Chillington Methodist Church
In the early part of the nineteenth century William O'Bryan, an itinerant local preacher from Luxulyan in Cornwall 'decided' that the Bible was the only authoritative doctrine for the church. That coupled with a growing dissatisfaction of the organisational structure of the Methodist Church caused him to 'break away' and organise a group who later called themselves 'Bible Christians'. The first Bible Christian Chapel was started in 1815 at Shebbear in North Devon. Such was the charismatic and preaching power of this man that very quickly more Bible Christian Chapels were set-up stretching from Cornwall through Devon across the rural counties of Southern Britain to the outskirts of London. Its message even spread to the North East of England.
Later in 1836 William O'Bryan left for the USA to continue his evangelistic work there.
In 1850 the Bible Christian Ebenezer Chapel (Ebenezer; the stone 1 Sam.7-12) in Chillington now the Methodist Church was opened. It is sad in a sense to relate that 'without him' the Bible Christian Movement in England slowly collapsed. In 1907 most of the 'Methodist Sects' joined together and at a conference held in 1932 most of all the so called 'sects' became and formed what is now the Methodist Church. Chillington Methodist Church was without a pipe organ until 1984 when an instrument from Hatherleigh in North Devon was presented as a gift. The vestibule on the west side was also added in 1984. The 'New room' on the east side was completed in 1992.The Quinquennial inspection in 2000 identified wet rot in the floor and evidence of woodworm. The Church closed its doors for services in May 2002 to allow the builders to move in. Services were held in Torcross Chapel until February 2003 during which time the organ and pews were removed, the wooden floors throughout the building replaced with solid floors, new ceiling and roof fitted to replace the asbestos sheets and tiles. The church reopened in March , the Dedication service being held on 14th March.. The church can now accommodate about 70 people for worship.
|
|
Today the church is spiritually strong but has a small congregation and like other churches has experienced a decline in numbers due to the pressures of modern life, however it continues to offer a service to the people of the parish and surrounding area. Services of worship are held every Sunday at 10.30am. Coffee is served every Thursday from 10 to 12.00 for the parish and a monthly luncheon club for the 'lonely and elderly'.
For further information please contact:
Church Secretary: Mrs L Bates 01548 580795 e-mail c/o: ron.bates@totalise.co.uk
Minister: Rev. John T Beadle 01548 852073.
Other churches and places of worship in the parish
