Torbay Methodist Churches, Devon, UK

These first worshippers faced considerable opposition and, for a while, met secretly in the kitchen of a private house. A Mr Richard Hunt gave the plot of land on which the Chapel stands,

The foundation stones were laid on 24 February 1818. On Thursday, 05 November in the same year, the completed Chapel was dedicated for 'the worship of Almighty God the preaching of the gospel.' The following Saturday, 07 November, nineteen men and women gathered for a solemn dedication service, and were constituted an Independent Congregational Chapel.

A month after the inauguration of the new church, the Revd John Sewell was invited to become the first minister. He was ordained in 1821, by which time there were 37 members and 100 scholars in the Sunday School.

On 31 December 1831, land adjacent to the chapel was purchased for a School House and Burial Ground, and a Burial Plan dated 1837 records provision for 24 graves in the forecourt of the chapel, and a strip of land at the rear reserved for burial, as well as a small number of interments under the actual Chapel and Schoolroom.

Eventually the Congregationalists decided to build a much larger chapel on a site in Dartmouth Road, and on 18 January 1884 the property was conveyed to the Bible Christian Trustees for the sum of £350.

In 1907 the Bible Christian Connexion joined with the Methodist New Connexion and the United Methodist Free Churches to form the United Methodist Church.

In November 1975, the history and character of the property was recognised when the Chapel and Chapel House were 'Listed' as buildings of special architectural interest.

Eight years later a considerable amount of money was raised to renovate the structure of the Chapel, and a replacement organ was purchased from Twelveheads Methodist Church near Truro. The Official Re-opening of the Renovated Premises and Dedication of the New Organ took place on 05 February 1983.

There are several memorial plaques in the Chapel, and it is interesting to note that the grand-daughter of two of the stalwarts remembered is a member today.

Southfield now has a membership of around 40, and is noted for its hearty singing led by a small but excellent choir, and for the welcome offered to visitors and holidaymakers.