Rochester is a town on the River Medway, south-east of London. Until 1998 it had city status, and still has a medieval cathedral.

John Wesley visited Rochester several times, but is not recorded to have preached there.

The Wesleyan Society in Rochester was formed by 1760 and the city was the head of a circuit from 1790. The first chapel was built in 1770, in the High Street. This was replaced in 1810 by the Bethel Chapel, which was renovated in 1875 and 1886 and acquired a Sunday school and vestries in 1896-7. Bethel closed in December 1951, when a new chapel was opened in City Way. This was itself rebuilt in 1964 and refurbished in 2016.

The Osborn family were leading figures in Rochester Wesleyanism in the early nineteenth century. George Osborn (1764-1836), a draper, was a Class Leader and Circuit Steward; his son was the Rev. Dr George Osborn.

The United Methodist Free Churches also had a presence in Rochester, using and then purchasing the former Vines Congregational Chapel in Delce Road. After sixty-two years of Methodist occupation, this chapel closed in 1927 and was taken over by the Elim Pentecostal Church.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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