List of Methodist churches


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.

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.

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:
ChurchImageDatesLocationCity or townDescription
R. Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church1836 built
Niagara Falls, OntarioNamed in honour of Robert Nathaniel Dett
Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church1855 built
St. Catharines, OntarioLinked to Harriet Tubman.
British Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ontario1854 built, rebuilt 1856, rebuilt 1963
Windsor, OntarioFrom 1856 to 1963 the BME church was an active church in its original location, 363 McDougall street.

Singapore

ChurchImageDatesLocationCity or TownDescription
Wesley Methodist Church5 Fort Canning RoadSingaporeOldest Methodist church with an English-speaking congregation in Singapore

United Kingdom

The first Methodist churches were in Norwich, in Rotherham, in Whitby, and in Heptonstall.
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."
ChurchImageDatesLocationCity or TownDescription
St. John's Methodist Church1772 built
Arbroath Angus, ScotlandA 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.
Wesleyan Church, Aldershot1874-77 built
Grade II* listed building		Aldershot, HampshireBuilt 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 Chapel1859 built
Altarnun, CornwallA typical building reflecting the values expressed by Jobson.
Wesley's Chapel1777–78 built
Islington, LondonKnown 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 Hall1905-11 built
Westminster, LondonBuilt in order to commemorate the centenary of the death of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.
Heptonstall Methodist Church1764 built
West YorkshireOctagonal 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. 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 Church1861-62 builtPreston, Lancashire, EnglandDesigned by Poulton and Woodman, opened 1862, seating for 900, closed 1984.
Preston Central Methodist Church1817 builtPreston, Lancashire, EnglandActive, Methodist church whose building was one of the first public buildings in the country to be lit by gas.
Surrey Chapel, Southwark1783 built
1881 demolished		LondonIndependent 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 Chapel1841 built
1944 demolished		London
West Street ChapelFirst leased in 1743 by John WesleyLondon
West London Methodist MissionEstablished in 1887 under Hugh Price HughesLondon
Bethesda Methodist Chapel1819 built
1983 Grade II-listed		Stoke on Trent
Brunswick Methodist Chapel1820 built
1987 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:
ChurchImageDatesLocationCity, StateDescription
Barratt's Chapel1780 built
1972 NRHP-listed		Frederica, Delaware"Cradle of Methodism", where Methodism first took hold in the United States in 1784
Lovely Lane United Methodist Church1884 built
1973 NRHP-listed		Baltimore, MarylandRomanesque Revival style, known as the Mother Church of American Methodism
St. George's United Methodist Church1767 built
1971 NRHP-listed		PhiladelphiaThe oldest Methodist church worship in continuous use in the United States.
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church1794 built
1972 NRHP-listed		PhiladelphiaRomanesque style, The founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

For a more complete list, see List of Methodist churches in the United States.