Wesleyan Methodist Church, Seend

The early Methodist societies in Seend were run by families who had their origins in 17th century Quakerism. One such (Abraham Shewring) was known as the “Quaker Methodist”. The original Quakers seemed to remain unmolested in Seend in spite of the Quaker reputation for being ‘dangerous revolutionaries’. Bartholomew Drake and his wife Anna lived in the village from the 1720’s until their deaths in 1738 and 1742. They were buried in their garden in Seend Row. Their tombstones were built into the cottage wall and could still be seen in 1908.

Seend became a missionary centre with Thomas Twinney a most active preacher. It is believed that he lived in a cottage that came to be known as ‘Wesley Cottage’, where John Wesley preached on 12 March 1749. The Reverend T Jones thought that Seend should be regarded as the ‘mother’ church of various Wesleyan Societies throughout the locality and in 1757 the membership at Seend numbered 42. Services were held in the village or sometimes at Inmarsh. In 1774 land was leased to David Flower (of Seend Park Farm), local farmer and first trustee, who built the chapel in the High Street which was opened by John Wesley on 4th march 1775. The windows were designed in the 13th century grouped lancet style. There is an 18th century hood over the door and the plaque above the door (commemorating John Wesley’s preaching in Seend) was engraved in 1929.