At first the Society met in the Presbyterian chapel, but a Wesleyan chapel was built in London Road in 1812. This was succeeded by a larger building on The Causeway in 1853, in turn replaced in 1908-09 by a new chapel in Monkton Hill, designed by Gordon and Gunton.

Primitive Methodism: Persistent missioning by the Brinkworth Circuit from 1825 to 1832 led to the establishment of a PM Circuit by 1835. The Society bought the Quaker Meeting Room in The Causeway in 1834, replacing this with a larger chapel in 1896. A second chapel was built in Lowden in 1855, replaced by a new chapel in Sheldon Road in 1901.

In the 1980s the former PM Society at The Causeway joined with the Monkton Hill congregation to form Central Methodist Church.

Sources
  • 'Chippenham', Bristol Times and Mirror, 10 April 1852, page 3.
  • 'Chippenham', Wiltshire Independent, 7 April 1853, page 3.
  • 'Chippenham. New Primitive Methodist Church and Schools', Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 13 April 1901, page 7.
  • 'New Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday Schools at Chippenham', Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 24 April 1909, page 4.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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