History of Methodists in Twerton - The Early Years
Methodists were meeting in Twerton at least as early as the 1790’s. Their leader in 1806 was Jasper Jones, and in 1812 their membership stood at 32. In 1850 two chapels existed in Twerton. The Wesleyan Methodist Church at Penny Buildings built in 1816 and the Primitive Methodist Chapel at Prospect Buildings built in 1846.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was a well-organized body with the authority and decision making firmly in the hands of the ministers. By 1850 a few ministers felt that too much power was held by too few people and in particular the autocratic Dr. Bunting. They decided to publish ‘fly sheets’ which they distributed amongst the Wesleyan people. The sheets made it quite plain what they thought of the situation and whilst not directly mentioning Dr. Bunting, implicating him by referring to B..T..G.
At the Conference of 1850, many supporters of Dr. Bunting insisted that all ministers state publicly that they were not responsible for the ‘fly sheets’.
Four refused to answer, thus condemning themselves. Three of them were expelled from the Wesleyan Church immediately while the fourth The Rev. James Bromley was expelled a year later.
A breakaway group led by these four ministers formed the Wesleyan Reform Society.
It was known that in Twerton in December 1850, this society held house meetings. We are fortunate in that there is a record of the Baptisms performed by this group. It was also known that the Rev. James Bromley had been a minister in the Bath area.
Research has proved him to be a part of the Wesleyan Reform Society in Twerton and a founder of the Zion Chapel, which was then known as the Wesleyan Reform Church.
In 1852 James Britton, a member of the Wesleyan Reform Society, purchased land where the Zion Chapel stands for £80. This land was subsequently sold for £150 of Lawful British Money to William Freeman and others, who were the first Trustees of the Church. By 1853 the cottages and outbuildings that previously occupied the site had been demolished and a chapel erected to be used as a place of public worship.
An extract from the deed states:
The said chapel to be “held upon trust to permit and suffer the said chapel and premises to be at all times hereinafter used and enjoyed as and for a place of worship for the service of Almighty God by Protestant Christians known as Wesleyan Reformers and for the teaching and preaching of the Christian religion as contained in the Holy Scriptures.”
© Twerton Fellowship 2011
Registered charity number 1116341
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was a well-organized body with the authority and decision making firmly in the hands of the ministers. By 1850 a few ministers felt that too much power was held by too few people and in particular the autocratic Dr. Bunting. They decided to publish ‘fly sheets’ which they distributed amongst the Wesleyan people. The sheets made it quite plain what they thought of the situation and whilst not directly mentioning Dr. Bunting, implicating him by referring to B..T..G.
At the Conference of 1850, many supporters of Dr. Bunting insisted that all ministers state publicly that they were not responsible for the ‘fly sheets’.
Four refused to answer, thus condemning themselves. Three of them were expelled from the Wesleyan Church immediately while the fourth The Rev. James Bromley was expelled a year later.
A breakaway group led by these four ministers formed the Wesleyan Reform Society.
It was known that in Twerton in December 1850, this society held house meetings. We are fortunate in that there is a record of the Baptisms performed by this group. It was also known that the Rev. James Bromley had been a minister in the Bath area.
Research has proved him to be a part of the Wesleyan Reform Society in Twerton and a founder of the Zion Chapel, which was then known as the Wesleyan Reform Church.
In 1852 James Britton, a member of the Wesleyan Reform Society, purchased land where the Zion Chapel stands for £80. This land was subsequently sold for £150 of Lawful British Money to William Freeman and others, who were the first Trustees of the Church. By 1853 the cottages and outbuildings that previously occupied the site had been demolished and a chapel erected to be used as a place of public worship.
An extract from the deed states:
The said chapel to be “held upon trust to permit and suffer the said chapel and premises to be at all times hereinafter used and enjoyed as and for a place of worship for the service of Almighty God by Protestant Christians known as Wesleyan Reformers and for the teaching and preaching of the Christian religion as contained in the Holy Scriptures.”
© Twerton Fellowship 2011
Registered charity number 1116341