| Building Name: | Weymouth Bay Methodist Church |
| Location: | Weymouth, Dorset, England |
| Geo: | 50.6228°N -2.4481°W |
| Status: | Active |
| Architect: | Saunders Architects of Southampton |
| Year Completed: | 2009 |
Weymouth Bay Methodist Church is a Methodist church in Weymouth, Dorset, England. It was built in 2008–09 to replace the Maiden Street Methodist Church of 1866–1870 which was gutted by fire in 2002.[1]
Weymouth's Methodist circuit originally occupied a church at Maiden Street, which was built in 1866–1870. The church underwent a £160,000 restoration in 1999, but was gutted by fire in January 2002.[2] Owing to the high costs of restoring the building, the congregation supported the construction of a new church. A site at Melcombe Avenue was purchased in 2005, occupied by a former Christian Science Church, and the Maiden Street church was sold for development in 2006.[3] [4]
Plans for the new church, able to accommodate 240 people, were drawn up by Saunders Architects of Southampton. It was designed as a multi-use building, functioning also as a meeting space for community groups and a venue for performance and exhibitions. The congregation used St Nicholas' Church in Buxton Road and then Westham Methodist Church until the new church was built.[5] [6]
The original planning application for the church was rejected by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council in February 2006 over concerns of the building's "overbearing impact" on neighbouring properties and its potential to "adversely affect the character of the area".[7] Revised plans were then approved in April 2006, which included the removal of the intended third storey and a reduction of the height of the church.[8] [9]
Construction of the church began in October 2007 by Acheson Construction of Dorchester.[10] The foundation stone was laid by Rev. David Plume on 1 March 2008.[5] The £2.5 million Weymouth Bay Methodist Church was opened on 25 March 2009 by Rev. Stephen Poxon, the President of the Methodist Conference.[6] [10] The opening of the church saw the uniting of the congregations of the Maiden Street and Westham Churches.[5]
The church is built of red brick, with quoins and dressings of Portland stone and Welsh slate on the roofs. The two-storey church has an octagonal roof and pyramid roof light, with a hipped roof over the rear section and a single-storey front porch. The ground floor contains the sanctuary, side chapel, foyer, vestry, Sunday school room, meeting room, kitchen and toilets. The first floor has a gallery overlooking the sanctuary and a hall.[9] The church received the 2009 Weymouth Civic Society award, who praised the "thoughtful design", "impressive interior" and "excellent community facilities".[11]