Alnmouth Methodist chapel, Chapel Lane, Alnmouth

I am very grateful to Granville Mercy for alerting me to the existence of this chapel, although my wife tells me we visited it a few years ago. Granville used his camera, however.

This building, at the end of a terrace of houses, appears to be the original Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Alnmouth. A building in the same position is marked as a Wesleyan Mwthodist chapel on the Ordnance Survey 6 inch map in 1864.

It was built, or opened, in 1826. Rev. David Edgar reported that on 30 March 1851 the morning service attracted 115 worshippers, and an evening service was attended by 71. As the building was thought to be able to accommodate 130, they were doing very well. So much so, in fact, that a new chapel capable of seating 220 was built in 1890-91.

Although the 1891 chapel still exists it appears to have closed in recent years, but the congregation still meet, in what seems to have been their former home. They are now part of the South East Northumberland Ecumenical Partnership, on whose website can be found this photograph of the interior

We would be grateful for any further information about this chapel. Is the story of a building that has come full circle true? Did the Methodist Church hold onto the property for over 100 years, or was it repurchased?

Sources

TNA HO 129/559/13

Returns of accommodation provided in Wesleyan Methodist chapels … 1873