Sutton St Edmund's United Methodist Free Church

D Secker

St Edmund’s is a rural and agricultural parish on the border with Cambridgeshire.

Primitive Methodists, and Baptists, were the nonconformist movements in this place until the United Methodist Free chapel opened in 1870 on Broadgate’s Chapel End – this named after the parish church, formerly a parochial chapel.

It appears that the Primitives had disbanded by the end of the century, leaving the Baptists on the outskirts of the parish (old South Eau Bank) and the UMF in the village centre.

This small, red brick building seated 125. It was licensed for marriages in 1872 – and well used for such.

In line with national changes it became the UMC. Originally, it was a member of the Wisbech UMFC/UMC Circuits, and then Holbeach Methodist Circuit.

Depleted membership and attendances by the 1960s led to its closure, the final service being held on 26th April 1970.

The building has since been sold and converted for residential use.