St. Andrew's Methodist and United ReformChurch, Devizes

The present red brick Methodist Church on Long Street was built in 1898.

There is a complex and in earlier times turbulent history of Methodism in Devizes. 

The movement traces its roots to Reverend John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within the Anglican Church. His younger brother Charles was instrumental in writing much of the hymns of the Methodist Church. George Whitefield was  another significant leader in the movement; he was known for his unorthodox ministry of itinerant open-air preaching.Wesley, along with his brother and Whitefield, were branded as "Methodist" by opposing clergy within the Church of England. Initially Whitefield and the Wesleys merely sought reform, by way of a return to the Gospel, within the Church of England, but the movement spread  and soon a significant number of Anglican clergy became known as Methodists in the mid eighteenth century.

The movement did not form a separate denomination in England until after John Wesley's death in 1795. Early Methodists were drawn from all levels of society, including the aristocracy, but the Methodist preachers also took the message to ordinary peopel, labourers and criminals who tended to be left outside of organised religion at that time. Wesley himself thought it wrong to preach outside a Church building until persuaded otherwise by Whitefield.

The Wesleys in Devizes

John Wesley visited the town in January 1747 and Innes, a local curate, roused the inhabitants against him before he arrived. He was preaching in the house of a Mr Clark, which was surrounded by a mob. These listened to him and calmed down, and he was successful on later visits. However when his brother Charles was in Devizes he met with a mob and barely escaped with his life. After this the Wesleys were understandably reluctant to visit the town and although John Wesley stayed here in 1764 he did not preach in Devizes again until 1772, making 13 visits between that year and 1790. In 1777 a house in St. Mary's, probably Clark's, was certified for worship. There was a minister in 1783 although it was said that the congregation was declining and there were 'few of better rank'. Other houses were certified for worship in 1802 and 1807 and in 1818 a chapel was built in New Park Street. This had 316 sittings and was certified and opened in 1819. This was used until 1898 when the present red brick chapel in Long Street was opened. The earlier chapel was later taken over by the Salvation Army and had been demolished by 1972. The new chapel was successful and the congregation prospered.

Around 1987 the congregation of St. Mary's Congregational Chapel joined the Methodists when they vacated their own building in Northgate Street. The Methodist Church then became St. Andrew's Methodist and United Reform Church.