Heritage Now

HERITAGE NOW (01/2021) AUTUMN 2021   11 FEATURE initiatives, a grant has been made to a large church in the London area to progress to the next stage of planning how it develops itself further as an arts centre. Every problem is an opportunity. Methodism, along with other churches, but particularly non- conformist denominations, faces an inevitable and significant slimming down of the ranks of its chapels which have long policed cities, towns and villages across the country. The impact on communities, congregations, landscapes and streetscapes, will be real. More than most denom- inations Methodism is structured to implement an overall national strategy for closures and reten- tions, using resources strategically. Whether that is achievable remains to be seen.  ——————— FURTHER READING Christopher Wakeling, Chapels of England, Swindon: Historic England , 2017 The Methodist Church, Property Division ; Statistical Returns 1990 www.methodist.org.uk [Historical Data Archives] British Methodist Buildings ocmch.wordpress.com/ bmb/ has created a visual library of Methodist buildings in Britain High House Chapel, interior Carharrack Chapel and Sunday School, near St Day in Cornwall. The chapel is currently subject to a planning application for residential use. (Paul Holden)