John Wesley preached in Canterbury on many occasions, and in Ashford in 1771. A Wesleyan Methodist meeting in Wye is first recorded in 1811 and the present chapel was built in 1869. Following Wesley’s wishes, Sunday services have been held in the afternoon and/or evening, enabling Methodists to attend morning services at the Parish Church. Today the Churches work closely together, for example the Benefice Office is in the Methodist vestry.
As a Listed Building, the Victorian exterior is little altered, but the interior was transformed in 1981. In addition to an attractive octagonal chapel, seating 60, there are four other rooms which are in constant use for religious, cultural and social occasions, including meetings of Wye Parish Council.
The ‘Upper Room’ over the vestibule is an appropriate venue for weekday services, such as the Celtic morning prayer on Fridays. The Maundy Thursday Communion led by the Revd. John Makey was a particularly moving occasion.
The ‘Wesley Room’ with its modern kitchen is the favoured venue for social occasions, such as the ‘Options Club’ and meetings of the Wye Arts Association. Each Saturday there is a coffee morning, called ‘Open House’, which is an important village meeting place.
For details contact : geoff@chapman.invictanet.co.uk.
geoff@chapman.invictanet.co.uk