STFIELD 12 ST. L RE FEORSTAL Y ’\ CEWTTE , , ; ‘F . K 3PA ‘Kg ‘ UCP CA V» v Telephone: 27 462503 i ‘ 4....»-" ¥—...——} ———————}€— 21 3.3/f ¢.—-‘“” Lbficv, ?\mc.9’c,, /\ W 1 W W “Jr -/K/"“t(. c...c’\/vt ax ,7 a JV W441 Mbww [\/%,Q[L§CU\l/ CL; KL. L/“ F500-‘HQ L.S<:e( LA 71” V L:I».‘..'7.\’w am“/7 /(>79: ?..9__(_._/’ C.C»z»‘~a/Q CM‘ oeé. w» J ‘7 W ““’°’“1, I: )" i/__/L? J/-,¢'_g g._,,’( Q.,{ ( 4-’\—v-2;/V‘: !—\.,vL.s2...:{ [1 _ LRO i;I2,JV ' V ‘ f A f\cL.<.>”c: ¢‘«—-».,e L wx» C£:a\f.€‘(]«,_1,<_~,i/ fi Lg Lg;-,.e,a C,,,%,/ U; ké/5*’/LA/7’Vi£’\v “V «Sb-/\«~Q»%_.,. gg, f~w~—r~—w~- L>»~e 5» «Q; Li; 3~ a R Q 4 z C%W%“ *“*~M~«w 0”! §'uv\r<:2»»—; N v‘<’»«C~fi’L9> C““"’Vb“"“ '7 5M/L’ W,{“'b/_,wVru,..; , ;__ (7é>4L 'LAf&‘ /%/. /Ll}‘Sa~/”£‘( é/(v,,o(/\/ .,W,. [Ex GE’ D»uc.7( ca’ if ~~é“ W i‘\- C,,u<<.(c‘lLC'K. ‘/Lh’L[iQT> OASTF|ELD 12 ST. LAWR CE FORSTAL CAN BURY 4\ is > i D KENT CT1 3PA Telephone: 01227 462503 Lxi‘/xi/C— . W «.1 ,,_,\M/\ OASTFIELD 12 ST. LAWRENCE FORSTAL Q5” Q40 C3 "13’ CANTERBURY Te.e,,::w;2I;2%P:em (Dew I /1/fl Q 3 x QUL UK Alfé & K‘-rot... I’ /I ’ \l”“1"'”L‘ TV» V=~x fiv {S I sir-Lx,_,e~/ix. e‘x\ (€f"'\:i‘.[a¢: Ch fe.9i~»r-—K W ,<2.»\r7:-€,Ju.»-\ K ‘\/(»-¢_l“C&1(L.;:,,‘ « 9 cLs~x H; I/(Lrw 7--'\—~.4 K-Lwfi °’”"“"" ‘*"~ ¢(i“‘ ° ‘’‘:V’‘?'“‘‘ v ».’L“L. Y‘ Gum U/Lzgu um. (W 11; La‘ I L¢..,;_? (JV v’ g.c>L,(~Q (\/cm Kewv R C),L;¢.,{,|/ {§«,vV J’ L»: L c:u«‘w_,.., rLz,q,m ...m,~e,;,,‘ _$Z~.\,Q:_,g;~m7 &:R\ 7% V\E.L®\g{_ ~ Qlasl‘ L""""‘°"‘--w I/g4 3 Fr» ta.) 41 Bridge Down Bridge Canterbury CT4 SBA 23 October 2001 01227 830508 Dear Dr I-Iigginson, Thank you for your enquiry about the Methodist Chapel in Bridge. It so happens that I wrote a little piece last year to add to the Exhibition we put on in the Village Hall for the Millennium (which you may have seen?), and your enquiry has prompted me to look at it again and revise it a little. I am sending it to you under separate cover. It includes virtually all I know on the subject. The exhibition contained photocopies of various documents whose whereabouts are unknown to me: these include the original authority to build from Manchester and the detailed invoice of costs. Most of the rest of the information comes from the Conyngham family papers which are stored at Whitfield. I don't know of anything else: I might have hoped that you could tell me! -Presumably the site of the Chapel was bought from Bifrons, rather than rented: it may even have been donated. I don't know, as there is no record. There is a discrepancy between the estimated and actual costs of some £37, which may account for the site. The Chapel structure itself cost £99. Treasurer at the time was William Perry (b 1856) a grocer- could well have continued until 1908. Secretary was Edwin Lansdell (b 1846) Minister was William Rodwcll Jones - I haven't traced him yet. The Trust Treasurer from 1908 until his death in July 1936 was Mr HG Price, (also the) village grocer, whose shop is now Skippers Restaurant. 