Southlands Methodist Church Explained

Southlands Methodist Church
Coordinates:53.9493°N -1.0853°W
Location:York
Country:England
Denomination:Methodist
Website:southlandsmethodist.org.uk
Architect:Charles Bell
Groundbreaking:1 October 1886
Completed Date:13 October 1887
Construction Cost:£6,641

Southlands Methodist Church is a Victorian Methodist church near Bishopthorpe Road in York, England.

History

The foundation stones were laid on 1 October 1886 by Sir W G McArthur KCMG, the Lord Mayor of York, the City Sheriff and other aldermen. It was designed by the architect Charles Bell.[1] It was "the third great Wesleyan chapel" built within York in a short period of time[2] when it opened as 'Southlands Chapel' on 13 October 1887. It has twin towers on either side of an ornamental window and is built of white Walling Fen brick. There was accommodation for 750 persons in a large central hall with fifteen schoolrooms opening upon it; the cost was £6,641 (equivalent to £ in).

An organ was installed in 1893 at a cost of £438 (equivalent to £ in). In 1920 a hall was erected to provide accommodation for the Young Men's Association and other recreational activities; it is a memorial to church members who fell in the First World War and cost £1,753[3] (equivalent to £ in).

In 1905 the membership of Southlands was hit when the York locomotive works moved to Darlington, with the relocation of 2000 workers.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: . New Wesleyan Chapel in York . York Herald . York . 14 October 1887 . 18 June 2015 .
  2. Royle, E. (1987). Nonconformity in Nineteenth Century York. Borthwick Publications. p. 21
  3. Book: A History of the County of York: the City of York . Protestant Nonconformity . 404–418. Victoria County House . London . 1961 . P M . Tillott . British History Online . 2 May 2020.