Methodism in Langford

This page was contributed by Edward Martin  

Chapel Hill, Langford in 1905. The Methodist Chapel can be seen in the distance [Z1130/71/3] 

The first Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in 1835, 44 years after the death of Rev John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Langford’s first chapel was built in what came to be known as Chapel Street, re-named as The Leys after the present chapel was built on Chapel Hill. The original Methodist building was sold in 1862 and converted into two cottages, which were demolished after the Second World War. Nothing has come to light about the person(s) behind the financing and building of the first chapel, nor of its capacity.  

A decision to build a new and bigger chapel can be seen from a subscription list, started on 29 July 1861, which raised £225, spent on construction. The total cost, including the gallery at the front end, was £525 – £50 came from the sale of the old chapel in The Leys. By 1869 £220 had been spent on enlarging the building by about one-third. In 1881, a choir gallery, vestry and a small schoolroom were built for £52. An organ was purchased in 1871 to replace the harmonium. A later second organ, originally built by Gray and Davidson in 1845, is certified to be of ‘Historical Interest’.  

The Methodist Chapel, 2024 

Reference: the late Rev Jim Broadbridge, A Little Older than our Teeth: Langford Methodist Church, c1835–2012 (2012). 

Further Research 

Bedfordshire Archives holds a collection of records relating to Langford Methodist Church under reference MB2/LAN. Among the items held are: 

• MB2/LAN/1/2894: Baptism register, 1871-1954 
• MB2/LAN/2/943-944: Trustees minute books 1939-1978 
• MB2/LAN/6/976: Plan of extension, 1970 
• MB2/7/958-960: Sunday School meeting minutes, 1923-1963 

Further details can be found through our online catalogue.