Primitive Methodist Chapel, Ramsbury

The first Primitive Methodist meeting took place under the tree in the Square in 1829 and passed without incident. However in 1830 preachers and meetings met with great hostility and some mobs of up to 200 initiated some violence. A calming influence was eventually exerted by a visiting lady preacher, with one of the chief troublemakers becoming her champion. A flint and chapel was built in 1842 on the east side of Chapel Lane. It contained 120 free seats and 140 others. In 1851 numbers at services were recorded as 70 in the morning, 160 in the afternoon, and 200 in the evening, with 20 childre at each of two sessions of the Sunday School. On many occasions the chapel was overful and, although attendances had declined a little, a new one was built in Oxford Street in 1876. The membership was 75 and 100 Sunday School children were taught at the old chapel, which became a schoolroom. In 1885 a schoolroom was built at the new chapel and the children started using it in 1886. A chapel band, later to become the Ramsbury Silver Band, was founded in 1900. Like the Congregationalists in the 19th century, the Methodists became involved with the Ramsbury Building Society. In 1942 the Primitive Methodists were joined by the remaining Wesleyans, who left their own chapel. In 1952 toilets and a kitchen were added to the schoolroom, and in 1975 both chapel and schoolroom were renovated.

The chapel is now the Ramsbury Methodist Church and is the only non-conformist church remaining in the village.