Underhill Methodist Church

Underhill Methodist Church

Underhill Methodist Church (also known as Brackenbury Memorial Church) is a Wesleyan-Methodist church, opened in 1900, located in Fortuneswell village, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. It was built between 1898–1900, replacing a 1792 chapel built by Robert Carr Brackenbury, the founder of Methodism on Portland. The church remains active to date, as part of the Portland Methodist Circuit – which involves two churches; Underhill Methodist Church and Easton Methodist Church.[1]

History

Brackenbury's original chapel (1792)

The church stands out prominently as seen from New Ground at Tophill, with Brackenbury House, the former manse, on the left, next to the church.

The establishment of Methodism on Portland dates to 1746, when founder Rev Charles Wesley lodged with a local stone mason, William Nelson, in Fortuneswell. After his departure, Nelson continued the small group Wesley had converted, however his death in 1770 saw the end of the society.[2] The Methodist branch was revived twenty-one years later in 1791, when Methodist Robert Brackenbury, of Southampton, came to the island. Brackenbury's discovery of Portland was by coincidence, which began when he decided to leave Southampton following the death of his friend and mentor Charles Wesley. He took the first coach he found, and ended up in Weymouth, from which he was then directed to Portland, after hearing folklore of the island's unconventional ways.[2]

Brackenbury purchased his own house in Fortuneswell, and began working in partnership with friend George Smith to establish a Methodist branch on the island. After only a year the pair had succeeding in gathering a substantial following. By this point the frequent meetings held at Brackenbury's house had become increasingly crowded and noisy, and as such the name "Bedlam" has remained attached to that part of the village to date. During that same year of 1791, Brackenbury gained purchased a field at the top end of Fortuneswell, and had a large chapel constructed, along with a minister's house. There was no fundraising for this chapel, and was entirely funded by Brackenbury himself.[2] Though the chapel's construction was quick, opposition from non-believing locals caused problems, and some cases involved violence. The builders would keep watch over their work, as threats to demolish it were made. The opposing locals backed away when their side suggested the chapel could be used for the imprisonment of French convicts. However this never happened.[3]

The chapel opened in 1792, and was the largest meeting place at Underhill of the time. Stuart Morris, a local historian, in his 1985 book Portland: An Illustrated History, described the chapel as "a fine example of elegance and simplicity". During the same year Brackenbury began renting a thatched cottage at Wakeham, purposely for meetings, and once active this cottage became the first location of Tophill Sunday Schools. Brackenbury died in 1818, with his wife continuing his work on the island.[3] One of Mrs Brackenbury's most notable contributions the building of the first purpose-built chapel at Tophill in 1825. It was built entirely at Brackenbury's expense, at Wakeham, and opened on 7 August by George Smith.[4]

Brackenbury School, now the Brackenbury Centre, is located next to the church.

During the first half of the 19th century, Portland's population tripled over 20 years and so new schools were desperately needed. The Wesleyans quickly established a new day school near Brackenbury Chapel, which was opened in May 1845. The school's construction began in 1841, and was designed for 200 children. The land on which the school was built was purchased in 1822, and was a part of Tilley Combe – at one time described as a farm. The school was initiated by Mrs Brackenbury, who upon her death in 1847, would leave £100 to the Methodist School.[5] It took the same name as the chapel, becoming the Brackenbury Day School, and continued to operate into the 20th century, where plans for a new school on Verne Common to replace the aging school were made after the Second World War, though they did not materialise. In 2012 the school became The Brackenbury Centre, which had been renovated and opened to the public as a community centre for art, clubs and socialising. It is not to be confused with the later built Brackenbury Infant School, near Underhill Junior School.[6]

The year before the school opened, in 1844, Brackenbury's Chapel was enlarged. Later in 1869, with a rise in construction around the period, local builder John Patten built a large chapel in Fortuneswell for the "Primitive" Methodists. This later became the Royal Manor Theatre.[7]

Construction of Underhill Methodist Church (1898–1900)

By the end of the 19th century Brackenbury's Georgian chapel was no longer suitable for the increasing congregation. The chapel had fallen into a poor condition, and was too small. The expansion of Portland's population was directly due to the labour-demanding projects of building Portland's harbour breakwaters and the defensive Verne Citadel. As such the Methodist following had expanded greatly, with soldiers, visiting sailors and lads from the training ship Boscowen. During a meeting in 1892 a circular window crashed down, and this finally sparked plans for the construction of a new church. A competition was organised by the society for designs of a new chapel, and the final pseudo-Gothic design chosen had been submitted by the London architect Robert Curwen. The local builder John Patten was given the £3,200 contract, with the foundation stones being laid at the church's elevated site behind the chapel burial ground on 25 May 1898. Two years later to the same date, 25 May 1900, the church was declared open, and given the name Brackenbury Memorial Church. By 1903 the original chapel of 1792 had been demolished.[8]

In 1902, a new organ was added to the church, and the following year a new Wesleyan manse was erected in the village. This was Brackenbury House, located just below the church, on the site of the original 1792 chapel.[4] During the 20th century it became a bed and breakfast, before closing in 2013.[9]

A few years after, Easton Methodist Church was built. At Park Road, a Methodist Chapel had served the Easton community since 1858. However by the early 20th century the roof was in danger of collapsing. It was decided to built a new church at Easton Square, and four years of fundraising followed. The church opened in September 1907, costing almost £8,000.[10] Easton Methodist Church has been Grade II* Listed since May 1993, however Underhill Methodist Church has not been designated as of 2014.[11]

With the important naval base, Portland was a natural target for German aircraft during the war, and Fortuneswell had various cases of raids and bombings. On Sunday morning, 11 August 1940, 50 German planes arrived at Portland, and the attack saw many bombs hit Fortuneswell. The nearby St John's Church escaped damage, although Underhill Methodist Church was badly damaged. The children within the adjoining Sunday school escaped unharmed.[12]

The church, still active today as part of the Portland Methodist Circuit, has Revd Christopher Briggs as the current minister. During the late 1990s renovations were carried out on the church, in order to amplify its beauty and openness. The church has often been used as a venue, and has been host to a number of gigs, and other events such as local art exhibitions.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Farmer, Dave (2014-03-13). "Loving God, Loving You". PortlandMethodist. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Paul Benyon. "Portland Year Book". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  5. ↑ Paul Benyon. "Portland Churches, Buildings and Views". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  6. ↑ "Brackenbury Centre opens on Portland (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  7. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  8. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  9. ↑ Malcolm Watkins (2014-01-22). "Property For Sale Freehold Brackenbury House, Fortuneswell, PORTLAND, Dorset | Propertylink". Propertylink.estatesgazette.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  10. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  11. ↑ "1280713 – The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage". List.english-heritage.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  12. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  13. ↑ Farmer, Dave (2014-03-14). "Underhill". PortlandMethodist. Retrieved 2014-07-23.

Coordinates: 50°33′32″N 2°26′25″W / 50.5589°N 2.4403°W