Islington, Brittania Fields Methodist New Connexion chapel

The ministers of the London Circuit of the Methodist New Connexion organized the building of Britannia Fields chapel, at junction of Packington and Arlington streets, with aid from Josiah Bates and Richard Barford. The architect was John McLandsborough (1820-1900), who was a Civil Engineer from Otley.

The foundation stone was laid on January 2nd, 1854 by Josiah Bates, and the article attached gives a full report of what he said on the occasion, which inckudes a clear statement of the principles and values of the Methodist New Connexion.

The first minister (1854-1855) was William Booth, long before he founded the Salvation Army.

Built to seat 550, although the 1940 accommodation returns are for 450, nineteenth century congregations were of a respactable size: in 1886 a morning congregation of 165, and evening of 171 was recorded; and in 1903 the figures were 92 and 146. After then numbers fell, possibly due to migration out of the area. Following the Second World War there were further declines, and the church closed in 1964. It has since been demolished.

There is a report of the 75th anniversary services in The United Methodist of 1929

Sources:

Methodist New Connexion Magazine 57. 1854 pp80-82

The Religious census of London London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1886

The Religious life of London London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904

The United Methodist Feb. 5, 1929 p69

https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk › api › datastream?publicationPid=uk-ac-man-scw:15m897&

Methodist Church buildings: Statistical returns 1940

Baggs, A P, Diane K Bolton, and Patricia E C Croot. “Islington: Protestant nonconformity.” A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8, Islington and Stoke Newington Parishes. Eds. T F T Baker, and C R Elrington. London: Victoria County History, 1985. 101-115. British History Online. Web. 5 April 2023. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol8/pp101-115.