Netherhay Methodist Chapel is a

Methodist Chapel Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...

in Netherhay, near

Drimpton Drimpton is a village in the English county of Dorset, situated approximately northwest of Beaminster and southwest of Crewkerne in Somerset. It lies within the Civil parishes in England, civil parish of Broadwindsor. Drimpton is sited on a ...

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

, England. The chapel remains active as part of the South Petherton and Crewkerne Methodist Circuit. The chapel has been a Grade II listed building since 1984. The chapel was built with "dressed stone walls on a chert rubble-stone base". It has a slate roof, which includes some carved wooden barge-boards, added in 1898. A burial ground was established alongside the chapel.

History

Netherhay Methodist Chapel was built in 1838. The funds for its construction was raised by public subscription, while the plot of land had been donated by Henry Northover of Greenham. The chapel was opened on 2 October 1838 by Rev. Thomas Lessey. In 1887, a schoolroom was added to run Sunday school classes, and in 1898 the chapel was restored and a porch added. By the late 20th century, the chapel was under threat of closure due to the declining number of worshipers. In the early 2000s, the remaining members of the chapel began looking at restoring and modernising the chapel, while ideas to broaden its use by the community were considered. After a period of fund-raising, the chapel underwent renovation and modernisation in 2007–08. The chapel remains active as part of the South Petherton and Crewkerne Methodist Circuit and also regularly holds exhibitions and workshops. An adjoining community room is used for small events and meetings, and two small studios are let to local artists.

References

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External links

South Petherton and Crewkerne Methodist Circuit website
Methodist churches in Dorset Grade II listed churches in Dorset 1838 establishments in England Chapels in Dorset