Wesley's Chapel - Methodist Centre

Wesley's Chapel was built in 1778 by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, a Christian movement that focused on Bible study and a methodical approach to scriptures and Christian living, whose preachers were notoriously evangelical.

Wesley helped to organize and form societies of Christians throughout England, Scotland, Wales, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies.

Wesley described his Chapel as 'perfectly neat but not fine'. It is one of London's undiscovered architectural jewels. It is a fine example of Georgian architecture and a Grade I listed building.

In 1891 the Chapel was transformed to commemorate the centenary of Wesley’s death. Marble pillars were donated from Methodist Churches around the world to replace the original pillars made from wooden ships’ masts donated by George III. New pews were also added and the stained glass was installed around this period.

In 1972 the Chapel was found to be structurally unsafe and had to be closed. Between 1972 and 1978 nearly £1 million was raised to save the Chapel from demolition and restore it to its former glory. On 1st November 1978, exactly 200 years after Wesley opened the Chapel, the restored building was re-opened in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Wesley's House next to the chapel is one of London’s finest surviving examples of a small Georgian house. Built by Wesley in 1779, he lived there the last twelve winters of his life, in the summer months he would visit and preach to his Methodist societies round the country. He died in the house on 2 March 1791 and was buried at the chapel a week later. His tomb is in the garden to the rear of the chapel.

Text and photos comes from: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC43VR2

• https://www.wesleyschapel.org.uk/

Fulham - 900 years old church

This wonderful church has been a favourite with film companies over the years.
A church has been on site for over 900 years.
It also has a small cemetery where many an old Bishop of London lay.

Text and photo comes from https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC56PBB
and https://www.allsaints-fulham.org.uk/history.htm

All Saints, Fulham’s ancient parish church, lies within the manor of Fulham. The bishops of London were lords of the manor and their former home was Fulham Palace whose grounds are adjacent to the churchyard. The original parish boundaries encompassed both Fulham and Hammersmith which was only made a separate parish in 1834.

The first written references to a church and parish priest date from the 13th century, and the dedication of the church to All Saints is first documented in 1445 at the time when the present Kentish ragstone tower was being built. It is now the only surviving part of the 15th century building.

By the end of the 19th century the medieval church, though much altered and with galleries on three sides, was both not big enough and liable to regular flooding from the Thames. In 1880 it was decided to demolish it and a new church was designed by the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield. This, the present church, is in the gothic perpendicular style and also built of Kentish ragstone with Bath stone dressings. It was built 3 feet higher than the mediaeval church to avoid being flooded.

The interior of the church consists of a nave, with large clerestory windows above, north and south aisles and chancel. Steps at the west end take one down into the tower. The bells are accessed by an exterior staircase. In 1999 glass doors were installed at the west door but the main entrance is by the porch on the north side. At the east end of the south aisle is the Lady Chapel which was glassed-in in 2009. The organ is at the east end of the north aisle and beyond it are the clergy and choir vestries. Most of the stained glass dates from the rebuilding of the church but the monuments were saved from the old church and reinstalled in the present building.

The parish records, dating from 1674, are deposited with the London Metropolitan Archives.

• For more information please find below leaflet
• All Saints brief guide

Ruislip - the church in West London

The text and photo comes from:

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC30ZTX

The Norman lord, Ernulf de Hesdin, granted the manor of Ruislip and probably its church to the Benedictine monks of Le Bec-Hellouin in 1087. Officials administering this alien priory’s English lands had a small chapel at Manor Farm. Bec’s prestige and a population increase apparently caused the church’s enlargement, but later heavy taxation of alien priories brought about disrepair and confiscation. By 1422, John, Duke of Bedford granted the church’s income to the Dean and Canons of Windsor, who continue to appoint the vicar.

Medieval features survive, notably wall-paintings, two piscinas, a priest’s door and two wooden chests. 15C expansion included a north vestry (demolished) and a tower with later bell-chamber currently housing eight bells and a 19C clock. There are 15C and 16C references to chantry priests. Furnishings include monumental brasses, linenfold panelling, 17C pulpit and livery cupboard, wall monuments and funeral hatchments. The stained glass windows are of 19C and 20C.

Around 1870, Sir Gilbert Scott and Ewan Christian restored the church. A west porch and two lych-gates were added, followed by a 20C vestry, sacristy and hall. The larger former parish is now sub-divided.