Southwell Methodist Chapel
Southwell Methodist Chapel is a former Wesleyan Methodist chapel of mid-19th century origin in Southwell. Built in 1849, the chapel is situated at Southwell Road, between terraced cottages overlooking the centre of the village. After closing in 1997, the chapel was sold and converted into a holiday let known as Chapel Cottage. It has been a Grade II listed building since May 1993.
The chapel is a small rectangular building, built with hammer-dressed stone blocks and a slate roof. In their 1993 survey, Historic England described the building as a "modest but complete manifestation of the importance which Methodism played in the island's social history". The 1851 Census of Places of Religious Worship recorded the chapel as being able to accommodate a congregation of 103.
History
Portland's original Methodist following was established in 1746 when Rev. Charles Wesley visited the island and stayed at the home of William Nelson. Although the society dissolved after Nelson's death in 1770, the arrival of Methodist preacher Robert Carr Brackenbury to Portland in 1791 saw a new, larger following formed, with the assistance of George Smith. During 1792, Brackenbury had a small chapel built at Fortuneswell to serve residents at Underhill and a house hired at Wakeham to serve Tophill. The latter was replaced two years later by a purchased one, while after Brackenbury's death, his wife, Mrs Brackenbury, had a purpose-built chapel erected at Wakeham in 1825.
The Methodist following on the island continued to grow into the early 19th century and residents of Southwell were soon served by converted residences. A Sunday School was established there, while services were held at the house of Charles Whittle. Later in 1818, William Pearce's residence in the village was registered as a place of worship. From that year onwards, services would either be held at the house or outdoors.
Plans for a purpose-built chapel to serve Southwell were made in the 1830s, when a plot of land was purchased in 1836. The following decade onwards saw Portland's Methodist circuit continue to flourish, prompted by the transformation of Portland Roads into a harbour of refuge, along with the various government works linked to it and the Royal Navy's increasing presence there. A small chapel to serve Southwell was finally erected in 1849 and opened in June that year. A new harmonium, the cost of which was raised by the efforts of the Southwell Wesleyan Band of Hope, was opened in the chapel on 12 January 1887.
The chapel continued its religious function until 1997. It was then sold and planning permission obtained in April 2000 to convert the building into a private dwelling named Chapel Cottage. Internal alterations and the installation of a new external doorway were approved the following year. For a period of time in the 21st century, the former chapel was available as a holiday let, but has now reverted to use as a private residence. The Southwell Room of Easton Methodist Church's hall is named after the chapel.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Ancestry.com - Genealogy - Methodist Chapel, Southwell - Paul Benyon - website page
2) Ancestry.com - Genealogy - Portland Year Book 1905: Churches & Chapels etc. - Paul Benyon - website page
3) British History Online - An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset - website page
4) Exploring Portland - Southwell Village - Geoff Kirby - website page
5) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - Methodist Chapel, Southwell Street - website page
6) Methodism in Portland and a Page of Church History - Robert Pearce - Charles H. Kelly (publisher) - 1898 - book
7) Portland Genealogical Records & Parish Registers (forebears.co.uk) - Historical Description - website page
8) Portland Holiday Let - Chapel Cottage, Portland Holiday Cottage, Dorset - website page
The chapel is a small rectangular building, built with hammer-dressed stone blocks and a slate roof. In their 1993 survey, Historic England described the building as a "modest but complete manifestation of the importance which Methodism played in the island's social history". The 1851 Census of Places of Religious Worship recorded the chapel as being able to accommodate a congregation of 103.
History
Portland's original Methodist following was established in 1746 when Rev. Charles Wesley visited the island and stayed at the home of William Nelson. Although the society dissolved after Nelson's death in 1770, the arrival of Methodist preacher Robert Carr Brackenbury to Portland in 1791 saw a new, larger following formed, with the assistance of George Smith. During 1792, Brackenbury had a small chapel built at Fortuneswell to serve residents at Underhill and a house hired at Wakeham to serve Tophill. The latter was replaced two years later by a purchased one, while after Brackenbury's death, his wife, Mrs Brackenbury, had a purpose-built chapel erected at Wakeham in 1825.
The Methodist following on the island continued to grow into the early 19th century and residents of Southwell were soon served by converted residences. A Sunday School was established there, while services were held at the house of Charles Whittle. Later in 1818, William Pearce's residence in the village was registered as a place of worship. From that year onwards, services would either be held at the house or outdoors.
Plans for a purpose-built chapel to serve Southwell were made in the 1830s, when a plot of land was purchased in 1836. The following decade onwards saw Portland's Methodist circuit continue to flourish, prompted by the transformation of Portland Roads into a harbour of refuge, along with the various government works linked to it and the Royal Navy's increasing presence there. A small chapel to serve Southwell was finally erected in 1849 and opened in June that year. A new harmonium, the cost of which was raised by the efforts of the Southwell Wesleyan Band of Hope, was opened in the chapel on 12 January 1887.
The chapel continued its religious function until 1997. It was then sold and planning permission obtained in April 2000 to convert the building into a private dwelling named Chapel Cottage. Internal alterations and the installation of a new external doorway were approved the following year. For a period of time in the 21st century, the former chapel was available as a holiday let, but has now reverted to use as a private residence. The Southwell Room of Easton Methodist Church's hall is named after the chapel.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Ancestry.com - Genealogy - Methodist Chapel, Southwell - Paul Benyon - website page
2) Ancestry.com - Genealogy - Portland Year Book 1905: Churches & Chapels etc. - Paul Benyon - website page
3) British History Online - An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset - website page
4) Exploring Portland - Southwell Village - Geoff Kirby - website page
5) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - Methodist Chapel, Southwell Street - website page
6) Methodism in Portland and a Page of Church History - Robert Pearce - Charles H. Kelly (publisher) - 1898 - book
7) Portland Genealogical Records & Parish Registers (forebears.co.uk) - Historical Description - website page
8) Portland Holiday Let - Chapel Cottage, Portland Holiday Cottage, Dorset - website page
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