New Methodist Museum Opens in Norfolk

The East Anglia Methodist Heritage Centre (EAMHC) in Wighton offers chance to dive into Methodist history and East Anglian heritage.

It has been a longstanding dream of the Wesley Historical Society to have its own heritage centre in East Anglia to celebrate the contribution of the Methodist Church in that part of England. It has, however, been a struggle to find the right place to open it. “We have considered several options over the years, particularly chapels that were closing, but nothing worked until we visited the Chapel at Wighton,” explains Sarah Friswell, one of the volunteers.

Wighton is a tiny village by the seaside, north of Walsingham.  A national cycling route passes the village, making it a great location for tourists. The circuit and the historical society came to an agreement to use the building for two years. The society fundraised to decorate the chapel, repositioning the pews and putting boards on top of them to display items. If at any point there is the need to turn the Chapel back into a worshipping space, it can be easily done.

The former treasurer of the society financially supported the EAMHC and also donated her collection of Wesleyan and Methodist ceramics. Other members of the society have been collecting items related to East Anglia ready for the day the EAMHC would open. When they received the key to the chapel, they knew the items they wanted to display and what story they wanted to tell.

The displays in the chapel show visitors the impact of the Methodist Church in East Anglia, starting with ‘What is Methodism.’ The chapel was a primitive Methodist Chapel and a perfect place to explain the background and development of Methodism. The items on display include the ceremonial trowels used for laying the first stone or the first brick of a Chapel.

A second area focuses on the work done with children and young people with examination certificates from Methodist Sunday schools and an old picture of a Sunday school outing with the children on a cart. The display also highlights the work done by the Junior Mission for All (JMA).

Music is an essential part of Methodist worship and there is a display focused on a harmonium and a rocking chair which belonged to the hymn writer the Revd Fred Pratt Green. The harmonium was already in the Chapel, so the society just did some work on it and the visitors can even play it. The Revd Fred Pratt Green wrote many hymns that are still played during Methodist worship and had connections with East Anglia.

The final area of the heritage centre is dedicated to social outreach, including collecting boxes for overseas missions, and items linked to the work of the Methodist Church during the World War II. “We have a collection of circuit plans spanning across the ages along with banners and flags,” says Sarah.

The side room of the chapel offers a small space to grab a cup of tea and a reference library on the history of the Methodist Church. “We're gathering information on local churches, their orders of service and posters of special events. If people are interested in a particular chapel, they can come and check the folder for more information,” adds Sarah.

The EAMHC would not exist without the generous donations of the Methodists who gave, and are still giving, many items. The society will keep the EAMHC relevant by updating the displays when necessary and by offering temporary exhibitions. This first exhibition involves the local parish church and will be an art exhibition of drawings of chapels in the Norwich circuit.

The East Anglia Methodist Heritage Centre, Wighton Chapel. Open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 am until 3 pm – Saturdays until early August.

Group visits can be arranged on request by calling 07546 732092 or emailing eamethodistheritage@gmail.com

Free admission and donations are welcome.