A history of development

John Wesley preached twice in Chepstow in 1762 & 1769. It is almost certain that he preached at what was then No.13 Moor Street, now the site of the police station, because in 1790 No.13 was described as the site of a former Methodist meeting house. He wrote in his journal, March 19th 1762, "I preached about to twelve in the new room at Chepstow. One of the congregation was a neighbouring clergyman, who lived in the same staircase with me at Christ Church and was then far more serious than me."
In 1801 a Methodist Chapel was built in what we now know as Oxford Street. "A proper place for Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England called Methodists", as recorded in the Bishops Register on August 4th 1801. Part of the chapel can still be seen at the back of Herbert Lewis’ Store.
By 1855 the Wesleyan, as it was then called, had become too small for the congregation, so a new Church was built in Albion Square and opened on November 22nd, 1855. It cost £1260-16s-5d to build and all but £200 of this amount was raised before the opening. The remaining debt was cleared in 2 years and a schoolroom was built sometime later.

The pulpit stood in the centre under the stained glass window and the Communion area was enclosed with a half circular rail. Apparently the original communion table was in use for nearly 125 years. Choir pews faced the centre and a small pipe organ stood in the corner and a lad was paid 3d. to pump it. The Church was built to seat 250 - a tight squeeze!! Each family had their own pew, for which they paid rent, and their name was on a card inside the pew door.
The original lighting was gas, with two gas heaters beneath the aisles. Electric lighting was installed in 1914 and in 1918 a vestry and other rooms were added, along with a hot water boiler in a cellar at the end of the passage which ran alongside the Church. This was fueled by coal and coke and lit by the caretaker at 7.00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The tank was fitted above the gallery steps and occasionally got an air-lock in the pipes, resulting in loud banging noises coming from the gallery during the service. Must have been very distracting in the middle of the sermon!

For many years finances were very lean, with collections as low as 15/- per Sunday and it was necessary to make several "special efforts" to pay the way. In 1933, after many meetings, it was decided that the "United Methodist" Church in Moor Street (now the site of the Conservative Club) should be sold and the members joined Albion Square. It was also decided to purchase a new pipe organ following the sale of Moor Street Church. The organ came from Worcester but the cost, plus fitting, a new motor and alteration of the Church came to double the proceeds, so it took two years of continual efforts to pay for it. The stewards even started a waste paper collection to augment finances.
As the 1955 Centenary approached, it was decided to do some renovations. As well as re-tiling the roof, re-wiring, replacing windows, cleaning the font, painting doors, and replacing two notice boards, all the pews were re-modelled, to make them more comfortable! The seating was thus reduced to about 200. This all cost £1760 and the trustees were guarantors for a loan from the Chapel Committee. Having eventually cleared the debt in 1964, dry rot was then found under the gallery which required a further £620.

The trustees discussed on several occasions the re-construction of the schoolroom and plans were drawn up, but no funds available. At that time gifts of £500 were set aside for this specific purpose. Eventually sufficient funds were raised for a new hall to be built by volunteer labour which was opened in 1976.
Attention then turned to the Church itself. By early 1977, the pipe organ had been removed and the front of the Church remodelled with the communion area much as it is today with an electronic organ and pulpit on either side. Further renovations were again deferred until more funds were available. Project 87 picked up the vision and completed the job, removing the pews and transforming the interior, with new lighting and chairs - comfort at last!
This fulfilled the long-standing vision of Mr. Reg Saunders, who was a steward here for 50 years and always dreamt of changing it to a central aisle. He died before it was completed, but his was the first funeral to be held after the Church had been closed for the 3 months necessary for the reconstruction. The expanding Church now needed more room for its activities, so planning permission was sought for a hall extension. But funds were again unavailable and the project had to be shelved. The time was not right.
Today as a Church we have completed a new stage of what you will now see is a continuum of development for the Lord’s work. Our vision is one of serving God and outreach to the community. The new building is not a end in itself, but a means towards achieving that vision.

Presentation of the Built in Quality Award made by Monmouthshire County Council in 2000 for the building and design of the Church extension.

A well established range of Church activities, provides a sound basis of fellowship and pastoral care within which to welcome new members, as well as a strong foundation for service in the wider community. Our enhanced facilities provide extra room for expanding work with children and young people and also cater for an increasing number of community activities.
The new building provides a base for new initiatives, some in conjunction with other Christian organisations, and many other challenges which God will call us to in His time. We pray that this new development will be witness to, and invitation from, the Living God to all who pass by and those in search of him, and will enable the worship and ministry of Chepstow Methodist Church to flourish in this new century.

If you have any other picture showing the history of the Church, please let us know.

Click here to return to Home Page,
Sunday Services, Devotions, Notices, Prayer Page,  Regular Activities
About the Church, The Circuit, About Chepstow, Links & Downloads, Photo Gallery