Wendling Primitive Methodist chapel

The notes with Keith Guyler’s photograph of Wendling Primitive Methodist chapel associate its development with four dates.  There is explanation on the Wendling Parish Council website.

The first chapel cost £100 to build. It was a wooden structure with a tiled roof and measured 24’ x 17’. Mr Guyler dates it from 1846 and says it became a shop and was also used at some point by the St John’s Ambulance organisation – although the Parish website says it has disappeared.

In fact, the opening of the first chapel is recorded by James Langham in the 1849 Primitive Methodist magazine.. Thomas Warner of East Dereham gave a plot near the railway station and a chapel costing over £100 and  measuring 24′ x 17′ was built.  It opened on June 11th 1848 and the opening  preachers were G Goodrich (Swaffham), Mr Balls, T Bunn and G Tetley. They also started a Sunday school.

The first chapel was replaced in 1877 by the chapel in the first photograph. It is currently a house – The Old Chapel

At the start of the 20th century there was a Band of Hope of 130 members and the society had grown so much it needed larger premises. In 1915 they moved across the road to a new chapel.

This was further developed in 1928.

The chapel is still in use in 2015.

locations: 929938 and 921939

Reference

Wendling Parish Council website accessed 27th August 2015

Primitive Methodist magazine 1849 January page 52