Although Clacton-on-Sea was not developed as a seaside town until 1871, there was a Wesleyan presence in the area centred on Great Clacton, which is a mile inland from the present Clacton-on-Sea.

Wesleyan Methodists

A Wesleyan society in Great Clacton appeared on the 1794 Manningtree Circuit plan, but it does not appear to have survived very long. The Society was revived in 1822 by the ministry of Revs James Gartrell (1764-1844) and William Pollard (1795-1839). A wooden chapel was built to seat 120 and opened on 8 November 1824. A Sunday School was established later and the chapel was enlarged in 1876; extensive restoration followed in 1902.

In 1875 the Clacton-on Sea Wesleyan Circuit was formed out of Manningham Circuit. The Trinity Society was the head of the Circuit. After meeting in the Assembly-Room for a few years, on 10 April 1877 the foundation stones were laid for a chapel to seat 500, on the site given by Messrs Harman, Young, and Page, on the corner of Pier Avenue and Rosemary Road. The stones were laid by Sir Francis Lycett (1803-1880), John Bawtree, Esq., and George J. Sizer, Esq. The chapel was opened on Tuesday 11 September 1877. A Sunday School was added in 1886-87 and on Monday 27 June 1887 a Wesleyan Day school was opened in the premises with Mr A. E. Brown as the headmaster. A new Wesley Hall was added in September 1931.

Primitive Methodists

There was a PM Society in Great Clacton from around 1845. After worshipping in a cottage from 1859-63, the Society secured land and held a foundation stone laying ceremony on 20 April 1863. The chapel was opened on 7 June 1863 and enlarged in 1882.

The Society built a chapel near Magdalen Green in Clacton-on-Sea in 1863. In May 1899 a site for a new chapel was offered, and the foundation stones were laid on the corner of Osyth Road and Old Road on Whit-Monday,19 May 1902. The chapel was opened on 11 February 1903 and the school premises followed on 10 August. At the time of Methodist Union the chapel was named Zion Methodist Church. Around 2018 Zion closed and the Salvation Army took over the building.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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