Methodist Chapel

Tolpuddle Methodist Chapel

There are two chapels in Tolpuddle as well as the Parish Church.

The Old Chapel
The Old Chapel (Methodist) was built in 1818 and used by the Tolpuddle Martyrs for worship. It still stands but has not been used as a chapel since 1844 when its lease expired. It is a Grade II* listed building and was acquired in 2015 by the Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust (TOCT). It is currently being restored and it is anticipated it will reopen in the late Autumn 2022.
See our page "Tolpuddle Old Chapel" for more information.

The Current Methodist Chapel

The current Methodist Chapel was built in 1862 and is a Methodist Heritage site. It is open daily between Easter and October and is sited at the eastern end of the village on the south side of Main Road.
Minister: Revd Stephanie Jenner
Tel: 01305 262421
revstephjenner@live.com
Or Archivist

Tel: 01305 852345

In front of the Chapel stands a memorial arch to the Tolpuddle Martyrs erected by the TUC dating from 1912 and it is a listed monument. The Chapel has recently been renovated and contains a renewed display of the Methodist faith and history of the Martyrs. Most of the Tolpuddle Martyrs were Methodists and three were Local Preachers; their striving for social justice was born out of their faith. An exhibition in the Chapel explores the Christian perspective of their story and visitors are welcome.



At the 2013 Tolpuddle Festival, a large wall hanging illustrating the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs was unveiled by Rosemary Gameson and Dianne Berry of the Dorchester Stitchers. The work was commissioned two years previously by the Friends of Tolpuddle Methodist Chapel. The hexagonal design is inspired by the shape of the bronze plaque honouring the Martyrs in the Shire Hall in High West Street, Dorchester and can be seen hanging in the Chapel.

Stitched illustration of the Martyrs' story - Dorchester Stitchers

The Circuit has a Covenant with the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist in Tolpuddle and as part of our agreement to worship and work together, there is a monthly Methodist Service, normally in the Parish Church (9.30 am on the second Sunday of each month) but several times a year in the Methodist Chapel.



Ref and thanks to:
http://www.methodistheritage.org.uk/tolpuddlemethodistchapel.htm
https://www.dsw.church/tolpuddle.html