Sutton Bridge United Methodist Free Church

zoom

Sutton Bridge UMC & Schoolroom 2022

D. Secker

Located on Bridge Road, and generally known as the “Free Methodist”, it was opened 6th December 1865 by members of the Reform movement. They had occupied the Wesleyan chapel here for the previous 14 years, re-naming it the Wesleyan Reform Chapel.

The opening of their own place of worship (UMFC) eased tensions between themselves and the Wesleyans. A sign of this came when the latter provided their schoolroom for the grand tea following the opening service.

The Rev R Bushell of London preached at the inauguration. Over time, visits by the well-known Rev John Myers of the UMFC Connexion were eagerly awaited and warmly received.

A Sunday school, built on the east side of the chapel in 1900, provided ample room for a range of social activities. This venue was opened by former MP Halley Stewart, and the Rev F Ellis of London preached.

Musical accompaniment by piano and harmonium was largely replaced in 1910 by a two-manual pipe organ built by Rest Cartwright of London (on closure it went locally to Sutton St James’ Baptist Church).

From the time of its opening it was a member of the Wisbech United Methodist Free Church Circuit (Norwich District). In keeping with national changes it became the United Methodist Church in 1907. Except for the brief period between union and closure – when it was part of the Holbeach Methodist Circuit – it had operational connections with three counties.

The chapel closed in 1935 on the ex-Primitive becoming the sole Methodist Church in Sutton Bridge. The buildings are now commercial and residential premises.

NB In 1896 the Wisbech circuit recorded a UMC presence in nearby Guy’s Head, a hamlet part in Sutton Bridge parish. There was no chapel in that place although reports of UMC activities in a barn at Guy’s Head Farm, owned by Charles Burgess, could indicate that for a time it may have been a preaching room. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the Anglican School-Church at Guy’s Head (long gone) could have been used by the Methodists.