Blyth Methodist Church

In 2002, we celebrated the centenary of the current Methodist Church building in Blyth. Methodism probably started in Blyth around the end of the eighteenth century but it wasn’t until 1803 that a Methodist meeting was first registered.  Meetings were first held in a woodmans cottage, but by 1813 they had to knock two rooms in a house into one to make a large enough meeting house.

The squire was so pleased with the improved behaviour of his tenants and servants, that he provided a site in the centre of the village for a new chapel and this was opened in 1822 at a cost of £300 pounds, twice as much as any other local Wesleyan building in that decade.  The building is still there, adjacent the Barnby Memorial Hall, but it is now a private residence.

In 1871, the Wesleyans acquired a better site with frontage on the main street, from Losker Savage, a local farmer, for £51-4s-0d.  At the end of the century active steps were taken to promote the building of the new chapel. The whole premises, including schoolroom and vestries, cost £1,350-10s-0d and was opened on 13^th November 1902.

In 2000, as part of the ‘Blyth in Bloom’ event, we had a flower festival and opened the church to everyone to enjoy flower arrangements created by people from the many Methodist churches in the Retford area.

Sadly, due to falling numbers attending our services, the methodist church closed in November 2006 and is now a private residence.