John Wesley preached in a summer-house near Chertsey on 5 February 1750. The crowd was so large that the main floor beam broke; Wesley continued preaching in the grounds. Wesley preached in Chertsey itself on 12 February 1750.

Wesleyan Methodists

The Wesleyans first met in a chapel in White Hart Yard around 1846. In 1860 Joshua Richards of Addlestone promised to build a chapel for £500 if the trustees could find a suitable plot. Land in London Street was secured but the contract to build was given to Mr Newlands of Cobham. Work started in April 1863. On the 10 June 1863 the commemoration stone for the replacement chapel was laid in London Street by James S. Budgett (1823-1906). The chapel was opened on Friday 23 October 1863. In 1867 the premises were extended with the building of a school, and this was further extended in 1906. In 1980 the church closed and united with St Peter’s Anglican Church.

Primitive Methodists

In 1876 the Primitive Methodists held a series of open air services in the Goosepool area of Chertsey. The Society met in a small room. Through the efforts of John Wilson, a Primitive Methodist Missionary, the Society grew and a plan was made to build a chapel. Freehold land on the corner of Station Road and Laburnum Road was given by Mr James Johnson (1802-1885) an Anglican of Addlestone Moor. The memorial stones were laid on Wednesday 31 October 1877. The chapel was built with seating for 200 people. On Whit-Sunday, 9 June 1878, a service to celebrate the opening of the chapel was held. On Thursday 29 July 1880 around 100 Primitive Methodist children and teachers marched in the Chertsey and Addlestone National Sunday School Festival parade celebrating the Centenary of the Sunday school movement. In November 1888 the Revs Barzillai Beckerlegge (1854-1934) and Isaac Brentnall (1857-1920) held a series of revival services in the chapel. The chapel closed in 1936 and joined the London Street Methodist Church.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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