West Bay Methodist Church facts for kids
The West Bay Methodist Church was once a special building in West Bay, Dorset, England. People called it "the chapel on the beach." It first opened its doors in 1849. This church served the community for many years. It closed in 2007. Later, in 2018, it became the West Bay Discovery Centre. This old chapel has been a protected building, known as Grade II listed, since 1975.
History of the Chapel
Before the church was built, a group called the West Bay Wesleyan Society met. They started in 1828. This group held their services in a local house. As more people joined, they needed a bigger place.
Building the Church
So, in 1849, a new Methodist church was built. It was constructed by John Cox and Son. The church was built very close to West Bay harbour and Chesil Beach. It officially opened on December 4, 1849. The chapel was a place of worship for the community until May 2007. It was only closed for a short time during World War II.
Becoming a Discovery Centre
After the chapel closed, it was empty for a while. In 2012, the West Dorset District Council sold the chapel. They sold it to the Bridport Area Development Trust for just £1. The trust wanted to turn it into a visitor centre.
Plans for this new centre were made. In 2015, they received permission to change the building. In 2017, they got money from the Coastal Communities Fund. The building was then repaired and changed in 2018. R&C Building Conservation from Shaftesbury did the work. The West Bay Discovery Centre finally opened in August 2018.
