Bedworth Primitive Methodist chapel

Bedworth Primitive Methodist chapel
Anne Langley February 2020

A Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in King Street, Bedworth near the railway bridge in 1830 and details are recorded in the 1851 religious census. The chapel had 370 seats but sadly the attendance was not recorded, nor whether there was a Sunday School. The form was filled in by John Orton, surgeon and registrar of births and deaths from Little Heath.

This chapel appears on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps (1880s and 1900s) and in Warwickshire trade directories from 1888 to 1932. It was part of the Foleshill circuit. The building was sold and demolished in the 20th century and a cinema built on the site.

Sources:

religious census HO 129.399.1.1.6; Warwickshire trade directories; OS maps.

Comments about this page

  • The pulpit and pews from this church were moved to Bedworth Wesleyan Reform Church on Bulkington Road Bedworth, and remained there until 2010 when they were disposed of during the church re-ordering.

    By Graham Johnson (24/12/2021)
  • I’ve added the picture Anne supplied of the chapel.

    By Christopher Hill (26/02/2020)
  • I have now found out a bit more about this chapel. The 1830 chapel had 120 seats; it was rebuilt to seat 370 in 1876 in red brick with a slate roof. It was sold and converted into the Star cinema in 1921 (with additions at the front and rear) then taken over and renamed the Plaza cinema in 1947, but this closed in 1958. The building was used by a removal firm for a while but now stands derelict. An application to demolish it in 2014 was turned down. You can still see the chapel windows on the side wall (bricked up). The plaque over the entrance can also be seen (where the render has fallen off) but is now illegible. (Source: entry 46953 on http://www.cinematreasures.org/theaters and site visit 2020).

    By Anne Langley (26/02/2020)

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