Independent Methodist Chapel, Chapel Street, Warminster

The Methodists visited the unplanned settlement on Warminster Common and held meetings in cottages from the 1750s. In 1803 the town Methodists borrowed the Independent chapel in Bread Street and held services there. They were using a cottage in Key Lane in 1807, which they enlarged in 1809 but it still proved to be too small. From 1809 to 1818 they again used the Bread Street Chapel. In 1818 a group, led by William Daniell, were expelled from the town Methodist chapel and came to the Common with their followers. Their early efforts were often interrupted by violent men and they were often persecuted. Daniell at times had to physically eject disruptive young men during services. The cause slowly prospered and the cottage used became very full, so that in 1829 the congregation were able to build their own chapel in, what was afterwards called, Chapel Street. It had accommodation for 300 but the congregation grew and a gallery had to be added in 1831. Between 1841 and 1846 the chapel was affected by the great opposition of the new vicar, Arthur Fane, at the parish church but in 1846 they were able to build a vestry and schoolroom. The chapel here was largely powered by the one remarkable man, William Daniell, who was later styled the Bishop of Warminster Common and wrote a book on the Common and his ministry there. He died in 1860 and after that the meeting soon languished. The chapel was let to the Salvation Army in 1882 and was demolished in 1983.