North Weald Methodist

Minister with Pastoral Charge

Reverend Cecil White — 01992 523630 or 07483 147441

North Weald Methodist Church is located on the main road through North Weald village and is in the heart of the village directly opposite the local parade of shops.

We share our minister, Revd Cecil White with 3 sister churches in HAEBEA: Ongar United Reformed Church, Epping Methodist Church, and Epping United Reformed Church.

Sunday Worship

9.30am — Morning Worship

• Our weekly worship is 9.30 am every Sunday. Holy Communion is celebrated monthly.
• We enjoy a fairly free and informal approach to worship, but we aim to offer worship that is dignified and which is characterised by a sense of joy and thankfulness.
• Sometimes, the Minister of our Church or another Minister from our group of churches will lead worship. At other times, a Lay Preacher or Accredited Worship Leader will be the leader. Other members of the congregation take part in various ways and all are encouraged to use their gifts for the glory of God..
• Refreshments are served after the service.
• All are welcome.

Our Mission Statement

North Weald Methodist Church seeks to be a fellowship sharing the love of God in the community through worship, fellowship and pastoral support. With the recent transformation of our building, we hope to reach with renewed impetus to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to transform the life of our community, taking to them Christ's message as set out in Corinthians: "now faith hope and love abide, these three, and the greatest of these is love."

Our History

Methodist preaching was established in the North Weald Bassett in 1875 by volunteer preachers from Loughton and Epping; the following year, the village was named in the first circuit plan of the new Clapton Circuit. It was reported that "Sunday evening services were held in a large cottage room, rented at a cost of £3 per year and that about 40 — 50 people attended the services".

Services continued in the cottage room in winter with outdoor services in the summer and in 1886, North Weald was added to the Wanstead and Woodford Circuit Plan as an outdoor mission.

As the cottage room became 'unhealthily crowded' it was decided in 1888 to build a new chapel and this was completed — at a cost of £82. 9s. 0d. (£82.45.) — on land that had been an old smithy. The money for the chapel was raised by public subscription and the initial ground rent was 10s (50p) per annum. The opening service for the new chapel was held on the 11th September 1890, making 2015 the 125 year anniversary.

In 1908, a plot of land adjacent to the chapel was purchased for £120 in anticipation of the future development of Methodism in the area and a decision to build a new church was taken in 1925; the new building was completed in 1929 and this comprises the current Sanctuary and vestry.

The village expanded during the 1960's and the Church members had the vision to extend the premises by adding the hall, side rooms, kitchen and toilets and these were completed in 1969. At this time, North Weald was part of the newly formed Harlow Mission Circuit.

Redevelopment and Rededication

A rededication service held on 19th October 2014 marked the completion of an extensive refurbishment project started towards the end of 2013, that has resulted in the modernisation of the 1969 extension and improvements to the Sanctuary and vestry. It had become clear to the Church members that the various improvements were necessary to meet the needs of the 21st Century and to further the mission of the Church to the community.

About the Methodist Church

The Methodist Church is one of the largest Christian churches serving Great Britain, with nearly 230,000 members and regular contact with over 512,000 people. It has 5,023 churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches with a worldwide total membership of over 80 million. Its activities, both alone and with ecumenical and secular partners, are based on four aims known as Our Calling:

• To increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love
• To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care
• To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice
• To make more followers of Jesus Christ.