A society of this persuasion is stated to have existed in this town in the time of the Commonwealth. The meeting house, in Claremont-street, was opened in 1780, and enlarged in 1810. It contains a monument in memory of Mr. Palmer, who was pastor of the congregation 27 years, and died in 1823.
THE SECOND BAPTISTS
Seceded from the above society in 1827, and built a place for worship in Castle Foregate, which was opened April 9, 1830. They retain, however, the doctrines of Particular or Calvinistic Baptists, as professed by the former society.
THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS
Assemble on St. John’s hill, in a building erected in 1804, and which was enlarged and decorated in 1825. Galleries surround the interior, in which is a small organ. The pulpit stands in the middle aisle.
A small building erected at Spring Gardens, Castle Foregate (by the proprietor of the land) was opened Feb. 26, 1826, in connexion with this society. The service is free, and the place is used at certain hours on the Sunday as a school.
THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION
appear to claim a mutual relationship to the founder of Methodism with the Wesleyans, and retain the doctrines, ordinances, and general discipline common to that body, from which they differ only in the form of church government and professed dissent from the Church of England. This society formed a congregation here in 1833, and in Jan. 1834, an edifice for their service was commenced near the Old Tower, Murivance, which was opened June 13 in the same year.
The exterior is handsome, having two entrances with a Doric portico to each, and is divided into three parts, viz. a centre and two wings, formed with Corinthian pilasters, frieze, and cornice; the centre terminates with a pediment, and the wings with a broken blocking and Grecian tiles. The interior is without galleries, and arranged on rather a novel plan; the middle is occupied by two rows of pews, with a row on each of the sides which ascend gradually from the floor, and thereby afford great economy of space.
Two ends of the building being flanked by dwellings, light is admitted from the side portions, but a good effect, notwithstanding, is produced from the blank walls, which display arches and plain pilasters supporting a frieze and cornice.