The villages of
Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall and Curland, Somerset, England.

Curland Methodist Chapel

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A Chapel History
Chapel Picture Gallery
The Bible Gateway
Parish Magazine

Photograph right
by Mrs Christine Bruinsma.
March 2004
see also Gallery

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Curland Methodist Church celebrated its 175 anniversary on the 9th June 1996. The church was packed to capacity and the service taken by Rev. Jim Lyle, Rev. Irvin Vicent and Rev. Herbert White. The Bickenhall Bells played " Prelude to the 'Te Deum' by Charpentier and "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven. Recognition of former Ministers and Members was covered by The Rev. Irvin Vicent and personal messages from Former Ministers congratulating Curland Church were played on tape  by Mr John Cleverdon. The service concluded with the following hymn :-

This, is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as His power,
And neither knows measure nor end.

Sadly in the past 6/9 months following a Quinquennial inspection, the following work was highlighted as requiring immediate attention :-
A. The balcony and staircase should not be used until supporting timbers have been repaired.
B. The continuing infestation of wood boring insects should be addressed.
C. Broken tiles to the main roof should be repaired.
The estimated cost for this work was £20,000. Services are currently being held in the Sunday School Room until a full Structural Engineers report is obtained in March of this year 2004. However pledges have been received from former Sunday School pupils and members of the church amounting to £6000 which will go some way to wards the £20,000. At this present time there is a big cloud hanging over the Church but hopefully the 200th anniversary will be celebrated in 2021 and local people will not be looking at a block of flats or some residential building.

Contributed February 2004 by Gordon Spiller, Marlborough, Wiltshire

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