The Wesleyans of Englefield Green in Surrey followed a common pattern when bringing the message of Methodism to the locality. They first built a mission hall, with a school, but ensured that they had acquired sufficient land for further extension. In 1903 they felt that they had reached that point in Englefield Green, but the land they had available influenced the design of the new building. As the plan shows, the church was built onto the front of the existing hall. The stone-laying ceremony for the new Wesleyan church took place on 11 June 1903, with the building opened on Thursday, 3 May 1904.
William Howard Seth Smith (23 August 1852 – 30 August 1928) was an architect best known for his contributions to churches and schools in the Surrey area. The church is described by English Heritage as being in an Art Noveau style, but the domed tower and entrance porch bring to my mind Siculo-Norman architecture. It is constructed of brickwork, rendered externally with Portland cement, relieved by patterned bands. The tiling was red when built.
At the time of the 1940 Statistical Returns, it could seat 250, which is the number it had been intended to house. It is no longer in use as a Methodist church, the congregation having entered into a local ecumenical partnership with St. Jude’s church in 2002.. It is, however, a Grade II listed building, and still in use for community purposes. Details of this use, and a photograph of the church in the early part of the Twentieth century may be found on this website
The photograph shows the church when it was still in use, and is from Keith Guyler’s collection in British Methodist Buildings.
Grid Ref: SU995710
Reference: The Building News vol. 87, 1904, page 360
Statistical returns … as at July 1st 1940. Manchester: Methodist Church, Department of Chapel Affairs, 1947
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