Wyke Regis Methodist Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyke Regis Methodist Church
Religion
Affiliation	Methodist
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Closed
Location
Location	Wyke Regis, Dorset, England
Architecture
Architect(s)	Ford & Slater of Burslem
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Gothic
Completed	1903

The Wyke Regis Methodist Church was a special building in Wyke Regis, a town in Dorset, England. It was a Methodist church, which is a type of Christian church. The church was designed by architects Ford & Slater from Burslem. It was built in 1903 and was used for church services until 2021.

A Look Back: The Church's Story

How Did the Church Start?

The first place where Methodists in Wyke Regis met to worship was a small cottage. This cottage belonged to Richard Barnes and was used for services starting in 1804. Later, in 1832, a new building was made just for the church. This was a simple, rectangular building on Collins Lane. It later became part of a bakery. The bakery, including the old church part, was taken down in 2003. A new house was built there instead.

Why Was a New Church Needed?

By 1893, people realized the old 1832 church was too small. The town of Wyke Regis was growing quickly! Many new workers moved to the area because of the Whitehead Torpedo Works, which opened in 1891. In 1891, only 888 people lived in Wyke Regis. But by 1903, the population had jumped to 1,910 people. The church needed more space for everyone.

Planning the New Church Building

Reverend W. Nicholson, who was in charge of the Weymouth church area, started plans for a new church. They bought a piece of land on Portland Road for £120 in September 1894. Architects Ford and Slater designed the new church. It was planned to hold 150 people. They also wanted to build a schoolroom next to it for 150 children. Folding doors would connect the church and schoolroom. This way, the church could hold 100 more people if needed. The whole project was expected to cost about £1,100.

Building the Church: Step by Step

Reverend J. Perrett took over the project after Rev. Nicholson. On April 1, 1903, a meeting was held to approve the building work. Because there wasn't enough money, they decided to build only the church first. The schoolroom would be added later. This lowered the cost to £970. By June 1903, they had £141 left for building after buying the land.

Construction started on June 1, 1903. Many people from Wyke Regis, Weymouth, and Portland came to watch. Eighteen special memorial stones were laid. These stones helped raise £73 for the building. Other collections that day added another £27. Mr. H. Hounsell of Weymouth built the church. Mrs. John White officially opened it on November 3, 1903. At that time, about £450 more was still needed to pay for the church.

Changes Over the Years

In 1932, different Methodist groups joined together to form the "Methodist Church." So, the chapel became known as Wyke Regis Methodist Church. In 1935, the planned schoolroom was finally built. The church itself was also updated and got new seats. This work cost £1,290. Mrs. S. Lovell reopened the church on May 8, 1935. The money owed for the project was fully paid off in October 1938. The Whitehead's Torpedo Works helped by giving £100.

The Church's Final Years

In its last years, Wyke Regis Methodist Church was part of the Dorset South & West Methodist Circuit. The old schoolroom was used as a community hall. The church closed its doors in 2021. The very last service was held on August 22. After closing, the church building was put up for sale. In January 2024, plans to turn the church into apartments were not approved by Dorset Council.

What Did the Church Look Like?

The church was built with red bricks. It had special decorations made from Portland stone, which is a type of light-colored rock. The roofs were made of slate. Inside, the pulpit, where the speaker stands, was made from pitch pine wood in 1903.