Wesley Methodist Church, Chester

The Wesley Methodist Church stands in St John Street, Chester, a modest red-brick building with slate roofs. It was completed in 1811 after Thomas Harrison’s plan proved too small and William Cole II took over as architect and main contractor. In 1906 the Lockwood brothers extended the church, turning it round so the entrance now faces the street and creating a chancel at the far end. The front wall is symmetrical, with a nine-light arched window above two-storey corner pavilions. Inside, tall windows line each side and galleries rest on Ionic columns. A 1914 stained-glass window by Gamon and Humphrey fills the east end with colour, while a 1926 war memorial window by H. G. Hillier commemorates earlier conflicts. The organ, built by J. J. Binns in 1926 and enlarged in 1948, was restored in 2000 by David Wells. The church’s brickwork mixes original brown and later red Ruabon bricks, giving it a quiet dignity. Visitors step from St John Street through the symmetrical entrance front into a calm interior. The galleries and arcades frame the space, and the round chancel arch leads to the altar. Light falls through the tall windows and the large east window, illuminating the stained glass. The organ case and war memorial window add further detail to the restrained yet elegant interior.