Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Chilton Foliat

Methodist worship in Chilton Foliat was first recorded when a licence was granted on 31 March 1794 for worship to take place in the house of Thomas Ashdon. Two years later, on 20 June 1796, a further licence was granted which stated that a Methodist chapel in the possession of John Hogsflesh and other trustees was now erected. In November 1829 a licence was granted for Methodist worship to take place in a “courtyard and property in the occupation of Mr. John Martin, at Chilton Foliat”. The location of this site is unknown.

There were 58 worshippers attending the chapel on Census Sunday, 1851, but in 1864 the rector of St. Mary’s Church reported that only some 24 Wesleyan or Independent (Congregational) adherents were present in the parish. The Wesleyan chapel was enlarged in 1932 but closed in 1988 and is now a private dwelling.

The Chilton Foliat chapel formed part of the Hungerford Wesleyan Methodist Circuit whose records are held at Berkshire Record Office.