Our history
Leytonstone "Then and Now"
In 1763 Leytonstone was part of the ancient parish of Leyton in the Becontree Hundred of Essex. For ecclesiastical purposes from 1845 Leyton constituted a separate Essex parish .
Leytonstone is on a major ancient road connecting London to the East of England.
Today, Leytonstone is part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, situated 7 miles east from the Centre of London and only 2 miles from the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The "A12" runs through the centre of Leytonstone starting in Norfolk, passing through both Suffolk and Essex on its way to its finish at the Blackwall Tunnel.
Founder of Methodism in Leytonstone
The diary of Mrs Mary Fletcher (nee Bosanquet) who lived in the ‘Pastures’, Davies Lane records that in the Spring of 1763, through her own prayer meeting others joined her and the little company soon increased.
‘We thought it expedient to apply to Mr Wesley for a preacher and he sent Mr Murlin the next Sunday and within a fortnight we had twenty-five join the Society’.
Work to grow the congregation was carried on quietly, and achieved success. In June 1768, Mary moved to Yorkshire where she married the Revd. John Fletcher. A commemorative plaque for Mary Fletcher is located outside the main Church hall.
The Founding of Methodism:
The small Methodist Society in Leyton seemed to have ceased soon after 1790, and its decline coincided with the commencement of Methodism linked to followers of George Whitefield in Leyton during the 1770s and 1780s. This led to the building of a small wooden chapel (which stood in Chapel Yard, in Leyton High Street) until it was demolished in 1843 for a larger premises.
By the early 1870’s the need arose for an additional chapel in Leyton. At the same time, Mr. Samuel Bosanquet, a descendant of Mary Fletcher gifted a site for the erection of a Chapel in her memory. With a generous donation from the Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund and the help of local friends the cause was commenced. The Foundation Stone for the new chapel was laid on 9th October 1876, by Mr S.C. Bosanquet on behalf of his brother Mr S.R. Bosanquet. The Chapel was officially opened on 26th June 1877, by the Revd. George Osborn (Theological Tutor of Richmond College). The building was known as The Mary Fletcher Memorial Wesleyan Chapel.
Despite the development of witness in Leyton and Stratford from 1790 to 1840 and beyond, there was no real effort to build a witness in Leytonstone. However, during the ministry of the Revd. Edward Workman (1872-74) that thoughts were mooted and agreed to commence a cause in Leytonstone.
In 1873 a site between, what we now know as Michael Road and Barclay Road, was secured but not developed.
Pictured is the old Church, in use from 1880 to 1968. This was replaced by present Church.
About Us
Commemorative plaque
A great number of Church members lost their lives in the Great War, many of those from the Boys’ Brigade Company, and with many having suffered from the experience of the War and the aftermath.
After the First World War some Church members suggested that a Social Club be formed to provide a continuing link between the Church and returning members. This led to a plot of land adjoining the Church buildings being generously donated, see below. The first club building was replaced with the Memorial Hall after the Church Committee instituting a scheme under which books could be purchased of a dozen stamps each costing threepence, representing a brick for each one. The Hall foundations were laid in 1928 and completed later that year. There is a strong remembrance of the many members of the Boys’ Brigade Company who lost their lives in the First World War.
Following its’ completion one of the major weekly use was by the Boys’ Brigade Junior Section – so a fitting use up to recent times.
The plaque for the First World War is located in the link porch area of the Memorial Hall, adjacent to what is now the present use as a Pre-School nursery hall.
The Inscription reads:
1914-1918, To the Glory of God, Erected as a Memorial of the Men of this Church who made the Supreme Sacrifice and whose names are herein Inscribed and of those who served their Country during the Great War.
Names
The following plaque is located in this same area as the World War 1 memorial. It relates to the Gift of Land provided for the hall, and the then building of the Hall which was funded in memory of the fallen and thus was, and continues to be, known as the Memorial Hall.
Memorial plaques
The Second World War sacrifice is commemorated in a plaque now located in the main Church building.
The names of the then Minister, his wife and son are also mentioned as they were killed in a local bombing raid, which was not unusual for Leytonstone being in London and close to the docks and railway routes.
The Years 1976 to today
Firstly, this is a recent picture of the Church taken from the High Road / Lister Road junction, with the main entrance and the wall of the Lister Hall to the right hand side.
The Church continues to provide a range of pastoral work and many other activities as detailed below.
Following the Centenary the Church has developed and become a major centre of Christianity in Leytonstone and for surrounding areas.
The past and present main areas of the Church family life and service and individually detailed on this site.
Minister's message
‘Shaken, but also stirred’
It is an unfinished story. Women walk to a tomb expecting to anoint the dead Jesus, but instead are confronted with an open tomb, and a man advising them not to be alarmed; that Jesus had been raised, and that they were to relate the news to Peter and the other disciples. Yet they were seized with amazement and terror, and said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. At this point the gospel of Mark ends – subsequent verses are later additions...