Heritage: The history of Timsbury's Methodist Chapel

We have no information about any happenings in the village during the seventeenth-century Civil War but it seems some people had strong Puritan leanings. From the Restoration in 1660 to 1672 nonconformists were not permitted to meet to worship, but from 1688 Protestant dissenters could apply for places for meetings to be licenced.

The first surviving licence for Timsbury was granted in 1710 for the house of Joseph Arnold. Later applications were granted for the houses of Richard Glaspell in 1785; the house of Thomas Haynes near the church in 1786; and the house of William Trusler and Arthur Fielder in 1813. Richard Sharpe, (1665-1705) who later married the niece of Thomas Warren, (founder of United Reformed Church) grew up in Timsbury, praised the Timsbury vicar, Timothy Goodakre (died in 1714) for some of his sermons but still preferred to travel to Romsey or North Baddesley to hear more puritan preachers.

The opening of the new chapel in 1954 (Image: Contributed)

Methodism was founded in the mid-18th century by John Wesley and spread very rapidly.

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In 1815, a cottage in Chapel Lane was purchased from Mary Blundell for the use of the local Methodists.

The cottage was used as it was until 1868 when a new chapel building was constructed on the site at a cost of £284. Substantial repairs and improvements were made by the builder Mr Gradidge in 1894, including rebuilding the front of the chapel.

However, 50 years later the Methodist Chapel was damaged by a German bomb which dropped on Timsbury on Sunday, July 14 1940. Initial assessment thought that little damage was done to the chapel and repairs were carried out in 1942 by C Waterman and Son of Station Road, Romsey.

After the war, a further claim was made to the Methodist War Damage Committee for over £200 to cover more substantial work.

Plans for the new chapel, drawn by John Davies (Image: Contributed)

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The final claim was paid in 1946. However, the local Methodists were not satisfied with the repaired chapel and decided to commission a new building ten years later.

The architect for the new chapel was John Davies who also built a number of houses and bungalows locally. The chapel was reopened with ceremony in 1956. 

Sadly, declining active members and easier transport into Romsey led to its closure in 1982 when it was sold and converted into a private house.