What a wonderful day it was at Salem Methodist Church on Saturday 20th September! As the oldest Methodist church in the Bristol District, Salem was delighted to welcome both church members and friends from the wider community.

The day was filled with delicious food, lively conversations, and the beautiful sounds of live organ and piano music. Visitors enjoyed a thoughtfully prepared booklet about the church’s history—and even had fun with a quiz that celebrated Salem’s heritage!

A huge thank you goes to everyone who helped organise the event and to all who came along to share in this memorable occasion.

A Rich Methodist Heritage

Salem is a small village chapel with a friendly congregation, rooted in Methodism yet actively working with local churches.

Salem’s history is remarkable. John Wesley recorded in his journal on 17 September 1787 that he preached on the foundation of a new preaching house in Winterbourne, despite heavy rain and a strong wind:

“I preached at Winterbourne on the foundation of a new preaching house. There was much rain before I began, and a violent wind all the time I was preaching: yet some of these I trust, did come to the marriage.”

Wesley had visited Winterbourne several times before—on 6 September 1750, 2 November 1752, and 15 October 1761—but it took years for the congregation to build a dedicated preaching house. The land for the chapel was purchased by Robert Curtis, a local hatmaker, for 10 guineas from Mr George Rolf of Thornbury, with the condition that the chapel had to be built within a year or the land would revert to its original owner.

The preaching house was officially registered as a room set apart for the service of God in January 1796 and became known as the Methodist Chapel, welcoming generations of worshippers and visitors alike.

Salem Methodist Church remains a beacon of faith and fellowship in the village, connecting past and present through worship, community, and celebration.