There will be special anniversary celebrations at a Bridlington church later this summer.
St John’s Burlington Methodist Church will celebrate 140 years and has organised a special anniversary weekend on 6/7th July.
On Saturday 6th July between 9.30 –11.30 am there will be a Heritage display and coffee morning and on the evening starting at 7pm, the Bridlington Excelsior Brass Band will be in concert – admission £6.
Sunday 7th July at 10.30am, a Family Service will be led by former minister Revd. John Hughes now Superintendent Minister in Southampton.
St John’s Burlington Methodist Church is a grade II listed building within the old town of Bridlington. Built in 1884 at a cost of £3,892, its distinctive exterior is built in the Italianate style in pale brick with stone dressing and end turrets with domed roofs.
Originally known as the new St John’s Wesleyan Chapel, the Church was designed by the Architect Joseph Earnshaw and was opened on Wednesday 2nd July 1884 and the first service was held on Sunday 6th July.
The Church is an important landmark in the town and continues to be a spiritual centre for worship and prayer within Bridlington and the Old Town community.
A spokesman said: “At St John’s Burlington Methodist Church, we are blessed in having excellent and very versatile accommodation, including a large hall, a smaller meeting room and several ancillary rooms plus a commercial kitchen. The Church is registered with East Riding of Yorkshire Council Food Services and currently holds a food hygiene rating of 5.These facilities enable the Church to be used throughout the week in supporting both Church based and external user groups from the local and wider community. Our aim is to develop our existing links with Schools, Care Homes, Charity Organisations and to continue to strive in our endeavour to be an encouraging and a welcoming Church to all.”
The original stone laying ceremony took place on Wednesday 9thMay 1883. Eleven Foundation/memorial stones and a number of bricks were laid by Sunday School children for St John’s Wesleyan Chapel, followed by a public tea for more than 600 people in the Temperance Hall (the present Roxy building) and a public meeting at 6.30pm in the old chapel (the present building previously occupied by West BS)
A bottle buried under first the stone contained the Methodist Recorder; the circuit plan; a newspaper; a programme of the stone laying ceremony; a list of trustees; the name of the architect and builder; names of the ministers; an account of the chapel schools; a shilling; a sixpence; a threepenny-piece and a penny.
Burlington Methodist Church name changed in 1932. The church was known as St John’s Primitive Methodist Chapel united with Burlington Methodist Church until its name was shortened in 1932 to Burlington Methodist Church and became St John’s Burlington Methodist Church on 5th July 1970.
There will also be a special concert held on Friday 26th July entitled Music For a Summer Evening at the church. The event takes place on Friday 26th July and stars Soprano Jessica Kneeshaw along with accompanist Heidi Kneeshaw and church organist Stephen Parker.
Admission is £8 and includes light refreshments. For further enquiries and bookings please contact 07540 705886.
