OUR
CHURCH
Lansdowne church was opened in 1866. It owes its existence to
the Reverend William Morley Punshon, a well-known Methodist minister
of the time, who was the instigator of "the Wesleyan Watering Places
Chapel Building Fund", a scheme to assist the building of chapels in
"places of summer resort". Without a grant of £850 from
the fund, it would have been much more difficult for the members of
those days, numbering about 30, to have raised the £2680
required for such an imposing building.
HOW TO
FIND US
From the town centre head down the main street (Church St),cross the
traffic lights at Graham Rd and continue down the main road.
Lansdowne Crescent is about 200 yards down on the left, just past
Manor Park Sports Club. The Church is immediately visible at the
lower end of the Crescent. A detailed map is given on the Contact Us page.
SERVICES
Sunday
10.30-11.30a.m
6.30-7.30pm
Weekday Communion First Tuesday each month at 9.00am
Minister: Rev Alison Richards
THE METHODIST
MOVEMENT
The Methodist church was founded largely through the efforts of the
brothers John (1703-1791) and Charles (1707-1788) Wesley. In
1729, whilst students at Christchurch College,Oxford they founded
the Oxford Holy Club for worship, study and the organisation of
visits to the sick and imprisoned. It was an austere society with
strict codes of conduct and study methods based on those of
the University; in consequence, fellow students began to call them
'Methodists'. Charles and John were members of the Anglican
church and remained so for the rest of their lives. After
graduation they continued their roles in the Church, Charles
becoming a curate in the 'Methodist' parish of St Mary's Islington,
where he began to write many of the hymns for which he is now
famous. He also began the important task of defining much of
the theological content and liturgy of the Methodist Movement.
Meanwhile, John had begun a roving ministry, touring the country on
horseback and by carriage. He was a charismatic preacher and a
political reformer, whose impact on English social life in the mid
18th Century, drove many of the social reforms of the day. He
became increasingly disillusioned with the Anglican church and the
Church was increasingly wary of Wesley and his followers. In
1784 he set up the first Methodist Conference, designed to ensure
continuation of the movement after his death. The increasing
acrimony between the Methodists and Anglicans led finally in 1795,
four years after Wesley's death, to a split from the Anglican church
and the formal, legal recognition of Methodism as a 'non-conformist'
Church.
In recent times. reconciliation and the recognition of common aims
has led to an ecumenical movement bringing Anglican and Methodists
(and those of other denominations too) closer together.
Lansdowne church is an active participant in the Malvern branch of
the 'Churches Together' Movement.
A more detailed history of the Wesleys and the Methodist movement
can be found on our Methodism page
THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them - St Matthew
Chapter 19, Verse 20
For if you forgive
others the wrongs they have done, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you - St Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 14
OUR
CHURCH