Great Glen Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Glen Methodist Church |
|
|---|---|
Great Glen Methodist Church
|
|
| Location | Oaks Road, Great Glen, Leicestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Methodist |
| History | |
| Founded | 1827 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Chapel |
Great Glen Methodist Church is a special place in Leicestershire, England. It was built a long time ago, in 1827. Later, in 1879, a church hall was added next to it.
Contents
About the Church Today
The church's minister, who leads the services, is Reverend Helen White.
Church Activities and Community
Great Glen Methodist Church is a busy place with many activities for everyone.
- Sunday Service: The main service happens every Sunday morning at 10:30 am.
- Saturday Coffee Morning: On Saturday mornings, the church is a friendly spot for people to meet. From 10:00 am to 11:30 am, you can drop in for coffee and a chat.
- On the first Saturday of each month, they even serve bacon sandwiches!
- Many people also use this time for quiet prayer inside the church.
- Youth Club: If you're looking for fun, the Youth Club meets every two weeks on a Friday evening.
- Sparklers: This is a group for parents and toddlers (children under 4). It meets on Monday mornings at 9:30 am. This group is a joint effort with the Anglican church and meets at St Cuthberts.
- Bible Fellowship: Most Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, people meet in local homes. They share stories, study the Bible, and pray together.
History of Methodism in Great Glen
Methodism is a type of Christian faith that grew from the Anglican Church in the 1700s. People who followed different Christian beliefs were sometimes called "Dissenters."
In the early 1700s, there were a few Dissenters living in Great Glen. Between 1714 and 1726, six different houses in the village were officially allowed to be used as meeting places for these groups.
Many important craftspeople and workers in Great Glen were Methodists. Some of these included:
- William Edgley, a miller
- Thomas Batchelor, a bricklayer
- Daniel Allen, a blacksmith
- Solomon Banks, a watchmaker
- Joseph Smeeton, a framework knitter
- Thomas Smeeton, a carpenter
- John Hawley, a grocer
- John Haycock, a builder
- Robert Holyoak, a tailor
- Robert Scampton, a carpenter
- William Scott, a tailor
Kitty Packe, whose husband owned the local manor, was concerned about the number of Dissenters in the mid-1800s. She preferred people who belonged to the Anglican Church. She said she would rather rent a house or farm to an Anglican person. She was thankful that in Great Glen, the Dissenters were mainly Wesleyans (a type of Methodist).
In 1866, the Anglican vicar, Reverend H.L. Dodds, was worried about how strong Methodism was becoming. He felt the Anglican church in the village was "very weak." He noted that the Wesleyans had strong and influential leaders like the Haycocks and Mrs Cooper.
Because many skilled craftspeople were part of the Methodist church, repairs and improvements were often done for free. These talented members used their skills to help their own church.
Building the Church Hall
The idea for a church hall started in 1868. It was needed to house the many children who attended Sunday School. The building was likely completed at a low cost because so many members had the skills to help. Plans were drawn up in 1876, and the hall opened just three years later, in 1879.
It was a long time, 110 years, before the next big building project. In 1989, the church and the Sunday school were connected. New toilets and another function room were added. This new room was named after Ruth Warner, an important church member from the 20th century.
