A Wesleyan chapel, thatched and seating 68, had stood on The Row since c1800. At some point – probably the mid 1850s – the Wesleyan Reformers took control and joined the Downham Market Circuit of the United Methodist Free Churches (United Methodist Church from 1907).
Foundation stones for a new chapel, on a site next to the old, were laid on Whit-Monday 1899. The building, opening on Wednesday 26th July that year, had seating for 100. John W Collins of Downham built it at a cost of around £235. Known as the “Mount Zion” chapel, it was three bays wide by three deep, and behind it stood the Sunday school hall (extant).
After Methodist union (1932) both chapels in West Dereham, the other being the Primitive on Station Road, remained open.
A disastrous fire occurred shortly before an evening service in March 1939; the stove used for heating proved to be more than efficient in doing its job. Despite locals forming a “bucket chain”, the place was soon gutted. Unhelpfully, the fire engine broke down and had to be towed (actually, pushed by a car). On arrival, its pump failed to work!
With the onset of WWII, plans to rebuild were put on hold. All services from 1945 were held in the Station Road chapel, while Sunday school for both chapels took place in the hall at Mount Zion. By 1955 it was decided to close it for good and join the Station Road congregation.
The son of a former preacher and trustee purchased the property for £175, and converted the hall into a residence.
Sources
Census of Religious Worship (Norfolk) 1851
Downham Market Gazette 26th July 1899
Free Methodist Manual 1899
Lynn Advertiser 21st March 1939
Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical Returns 1940
Lynn Advertiser 31st May 1955
No Comments
Add a comment about this page