This is a list of notable Methodist churches, either of notable congregations or of notable buildings or other places of worship. This very limited list reflects historically interesting sites, and omits most of the very largest Methodist congregations. Since the founding of Methodism in the mid-18th century, the movement has spread throughout the world, and remains a presence in many countries today.
Many church buildings are notable for their historical or architectural significance. Many of the historic churches can be found in the United Kingdom and the United States, but some are also located in Canada, China, Korea and other in countries where there has been a Methodist presence. In some cases the congregation which established the church has since disbanded but the building remains. This list is intended to comprehensively index notable Methodist churches world-wide.
Australia
Church ImageDatesLocationCity or Town Description Wesley Church, Melbourne 26 August 1858 Consecrated Melbourne, Australia Grand Gothic design with high quality architecture
Barbados Ann Gill Memorial Methodist Church, in Fairfield Road, Black Rock, St. Michael, honours the memory of Sarah Ann Gill, the sole female national heroine of Barbados.Barbados Today, Ann Gill Memorial Methodist Church celebrating 125 years, published 3 November 2018, accessed 23 December 2019
Canada Two British Methodist Episcopal Church churches have been designated National Historic Sites of Canada due to their roles in welcoming Underground Railroad refugees to Canada and their historic importance to the Black community in the Niagara region:
Church ImageDatesLocationCity or town Description R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church 1836 built Niagara Falls, Ontario Named in honour of Robert Nathaniel DettR. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of CanadaR. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic Places Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church 1855 built St. Catharines, Ontario Linked to Harriet Tubman.Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of CanadaSalem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church, National Register of Historic PlacesSee also Tubman Home for the Aged, Harriet Tubman Residence, Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church, Auburn, New York. British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ontario 1854 built, rebuilt 1856, rebuilt 1963 Windsor, Ontario From 1856 to 1963 the BME church was an active church in its original location, 363 McDougall street.British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor Mosaic
Puerto Rico Church ImageDatesLocationCity or Town Description Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Ponce 1907 Calle Villa 135 Ponce Methodist church built in 1907 that was architect Antonin Nechodoma's first commission in Puerto Rico. McCabe Memorial Church 1908 835 Eugenio Maria de Hostos Ave.Ponce Another Nechodoma work. Ernesto Memorial Chapel 1912 Intersection of PR 486 & PR 488Camuy Designed by Albert Munson
Singapore
Church ImageDatesLocationCity or Town Description Wesley Methodist Church 5 Fort Canning Road Singapore Oldest Methodist church with an English-speaking congregation in Singapore
United Kingdom
The first Methodist churches were in Norwich (1757), in Rotherham (1761), in Whitby (1762), and in Heptonstall (1764).
About 700 Methodist chapels in the United Kingdom have been identified as significant buildings for their architecture or history by author Ian Serjeant, who has served as Conservation Officer for the Methodist church since 1996.
A list of Methodist churches that are listed buildings was prepared by the U.K. Methodist church's division of property in 1976. A standing committee of the Methodist Church of Britain is charged with having "knowledge of the history, development and use of Methodist chapels, of Methodist liturgy and worship, or archaeology, of the history and the development of architecture and the visual arts, and the experience of the care of historic buildings and their contents", and to advise on about 250 renovation projects per year to the Methodist listed buildings.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, is said to have had a preference for octagonal buildings, as exemplified by the Heptonstall Methodist Church in West Yorkshire, England.
Appropriate style for Methodist church buildings was debated during the mid-1800s. Architect-trained Reverend Frederick Jobson argued for "beauty and perfection in design and execution without unnecessary adornment"; the governing body of Methodism adopted his works and Gothic architecture "became the predominant style, particularly within Wesleyan Methodism."
Church ImageDatesLocationCity or Town Description St. John’s Methodist Church, Arbroath 1772 built Arbroath Angus, Scotland A listed building in Category B that is identified by Serjeant as particularly notable. It was opened by John Wesley in 1772. Remodellings and other changes in 1882, 1896, and 1946 have hidden the octagonal chapel behind the later frontage. Wesleyan Church, Aldershot 1874-77 builtGrade II* listed building Aldershot, Hampshire Built to reflect the expansion of the town of Aldershot with the arrival of the Military Camp during the mid to late 19th-century. Now redundant and used as offices, homes, a dental surgery and gymnasium. Altarnum Methodist Chapel 1859 built Altarnun, Cornwall A typical building reflecting the values expressed by Jobson. Wesley's Chapel 1777–78 built Islington, London Known as 'The Mother Church of World Methodism', having been built by John Wesley, and acting as his London base. The portico was added in 1814–15, and there have been other alterations and additions since. The building is listed at Grade I. Methodist Central Hall 1905-11 built Westminster, London Built in order to commemorate the centenary of the death of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Heptonstall Methodist Church 1764 built West Yorkshire Octagonal chapel whose foundation stone was laid by John Wesley. Church was completed in 1764 in symmetric octagon shape, but was extended in 1802 to provide for more space. Wesley recommended the octagonal shape to differentiate from the established church.Heptonstall Trail, A Calder Civic Trust publication, 1996 The building was featured in a 2010 BBC Four series Churches: How to Read Them, in which Dr Richard Taylor named it as one of his ten favourite churches, saying: "If buildings have an aura, this one radiated friendship." See photo here . Moor Park Methodist Church 1861-62 built Preston, Lancashire, England Designed by Poulton and Woodman, opened 1862, seating for 900, closed 1984. Preston Central Methodist Church 1817 built Preston, Lancashire, England Active, Methodist church whose building was one of the first public buildings in the country to be lit by gas. Surrey Chapel, Southwark 1783 built1881 demolished London Independent Methodist and Congregational church, located at first in open fields, then enveloped by industrial development. Circular in plan with domed roof, its design was of interest. Trinity Independent Chapel 1841 built1944 demolished London West Street Chapel First leased in 1743 by John Wesley London West London Methodist Mission Established in 1887 under Hugh Price Hughes London Bethesda Methodist Chapel 1819 built1972 Grade II*-listed Stoke on Trent Brunswick Methodist Chapel 1820 built1987 Grade II-listed Newcastle upon Tyne
United States In the United States, numerous Methodist churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on state and local historic registers, many of which reflect the values of plainness, of Gothic architecture, of simple adornment. The Greek Revival style is also simple and came to be adopted for numerous American Methodist churches.
Several, selected significant Methodist churches in the U.S. are:
Church ImageDatesLocationCity, State Description Barratt's Chapel 1780 built1972 NRHP-listed Frederica, Delaware "Cradle of Methodism", where Methodism first took hold in the United States in 1784 Lovely Lane United Methodist Church 1884 built1973 NRHP-listed Baltimore, Maryland Romanesque Revival style, known as the Mother Church of American Methodism St. George's United Methodist Church 1767 built1971 NRHP-listed Philadelphia The oldest Methodist church worship in continuous use in the United States.St. George's United Methodist Church Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 1794 built1972 NRHP-listed Philadelphia Romanesque style, The founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
For a more complete list, see List of Methodist churches in the United States.
References