Wesleyan Methodists

On Sunday 30 November 1879 the Bristol Wesleyan District Home Missions Committee held a service in the Triangle Meeting Room, Clevedon. The Rev. J Surman Cooke (1845-1910) was the preacher. People were invited to stay after the service to discuss founding a Wesleyan Society in the town. Many people stayed and a Society was formed. On Sunday 7 December 1879 the Rev. Philip Hawkes (1953-1940) started a ten day series of mission services. With the increasing numbers of worshipers the meeting room became too small. In 1881 with the help of Sir Arthur Elton (1818-1883) the Society moved to the larger Public Hall. In 1882 the Bristol Wesleyan District Mission Committee secured a plot of land in Queen Street but when land became available on a better site in Lower Linden Road, the Queen Street plot was abandoned. On 28 September 1882 nineteen foundation stones were laid for a chapel and manse by ladies and children. On Wednesday 6 June 1883 a chapel seating 500 people was opened. The Society continued to grow and in 1909 the trustees raised the money for a major renovation of the chapel and Sunday school. The Linden Road Methodist Church and Christ Church (Church of England) joined and became Christchurch in 2005.

Kenn Road Methodist Church

In early 1948 Councillor Edmund H. Shopland (1872-1954) J.P., a Local Preacher for over 50 years, bought two corrugated roofed wooden huts from the Ministry of Works which he arranged to be erected on a plot of land which his brother Mr John Shopland (1867-1953) had bought in Kenn Road, Cleveland. The temporary wooden building with seating for 150 people was placed well back on the site to make room for a permanent church to be built in about 10 years' time. The church was opened on 16 February 1949. In 1984 a scheme was launched to replace the old buildings. On 2 June 1990 the first foundation stone was laid and the Kenn Road Methodist Church, Clevedon, was opened on Saturday 6 October 1990, by Mrs Kathleen M. Shopland (1898-1998) the daughter-in-law of the founder of the original church, The old corrugated roofed wooden building was retained for social events, and the church was extended in1999.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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