Weymouth Bay Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weymouth Bay Methodist Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Methodist |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Weymouth, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Saunders Architects of Southampton |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 2009 |
Weymouth Bay Methodist Church is a special church in Weymouth, Dorset, England. It's a place where people who follow the Methodist faith gather. This church was built recently, between 2008 and 2009. It replaced an older Methodist church, the Maiden Street Methodist Church, which was sadly destroyed by a big fire in 2002.
Contents
The Church's Story
The Old Church and the Fire
For many years, Methodists in Weymouth went to a church on Maiden Street. This old church was built a long time ago, between 1866 and 1870. In 1999, the church had a big update. But then, in January 2002, a terrible fire badly damaged the building.
It would have cost too much money to fix the old church. So, the church members decided to build a brand new one instead. In 2005, they bought a piece of land on Melcombe Avenue. An old Christian Science Church used to be there. The land where the Maiden Street church stood was sold in 2006 for new buildings.
Designing the New Church
Saunders Architects from Southampton drew the plans for the new church. They designed it to hold 240 people. The new building was also planned to be a place for many different activities. It could be used for community groups, performances, and art shows.
While the new church was being built, the church members met in other places. They used St Nicholas' Church and then Westham Methodist Church.
Getting Approval to Build
The first plans for the new church were not approved in February 2006. The local council, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, was worried. They thought the building might be too big for the area. They also worried it might change the look of the neighborhood too much.
So, the architects changed the plans. They removed a third floor and made the church a bit shorter. These new plans were approved in April 2006.
Building and Opening the Church
Building work started in October 2007. Acheson Construction, a company from Dorchester, built the church. On March 1, 2008, a special stone was laid to mark the start of construction. This was done by Rev. David Plume.
The new Weymouth Bay Methodist Church cost about £2.5 million to build. It officially opened on March 25, 2009. Rev. Stephen Poxon, a leader of the Methodist Church, opened it. When the new church opened, the members from the old Maiden Street church and Westham Church joined together.
How the Church Looks
The church is made of red bricks. It has special stone details called Portland stone and a roof made of Welsh slate. It has two floors. The main roof is shaped like an octagon, which is an eight-sided shape. It also has a pyramid-shaped skylight. There is a smaller roof over the back part and a small entrance porch at the front.
Inside, the ground floor has the main worship area, called the sanctuary. There is also a smaller chapel, a foyer (entrance area), a vestry (where clergy prepare), a Sunday school room, a meeting room, a kitchen, and toilets. On the first floor, there is a gallery that looks down over the sanctuary. There is also a large hall.
In 2009, the church received an award from the Weymouth Civic Society. They praised its "thoughtful design" and "impressive interior." They also liked its "excellent community facilities."
