Methodist Church, Whiteparish

Methodist Church, Whiteparish
Date of image
2004
Date uploaded
25 October 2007
Number of views
628
Number of comments
0
Location of image
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham
Notes

From 1792 various houses were licensed for Methodist worship. These were; a house opposite the King's Head in 1792, the house (Parsonage House) of Joseph West and a house in Whiteparish Street occupied by Joseph West in 1798, a house occupied by James Clark in Whiteparish Street in 1807, and a house occupied by Charles Noble on Whiteparish Common in 1816. The group obviously prospered as they were able to build the chapel that was registered in October 1826. The Methodist congregation grew in numbers and by the late 19th century they were renowned for their singing and the quality of teas provided at various special festivals. Expansion to the building came in 1903 when a Sunday School, vestry and kithen were built, while in 1906 a new harmonium was acquired. The chapel was registered for marriages in 1937.

In the Salisbury area the 1932 union of different Methodist groups was implemented in 1940 and the Whiteparish Wesleyan Methodists and Primitive Methodists amalgamated. After this the Wesleyan chapel became the Whiteparish Methodist Church with all Methodists worshipping there. Mains electricity also came in 1940 but the church had to wait until 1957 before mains water was connected. The building was refurbished in 1973 and oil filled electric radiators replaced the old stove. An organ replaced the harmonium in 1985.