St John's Methodist Church, on Ponderlaw Street, Arbroath, Scotland, was founded by John Wesley on 6 May 1772.[1] The nave is octagonal and the church has been nicknamed Totum Kirkie from 'totum', an eight-sided spinning top, and 'kirk', the Scottish word for church. It is a listed building and the second-oldest[2] Methodist church in Scotland.
| St John's Methodist Church | |
|---|---|
 | |
  St John's Methodist Church Location of St John's Methodist Church in Angus | |
| 56°33′36.8″N 2°34′43″W / 56.560222°N 2.57861°W | |
| OS grid reference | NO645410 |
| Location | Arbroath, Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Methodist |
| History | |
| Founded | 6 May 1772 |
| Founder(s) | John Wesley |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Category B |
| Designated | 11 October 1971 |
Architecture
editSt John's is an octagonal church — a style that was preferred by John Wesley.[3][4] The interior of the church has not been altered; however, the church was extended in 1882 when a porch and gallery were added. A church hall was built in 1896.[5] The Lifeboat Window is a memorial to the loss of the RNLI lifeboat Robert Lindsay (ON 874) and six crew members in 1953.
The building became a Category B listed building on 11 October 1971.[2]
Manse
editThe Church's former manse, now Wesley House, located next door, is also a listed building.[6] It was built as a single-storey building in 1772; an upper storey was added in 1869.[3]
George Scott Railton (1849 – 1913), the first Commissioner of The Salvation Army and second in command to its founder William Booth,[7][8] was born in the manse. He was the son of Methodist missionaries, Lancelot Railton and his wife, Margaret Scott.[9] A blue plaque marks his birthplace.
Archives
editArchives relating to the church are held by Archive Services University of Dundee as part of the Arbroath and Montrose Methodist Circuit Collection.[10][11]
See also
edit- St Andrew's Parish Church, Arbroath (Church of Scotland)
- Church of St Mary the Virgin, Arbroath (Episcopal)
References
edit- ^ "St John's Methodist Church, Arbroath". Scotland's Churches Trust. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "St. John's Methodist Church, 15 Ponderlaw Street (Category B Listed Building) (LB21147)". Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Arbroath Octagonal Chapel". Methodist Heritage. Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ Serjeant, Ian. "Historic Methodist Architecture and its Protection". buildingconservation.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ "St John's Methodist Church, Arbroath". Scottish Church Heritage Research. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Wesley House, Ponderlaw Street (Category C Listed Building) (LB21148)". Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Railton on the Salvation Army International Heritage Centre website
- ^ 'The General: William Booth' By David Malcolm Bennett, Contributor: David Malcolm Bennett Published by Xulon Press (2003) pg 96 ISBN 1-59467-206-7
- ^ Elizabeth Baigent, ‘Railton, David (1884–1955)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2005
- ^ "Arbroath and Montrose Methodist Circuit". University of Dundee. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
- ^ "MS 26 Methodist Church, Arbroath and Montrose". Archive Services Online Catalogue. University of Dundee. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
External links
edit