Manvers Street Methodist Church, Trowbridge
Trowbridge was an early centre of Methodism and in the early 18th century there was a preaching room in Frog Lane, in the Conigre. John Wesley preached here in 1754 and preachers continued to visit, although no one was succeeful in establishing a church. Wesley again preached here in 1780 and continued to visit Trowbridge each year until 1790. In 1781 a local man, John Knapp, had been greatly impressed by the Rev. William Moore of Bristol and he held services twice weekly in his home. Later he rented a small empty cloth factory building and fitted it out for worship. The first society of 6 members was formed in 1786 and by 1789 this had increased to 70 and was 100 by the end of 1789. In 1790 a new chapel by the town bridge was opened but this was unfortunately subject to flooding and so a gallery was built to avoid water damage to furniture on the floor. The chapel was enlarged in 1821 and by 1829 there was a congregation of 500. In 1835 the site of Knapp's original meeting house was bought and a new chapel built in the Grecian style. It was designed by a member of the congregation, John Dyer. A new road, Manvers Street, was created in front of the chapel, joining Fore Street with Back Street, replacing a passageway over waste ground. In 1846 four classrooms and a vestry were added and further alterations and improvements were made over the years. The burial ground was closed in 1857 after the new cemetery had opened. A register was maintained from 1793.