This was an area in which Methodism was, and remained, relatively weak. The Sussex-Hampshire border in particular was sometimes referred to as a 'Methodist desert'. Predominantly rural, with compact Anglican parishes, it was largely unaffected by the Industrial Revolution.

John Wesley spent little time here, apart from winter forays into east Kent (e.g. to Canterbury and Dover) and along the Kent-Sussex border, where Methodism was first introduced (e.g.Tunbridge Wells, Rye), where societies had been formed by Thomas Mitchell in the 1750s. Until 1790 Hampshire was part of a widespread Salisbury Circuit, which included the Isle of Wight and Dorset. Population growth was slow, except in Portsmouth and Southampton, where the older Dissent was already established. The later nineteenth century saw the growth of suburban congregations in the metropolitan parts of Surrey and Kent.

The Bible Christians came along the south coast in the 1820s, gained a firm foothold on the Isle of Wight and from there missioned Portsmouth and Southampton, but failed to penetrate the hinterland, apart from the Farnham area. A Portsmouth District was formed as early as 1826. Other missions were launched further along the coast and in Kent, beginning in the Medway area, from where both London and Brighton were missioned.

As a result of northern initiatives, Primitive Methodism came into Hampshire in the 1830s from its base at Shefford, Berks and was centred on Micheldever and Andover. Its main success was among the impoverished agricultural labourers in the era of the 'Swing' riots. At the same period the Hull Circuit initiated missions in the coastal towns and on the Isle of Wight.

Neither the New Connexion nor the later Reform movements made any significant impact on the South-East. In 1851 the Religious Census recorded 685 Methodist places of worship in the SE Division (including WM: 432; PM: 156, mainly in Berks and Hants; BC: 81). By 1989 there were only 380 churches. Total attendances reported in 1851 were 131,947 (8.1% of the population), with evening services (usually the best attended) totalling 58,872 (3.6%). In 1989 adult worshippers ranged from 0.63% of the population in Berks to 0.51% in Surrey. Membership was highest in Berks (0.82% of the population) and lowest in Sussex (0.67%).

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Place
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