‘Let all preaching-houses be built plain and decent’ – John Wesley
An unparalleled visual library of Methodist buildings in Britain – these photographs are the labours of three hobbyists: Bill Brinkley, Keith Guyler, and Bill Smith. Operating between the 1970s and 2000s, these two amateur photographers travelled the country documenting many buildings which have since been altered, demolished, or otherwise lost.
This collection now also features over 100 photographs captured by the Home Mission Division of the British Methodist Church, along with a number of photographs donated by individuals to expand this collection.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishmethodistbuildings/albums
- Over 11,000 freely-accessible images
- Strong coverage in England with further images for Scotland, Wales, and the Channel Islands
British Methodist Buildings is an invaluable source for those interested in Methodism and the history of its built environment. The photographs included in this online resource provide a fantastic insight into the architectural variety of the denomination, how it has changed over time and how its use of different architectural styles has particular geographies. Much more than this these photographs of – often long lost or greatly altered – buildings provide insights into the changing uses of Methodist spaces and the way in which Methodist heritage – although now sometimes hidden – is still integral to Britain’s built environment. Furthermore, the maps, occasional internal photographs and broader urban and rural scenes captured in these photographs also emphasise how Methodist chapels were and are spaces, which gain their meaning through how they are used and in relationship with the broader geographical contexts in which they are embedded.
Dr Ruth Slatter
Institute of Historical Research
We also accept user-contributed images to this project. For more information about joining the British Methodist Buildings Community, contact us at bmb.ocmch@brookes.ac.uk
Westminster Oxford Research Network 