Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2014/January 2015 | Page 47

ISLAND LIFE MAGAZINE

'Fresh' life for
Methodist church

A

t a time when many church
congregations are in decline, it
appears Freshwater Methodist
Church is managing to reverse the trend
following the opening of the new purposebuilt building for worshippers and the
local community.
For many years two buildings were
being used by Methodist worshippers in
Freshwater; the old Methodist Church on
the Avenue, and Wesley Hall - formerly the
Provident Chapel - which was basically a
small concrete community hall.
But with both falling badly into disrepair,
and the former failing its statutory fiveyear inspection report that would have cost
in excess of £200,000 to put right, several
options were considered. Then in 2010,
around the time that Rev. Phyl Fanning
arrived in Freshwater, it was decided to
sell the church on the Avenue; demolish
Wesley Hall, and use the site to create a
new, 21st century replacement.
The re-build got underway in October
last year, with Rev Fanning explaining:
“Apart from the asbestos, all of the
materials that made up the walls of Wesley
Hall and all the stonework that were the
foundations of the original Provident
Chapel, were used in the creation of the

new church, saving money and avoiding
hefty disposal bills.
The new church was due to be handed
over in May of this year, but because of
appalling weather conditions last winter,
it was finally opened and dedicated in
September.”
The church has been built with movable
seating, so it can be used for more than
just a place of worship. Rev Fanning
added: “Phase one has now been
completed, with the creation of a mode &