1 shall be very glad to know of anything more that you can assemble or uncover. Yours sincerely, 9 . \ CW W Lafg Methodist Chapel - Bridge The first record of Methodism in the Village is a minute dated 1823 authorising one William Fordred to rent a house for Methodist Meetings ‘ at no more than 2/6 per week’. He was obviously successful as a Methodist Society was formed with 14 members in 1892(sic). The March Preaching Plan of 1827 shows that services were held on Sundays at lO30am and 6,.30pm, and 10.30am and 2.30pm on alternate weeks. Thus began the gradual build up to 1984. However the first non-conformist Chapel in Bridge was built by the Primitive lvlethodists in 1868 (The original Treasurers Book is still available) This was situated in Dering Road almost opposite Filmer Road and was built of wood [in use as a dwelling when demolished in 1951]. The Wesleyans meanwhile continued to meet in the rented house until the ‘Iron Chapel’ was built in 1894. There was some controversy with the Chapel Committee in Manchester, who preferred a brick built structure as more economical in maintenance, and if this choice were made, were prepared to advance a loan to assist finances. However should the Trustees persist in their choice of an ‘Iron Chapel’ then no loan would be forthcoming, furthermore they decreed that all the money for the Chapel must be raised before permission would be given for the opening. It must be ‘debtless’. The \/Vesleyans of Bridge were stirred to greater fund raising efforts, and by dint of [a] lot of hard work raised the money. The cost of the building, seating, hymn books, mats and oil lamps amounted to £l39—l 7-O‘/4 (The farthing showing in the costing for matting, carpets etc £1-41-9‘/4 ) ONE HUNDRED YEARS from that momentous occasions for those humble men and women, the church is used for worship regularly, and many village organisations have made good use of the premises. During the Second World War the baby clinic operated from the Chapel and continued until 1987. From oil lamps and coal burning stoves, to gas lamps and fires, to electric lighting and power, gas fired convector heaters and double glazed windows, the church has moved with the times, and plays its part in the community. Pat Grant Transcribed from the text of the ‘Methodist Chapel’ board from the 1994 Bridge Parish Centenary Exhibition Methodist chapeldoc 28 January 1999 r-us: H wuuutre ..... .._M...,. ..uum~.= m at gmous ruramesition ‘ 4 Racepiian roemsl Kitchenflzreakfast roam“! Garden room I Ceilar 4 Beérooms (1 en—s:.:ite} I 2 Bathrcems 1 Swimming poo! {Garage Gardens 5 4 Siahies j Manage and paddmks f Ahaut 9 acres Begian of 23 £25,300 ....._. ‘VH4 ‘.4... "3§s;i Budge £22/Ev’§2 ‘E miéa, fianéerburyr 3 miles, Gentraé Lmdsn S3 A rare apporiunity to purchase .a unique former chapel which has been a Essa? iandm-ark far many years uftes Opera plan kiicfaemsittingldining room I 2 Bedroam:-3 (1 an-suite) _........—:.._._;‘,....,.u............._................ ... arag§ng Mezzanine ~oi°fi-ca/ci-oub'3e bedrcem -1 Bathroom 1 §3’ark%ng i Garden . Region of £395,693