John Wesley visited Reigate several times, but found it unfruitful ground, comparing its residents unfavourably in 1770 with those of Dorking as 'dull indeed as stones'.
The first Wesleyan chapel was not opened until 1858 in Nutley Lane. It was replaced by the present High Street church in 1884, a Sunday School having been started in 1878. Membership of the Society at the time was no more than 30-40, but by the 1920s this had increased to about 140. After World War II the interior of the church was refurbished, with a central aisle and the organ, installed in 1899, was rebuilt. A new 'Joseph Rank Hall' was built at the rear of the church in 1950s with support from the Rank Trust. Membership reached 329 in 1962, with a flourishing Sunday School in the afternoon.
Discussions with the Congregationalists next door about a possible united church in a new building came to nothing and the Congregationalists moved to the present Reigate Park URC site.
John Wesley's Journal:
December 1770: 'About a hundred attended at Reigate in the evening, and between twenty and thirty in the morning. Dull indeed as stones; but cannot God "out of these stones raise up children unto Abraham"?'
December 1771: 'I went on to Reigate Place… I preached in the evening to a small company on "It is appointed unto men once to die." All seemed moved for the present. They saw that life is a dream; but how soon will they sleep again?'
November 1774: 'I … had a larger congregation than ever before.'
November 1775: 'I preached … the next evening at Reigate Place, I think to the largest congregation that I have seen there. But I still fear we are ploughing upon the sand; we see no fruit of our labours.'
Category: Place
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