The Primitive Methodists were the first to mission Woking, opening a chapel in College Road in 1863, replaced by one in Walton Road. In 1871 a mission band from Guildford brought Wesleyanism to the town with open-air services near the railway station. Their first chapel was opened the following year in what is now known as Chapel Street. This was replaced by a new chapel in Commercial Road in 1884, with school premises and a manse opposite in 1893. Growth in the population and in the society led to the building of a third, even larger, chapel on a different site in Commercial Road, opened on 18 January 1905 by the President of the Conference, Silvester Whitehead. This was the scene of a flourishing Methodist community, which sustained a lively witness and service to men and women in the Forces through two world wars.
Following Methodist Union in 1932, the Walton Road church closed and the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist societies were united at what became known as Trinity Methodist Church. But by the 1960s redevelopment of the town centre and changing patterns of church life led to the closure of Commercial Road and the building of its replacement on a new site in Brewery Road,designed by Edward D. Mills and Partners and similar to their design for the Anglican cathedral in Mbale, Uganda. The new church, opened on 12 June 1965, is reminiscent of Wesley's preference for octagonal chapels, but modern in design. A stained glass window by Gillian Rees Thomas features Wesley's claim to look on the whole world as his parish. A refurbishment in the 1990s saw the removal of its large central pulpit and, with further changes in 2014, has made for greater informality in worship and extensive use of the premises by various organisations during the week.
Category: Place
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