Shirrell Heath Methodism

In the 1850’s and early 1860’s there was a group of people from the Southampton Primitive Methodist Circuit / Winchester Mission who used to meet in Shiril Heath (Shirrell Heath as now called). This was at a small cottage in a lane off of the High Street or in the open air under the trees.

In 1864 the Methodist of Shiril Heath built a brick chapel on the High Street. It was called Zion Chapel and cost £134. The Chapel was used for over 100 years, serving as the Sunday school room from 1917 when the iron Chapel was erected. It was then replaced by the current brick building in 1930. In 1975 the old Zion Chapel was pulled down in order that the current hall could be built, which opened in 1976.

In September 2011 work started to knock down the kitchen, toilets and front of the Church. So that the work to start the renewing and extending the premises. During that period we were greatful to St John the Baptist Church (Angilcan) for letting us use their building for some of our groups and St John the Baptist School (Waltham Chase) for letting us use their hall for our services on Sunday's.

The weekend of 24/25 March 2012 the building was re-opened. Tom Clymer passed the key to Revd Bryan Coates for him to open the building. 'Let the doors of the church be open, may the Love of Christ dwell within this house and may all who enter it find peace, Jesus  said "I am the door, whoever comes in by me will be saved"'. The Revd David closed the opening ceremony  with prayer.

During the afternoon we had a BBQ and opened the building so people could look around the building. During the afternoon we had over 300 people visit.