Following their split from the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, a Wesleyan Reform society was established in Shrewsbury in 1850 and Shrewsbury Wesleyan Reform chapel opened in 1853. In time the society became part of the United Methodist Free Church and then the United Methodists – see the Methodist Family Tree here.
The chapel had closed by 1932 – when the main Methodist groupings joined together – and the building has been converted to residential use.
You can read more about the society and see a picture of the chapel on Janet Cox’s Shropshire’s Non-Conformist chapels website here.
Grid ref: SJ 496131
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The pin on the map has been moved, and a more detailed map of the site added.
The pin on the map is on the wrong corner of Albert Street and actually marks the Lancasterian School site.
SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE, 1 April 1853, page 1.
“TO CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS.
PARTIES desirous of giving in Tenders for the ERECTION of the new WESLEYAN [REFORMERS] CHAPEL, Castle Fields, Shrewsbury, may inspect the Plans and Specifications at the Shop of Mr. Peter Wilde, Bookseller, Pride Hill, on and after Monday, April 4th, until the following Friday. Tenders are to be sent in to Mr. P. Wilde by Thursday 14th April …”.
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SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE, 29 April 1853, page 4.
“WESLEYAN REFORM MOVEMENT. REV. J. EVERETT IN SHREWSBURY.
” … Shrewsbury friends are on the eve of erecting a neat and commodious chapel … the foundation stone of the chapel having been laid on Tuesday last, by the Rev. James Everett, one of the first three ministers expelled by the Wesleyan Conference. The site of the building is situate on a part of the Castle Fields Estate, recently purchased by the Shrewsbury Freehold Land and Building Society … The dimensions of the chapel will be forty-nine feet long by thirty-one feet wide, and there will be a school-room and two vestries underneath … the walls will be built of red and white brick, it will be an open roof, and there will be stall seats instead of pews … LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE. The friends assembled … shortly after three o’clock … the service was commenced … Mr. GEORGE then offered up prayer … Underneath the foundation stone, in a morticed stone, was fixed a glass bottle, containing a plan of the building and an account of the proceedings connected therewith … THE TEA MEETING took place at five o’clock in the large room, Severn Street, Castle fields … About 250 persons sat down to tea … the whole of the tables were furnished by Mrs. George, at her own expense; consequently, the proceeds arising fro the sale of tickets will be devoted entire to the chapel building fund. We may also state that Mr. George has contributed £100 to the fund … the room was arranged for the public meeting which commenced at seven o’clock, the chair being occupied by Mr. George … MR. JONES, of Hadley, in moving the subjoined resolution, gave an interesting sketch of the origin of the reform movement in the Wellington circuit … “.
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