Wesleyan Methodists

There was a Society from 1810 and a chapel was built in Cannon Square, Hogge Hill in 1813. On 21 October 1866 the chapel was re-opened after extensive alterations and enlarged to seat 580 persons. More improvements were completed in 1881. With the growing number of Sunday school children and weekday activities a new Sunday school was added to the church which was opened on Wednesday 28 November 1894. The chapel closed in 1964 when it joined the Mount Tabor and the London Road chapels in the newly built Downham Methodist Church, in Paradise Road.

Primitive Methodists

A Society was formed around 1829 and a small chapel was opened on 31 August 1834 in a back lane in the lower part of the town which had to be enlarged six months later. The Eastern Fens chapels formed their circuit in 1836 which was centred on Downham Market. On Good Friday and Easter Day 1870 the Circuit held celebratory preaching meetings on the recently purchased site for the new Downham Market church on London Road. The foundation stone was laid on Thursday 15 September 1870 and the chapel, seating 300 persons, was opened on Good Friday (7 April) 1871. The chapel closed in 1965, uniting with the other two Methodist chapels to form the Downham Methodist Church.

Wesleyan Reform and United Methodist Free Churches

A Wesleyan Reform group was meeting in the town in 1849 and in the 1851 Religious Census they were meeting in a room above stables and a gig house.

A Society formed around 1850 built Mount Tabor ??? Chapel on Bridge Street in 1859, to seat 250 people. The school room was added in 1865 and a gallery in 1879. The chapel was enlarged in 1897-98. The chapel closed in 1966 and with the other two Methodist chapels became the Downham Market Methodist Church.

In 1962 a scheme was launched to unite the three Methodist societies in one church building. In May 1963 a building fund for £36,000 was launched with a commitment that the Downham Market Methodists would raise £12,000. Other moneys to be secured by the sale of the three existing chapels and with grants. Eventually the building cost £44,000 of which £15,000 was raised locally. In November 1964 the three congregations united and temporarily worshipped in Mount Tabor church. On Saturday 16 July 1966 the new church was opened on Paradise Road by Mrs Mary E. Osborne, one of the oldest members.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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