Why visit Methodist Heritage sites?
Methodism has a history that spans 300 years. The Methodist Church recognizes over 120 historic places of significance in its story in Great Britain. Besides being a Protestant Christian religious movement that has inspired the faith of millions of people worldwide, it has influenced significant social reform, and its members were a driving force in Britain's industrial and retail revolution in the 19th century. British high streets are full of well-known chains of shops founded by prominent Methodists.
As a result Methodist buildings, monuments and preaching places are scattered throughout our landscape, but are often 'hidden gems', waiting for you and your group to discover. Explore their simple architecture, experience their warm hospitality and hear their stories of religious revival, persecution and riots, and inspiration to do good and share the love of God.
Have faith in our heritage for a great day out!
Where to visit...
Methodism is blessed with four museums, which each meet national standards for visitor care and collection management :
Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum
Englesea - Brook Ln, Englesea Brook, Weston, Crewe CW2 5QW
Many of our other heritage sites also warmly welcome visitors, to an individual place or to follow one of our trails to several chapels or heritage centres. Each entry on our Heritage sites website and in the FREE Methodist Heritage Handbook includes information on when you can visit and the facilities provided.
Facilities
These sites all have contacts and people waiting to greet you, many offer guided tours and can arrange specially-tailored activities. Most have on-site or nearby facilities to ensure your group's comfort.
Activities & guided tours
Our heritage sites are always keen to offer age-appropriate guided tours and to enthuse children, in particular; our main sites all offer National Curriculum-linked programmes, often with period role play.
All our key sites offer guided tours that they would be happy to tailor to your group's interests.
For church groups, we can arrange for a worship service, often to include Communion if you wish, or provide opportunities for visitors to reflect on their experiences.
There may be a charge in addition to the basic group tour rate for additional services, such as catering or special activities.
What next?
Days out - To arrange a day out for your group at any of our heritage sites, please contact the destination directly and as early as possible in advance. Don't be shy! Tell them what you would like to see and do and they will try to help.
Regional & national tours
Methodism is unique in that our heritage sites are all linked by one story; the life and legacy of Methodism's most prominent founder, the Revd John Wesley. At all our sites the heritage of Methodism is linked strongly to the contemporary mission of the Methodist Church.
Why not take a tour of...
Regional & national tours
Wesley's Britain
Take a tour around Britain and you can follow John's life from his childhood home in Epworth to his education in Oxford and the birth of Methodism as the 'Holy Club'.
You can see his early preaching places and visit his first purpose-built building in Bristol.
Visit John's last home in London, find out from our Museum of Methodism how Methodism was nurtured at his 'New Chapel' and spread worldwide, and reflect at his grave.
Then see at Englesea Brook Primitive Methodist Museum (near Crewe) how, influenced by American revivalism, a working-class Methodism grew and flourished in the Victorian age.
Or marvel at the vision of the Edwardian Wesleyan Methodists as they raised £1m guineas and built the impressive, domed Westminster Central Hall in London (opposite Westminster Abbey) as a centre for mission and outreach to the poor.
Cornwall
Cornwall has dramatic coastline, brooding moors, and a wealth of pretty towns and famous landmarks such as the Eden Project and Land's End. But Cornwall was also once the most Methodist county in England. Its mining heritage, also acknowledged for its importance and influence worldwide, was intimately linked with Methodism. And the 'west country' was to give rise to its very own kind of Methodists, the Bible Christians (celebrating 200 years in 2015). Cornish miners were highly valued from South America to South Africa and Australia and took their Methodism - and Cornish pasties - with them!
Newcastle
Newcastle was John Wesley's northern base. His original building no longer exists, but the city and surrounding countryside still offers plenty of little-known, but significant Methodist heritage. How about three very contrasting days:
- In the city of Newcastle with its quayside (where Wesley preached), The Baltic arts centre, shops and restaurants and a Methodist heritage trail
- at Beamish open air museum, where you can step back in time and experience living history
- and then take a trip out to the Dales and visit exquisite country chapels and the Weardale Museum?
More time? Then walk part of Isaac's Tea Trail and experience the rugged landscape of the Dales and reflect on the life of the early itinerant preacher.