HISTORY OF METHODISM IN TOTTINGTON
1820 Prayer meetings held in private houses
1822 The first Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and Sunday School
started in a room over the village smithy
1829 First Methodist Chapel built on land alongside Market
Street
1867 Day School opened initially in the bottom of the chapel
and then in a room at Spring Mill
1869 New purpose built Day School built on land adjoining
the site of the chapel
1903 The chapel being in need of major repair and being inadequate
in size the trustees resolved to build a new one
1905 New chapel built at a cost of £6,500 and all debts
were cleared by 1911
1939-45 The church fell into disrepair after suffering damage
during the second world war but the congregation rallied round and
repairs were completed
1955 The Golden Jubilee celebrated but already there were
signs of dry rot necessitating further repairs
1993 The Church Council decided that the way forward was to
provide a new modern church and school hall on the site of the existing
school building
1998 Planning application made for the new church but before
it could be resolved both buildings were listed Grade II
1999 After considering all alternatives it was resolved to
prepare a scheme of structural repair and remodelling of the church
building and to sell the school building to help finance the work
on the church
2000 Planning approval obtained for converting the school
building into 10 apartments and the building sold to a developer
2004 The church building closed in August 2004 for the carrying out of a major scheme of reconstruction
2005 Following completion of the scheme, the church reopened for worship in August 2005
