Aspects of the history of South Road Methodist Church

It is known that Methodism in Timsbury stretches back to John Wesley himself, who we know rode from Bristol on a pony to preach at Timsbury Parish Church. Being refused admission he promptly preached on the grass verge outside. On another occasion he visited Grove Colliery at Timsbury Bottom to preach to miners as they finished their shift.

The existence of the Church building in 1805 is due to the efforts of John Evans and John Barnes who pooled their resources to purchase land, and travelled the local area begging materials, and arranging free transportation of stone and timber.

South Road Methodist Church

The earliest established church in the village (formerly known as Wesleyan Chapel) has always been strong musically and at one time, Oliver Janes, the founder conductor of the Timsbury Male Voice Choir was its Choirmaster. Among quite large membership were several long established families who for generations had been connected with worship and work; the Greenlands, Heals, Shearns, Naish, Moon and Thatcher. The Sunday School superintendent was the village postman Mr William (Bill) Beecham from another of the old families. The organist was Mr Ruddick, manager of the Co-operative Shop. After the war there were about 80 on the Sunday School register, 40 under 11 and 40 over 11 years of age. This seems to show that the trend away from Sunday School was beginning as there should have been more under 11′s than over 11′s. 

Interior of South Road Methodist Chapel

Local Lay preachers were augmented by those from further afield. Before the motor car became so general the preachers from Bristol came to Clutton Station by train and were brought to Timsbury by the late Mr ‘Sonny’ Coombs in his hire car. When the buses came the evening service finished in time for the preacher to catch his bus back – shorter sermons resulted.


Reproduced from ‘The Timsbury Book’ by kind permission of Timsbury Parish Council.


Page published on: 3rd January, 2009
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