A former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is located on the south side of The Knoll.
The front part, which was the Chapel itself, was built in 1863 and used some stone from the cottage previously on the site.
The Church Hall, behind the Chapel, was added in 1896. This was originally used for meetings and Sunday School. In 1952, when the old school building in School Lane was closed, the Church Hall became the temporary home for the younger pupils of the village school, until the new school building was opened.
In 1972, the Chapel was closed and sold. Initially planning permission for light industrial use was sought, but this was refused. Instead, the building was converted to a private residence, which was occupied in 1974.
Note: The 1851 Religous Worship Census (see below) records that there was a Wesleyan Chapel in the village before 1863. At present no further information is available.
Buckinghamshire Return of the Census of Religous Worship 1851
This census contains the following entry for the Wesleyan Chapel: (Note: a copy of this census was published in Bucks Record Society No 27, 1991, edited by Edward Legg)
388. Wesleyan Methodist 153/73
Erected: cannot say
Whether Separate: a separate building
Whether Exclusive: exclusively as a place of worship
Free Sittings: 80
On the 30th March Morning: 24 Afternoon: 60 Evening: 70
Dated: Thirty first March Signed: John Booth Minister, Newport Pagnell
Schoolroom – read the account of the Stone laying ceremony on 25 May 1896.
The document shown here is an account of the stone laying ceremony on Whit Monday 25th May, 1896. The handwritten account of the proceedings was found in a bottle by Mr. & Mrs. M. Inskipp during the work to convert the building to a private dwelling. Unfortunately, the bottle was broken but the label can be clearly read as “Oldham & Co., Sherington, Newport Pagnell”. Some of the Stones are shown in the photographs.
Sherington Wesleyan Methodist Schoolroom (Transcription)
The building of the above was undertaken by Mr Henry G. Rose of Sherington and was commenced on Ascension Day May 14th 1896. The Stone laying ceremony being performed on Whit Monday May 25th 1896. The Stones were laid by the Revd E. M. Shearn on behalf of Mrs Bonsor of Hastings, by the Revd W. Kingscote Greenland on behalf of Mr F. Wingrave of Woburn Sands, by Mr S. Rush on behalf of Mr(?) Rush who was prevented from attending owing to illness, by Mrs Ann Westley (?) Messrs Henry Coleman, George Simco, (?) Oldham, James William Bright and Arthur W. Gough. Bricks were laid by a large number of Sunday School Scholars (?) and friends.
The following are the names of the the President of the Wesleyan Conference, the Circuit Ministers, the Trustees and the Superintendents and Teachers of the Sunday School.
President of the Conference. Revd D J Waller D.D.
Circuit Ministers: Revds E. M. Shearn, W. K. Greenland
Trustees: Messrs R. Stevens, F. Wingrave, J. Swannett, A. Sharp, F. J. Sharp, E. Feasey, D. Emmerson, D. Feasey, B. Line, H. Coleman, A. Coleman, S. Rush, J. W. Bright, G. S. Oldham
Superintendents of the Sunday School: Messrs Henry Coleman & G. S. Oldham
Teachers of the Sunday School: Misses L. Feasey, C. Cole, L. Nursaw, M. Dilby, Messrs F. Feasey, C. Coleman, E. Smith, J. W. Bright, (?) W. Greenland (?), L. Feasey (?)
Memorial Stone – the Memorial Stone for William Hill, his wife Mary Ann, his daughter Charlotte Green, who all died in 1864, and Henry Hill, who died in 1876.
The inscription reads:
In affectionate remembrance of WILLIAM HILL Who departed this life May 11th 1864 Aged 57 years Also of MARY ANN Wife of the above who departed this life February 26th 1864 Aged 66 years O that without a lingering groan I may the welcome word receive; My body with my charge lay down And cease at once to work and live Also of CHARLOTTE GREEN Daughter of the above Who died October 3rd 1864 Aged 27 years Also HENRY HILL died March 7th 1876 aged 16
Class Book – part of a Class Book, or Attendance Register.
Organ Dedication – the Order of Service for the dedication of the refurbished Church Organ on Saturday 24th August 1946.
Hymn Book – the Hymn Book.
Other Documents – the Order of a Memorial Service for King Edward VII in 1910 and three Quarterly Tickets from March and September 1893.
Archive Photos – click on the Gallery to view
