Calne Primitive Methodist Church

Bury Street, Calne Wiltshire

Calne Primitive Methodist chapel
Christian Messenger 1920/44
postmark 1946
postcard belonging to Steven Wild
Return from Calne Primitive Methodist chapel in the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious Worship
Provided by David Tonks

In 1886 the Primitive Methodists bought the former Wesleyan Chapel in Back Road, and began services there in 1887. The chapel closed in 1965, when the congregation joined with the Silver Street (former Wesleyan) Chapel. The Chapel in Back Road has now been demolished.

The first Primitive Methodist society was formed in Calne in 1830, and began meeting in 1832 in a cottage in or near Back Road. In the late 1830s services were held in the former Unitarian chapel in Back Road, afterwards again in the cottage, and from 1846 again in the chapel. On Census Sunday in 1851 two services were held: 72 people attended in the afternoon, 148 in the evening.

The return was completed by Robert Webb, the steward.

Comments about this page

  • The chapel was re-registered for worship (Worship Registration number 71920) on 30 October 1969 under the name “The ‘U’ Centre” by a group “who object[ed] to be designated by any distinctive religious appellation” (the offical form of wording required on the certificate). The new trustee of the chapel appended the interesting description “‘U’ stands for Universal, Undenominational” as well as noting the fact that it was an ex-Primitive Methodist Chapel. It was deregistered again on 4 December 1979. The house now on the site, at coordinates 51.433917, -2.001696, looks very late-1970s/early-1980s in style.

    By Matthew Davis (03/09/2020)
  • I’ve added the return from the 1851 Census of Places of Public Religious Worship

    By Christopher Hill (28/10/2019)

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