History

Bethel Meth.. SN

A brief History of Bethel

"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations:..." Deut.32 v 7 AV/KJ

Bethel was opened as an independent place of worship on the 5th December 1886 with a procession from the previous building(converted farm buildings) on the corner of Sporton Lane and Main Street. The new building being built on two plots of land between Victoria Street and Albert Street it was designed by 21yr old architect John Tomlinson( he became a local Preacher, JP,Chapel and Trust Secretary). Bethel is unusual in The Methodist Church in still being on a it's own private Deed, much to the bane of some past ministers. In 1889 a separate building was built for the Sunday school facing onto Albert Street. The Sunday school had continued in the old Chapel.

In 1906 the church was extended and wings were added giving the building a cruciform shape and an organ was obtained and installed in the 'Head of the Cross' with an area for the pulpit and a choir in front. John Tomlinson was again the architect. A stained glass window in memory of Charles and Matilda Tomlinson was installed in the Victoria Street wing.

Sunday School interior Sunday School viewed from Albert Street

Sunday School Interior

n 1986 (Centenary Year) new toilets (including disabled) and alterations to the kitchen and school room were completed. Over the years Bethel had a great musical tradition, the choir under Mr Ernest Naylor, Mr John Bromley and later Mrs. Ruth Axon performing the oratorios, Handel's Messiah and Judas Maccabæus, Haydn's Creation, Mendelssohn's Elijah and operettas, including Lehár's Merry Widow, Edward German's Merry England and Gillbert and Sullivan's Gondoliers, also musical shows and pantomimes, sadly the choir is no more.