STAYING TRUE TO WESLEY’S VISION
Methodist chapel to be restored to former glory
GIVEN IT was designed by the founder of the Methodist movement and meant to be not only a place of worship but a hub for social change, John Wesley would no doubt approve of plans to restore a historic Malton church to its former glory.
One of only 41 Grade II*-listed Methodist buildings in Britain, a £1m fundraising campaign will be launched this week to usher in a new chapter for Malton Methodist Church, which can trace its roots back to the late 18th century.
Paul Emberley, who is spearheading the project, said: “This building is very special.
“There is only one other building like it in the Methodist Church’s Yorkshire North and East District and only three other churches of its kind in the whole of Britain which are older. It is a rare surviving example.”
Records show that Wesley preached in Malton in the 1770s.
As Methodism took hold, he was keen to establish permanent places of worship and worked closely with architect and fellow preacher Rev William Jenkins on the design of the building.
Mr Emberley added: “People in rural communities were attracted to Methodism’s social ethos.
“Wesley asked the Rev Jenkins to design a place to seat a thousand or more – and it did, although the benches in the downstairs area would have been a little cramped.”
The restoration project was born following an extensive public consultation in 2016, which confirmed what many in the pretty North Yorkshire town already knew – it suffered from a dearth of community spaces.
With the ball now rolling, plans include adapting the existing 550-capacity space so it can also be used for concerts and conferences and opening a large cafe, whose income will help maintain the bricks and mortar, which are of national importance.
Mr Emberley added: “This project is about more than just saving the building, it’s about providing new spaces for the community. In its 200-year history it has always been at the centre of Malton life. It is a key building in the town and it is right that now in the 21st century we find a way to revitalise it.”
For the last 250 years, the population of Malton has remained static, hovering around the 5,000 mark.
However, thanks to a series of new housing developments, latest estimates show the population is expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2027, which in turn will lead to an increased demand for community spaces.
The centrepiece of the newly restored building, which will still function as a church, will be the return of a large pipe organ. The original instrument was removed 20 years ago, but the project team believe they have found a fitting replacement.
Mr Emberley said: “The instrument we want to install has an amazing story and strong Yorkshire connections. It was commissioned by the Royal Normal College for the Blind for its concert hall in south London and was built in 1877 by Foster and Andrews of Hull. Its provenance is significant as it’s the instrument on which the famous blind-from-birth Yorkshire organist and composer Alfred Hollins first learned to play. Hollins was considered a superstar in his day. He was dubbed ‘Alfred the Great’ and we hope it will inspire future generations of musicians.”
For more details on the project visit maltonmethodists.org.
In its 200-year history it has always been at the centre of Malton life. Paul Emberley, who is spearheading the church project.