Axbridge Review: Campaign to save the Axbridge Methodist Church for the community begins with an open afternoon and a public meeting

By Harry Mottram: More than 100 residents of Axbridge braved torrential rain to visit the town’s Methodist Church in West Street when a campaign to save the church for the town was launched after religious services ended due to a diminished congregation.

Paul Hughes and Pete Harding both residents of West Street have appealed to the town’s residents to support the idea of repurposing the Gothic church as a possible arts centre, community hub or other communal centre. By opening its doors on Sunday afternoon on the 24^th November 2024 for a couple of hours the public could see the huge potential of the early Victorian building built in 1850 at a cost of £500.

The church is more than its outward appearance suggests with a small front garden and yard, a side entrance to back rooms below the church proper with sheds, kitchens, toilets and storage space. The school room is spacious having been used for rehearsals, social gatherings and a playgroup in the past. It links to the kitchens and storerooms along a corridor accessed by steps outside and from the vestry. The main body of the church includes a balcony area for the choir or more members of the congregation, a period organ, a magnificent raised preaching area suitable for musicians or singers, a cleared area by the entrance and a vestry room to the side of the organ accessed by steps.

Paul Hughes said it would cost rather more than £500 (the original cost) to either buy it from the Methodist Church authorities, to lease it, rent it and more important to modernise it fit for the chosen purpose. He indicated the running costs of just keeping the building as it is would be high with utilities and structural maintenance but putting in accessible toilets, a modernised kitchen, heating and a sound system or facilities for concerts, films and performances would all need to be taken into account. However, there are precedents for the conversion of churches into arts centres or similar communal buildings. The Mission Theatre in Bath was originally a place of worship as was the New Theatre in Exeter and the Buckfastleigh Methodist Church became a community centre this autumn when a community Interest Company (CIC) was founded to raise cash – and with the help of a Lottery Grant were able to buy and convert the church.

With the public taking a look at the building there is now a public meeting in Axbridge Town Hall on Monday 25^th November 2024 at 7.30pm in order to see if the project can be taken further. Essentially it needs people to volunteer to make it happen – and that could mean the formation of a CIC or initially an action group to create a feasibility study.

There is a Save The Axbridge Methodist Church Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/groups/583188354145782

Community Interest Companies: https://www.gov.uk/set-up-a-social-enterprise

An example of what could happen in Devon: https://moorimaginationcollective.org.uk/

Timeline

1739: John Wesley begins to preach a new form of evangelical Christianity in open-air events – he and his brother become known as Methodists

1797: Methodist New Connection founded as the church splits from the Church of England

1812: Various Methodist branches are formed eventually unifying in 1932

1850: Axbridge Methodist Church is constructed with a school room below

1851: John Clark of Bath installs a new church organ

1886: Improvements made to the building

1907: New stained glass windows installed

1910: New boiler and heating system installed

1950: Centenary service held

2010: A playgroup uses the school room in the basement

2024: Church services end

Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.

Harry is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube etc

Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk