'Wesley Cottage', Seend

Image: © andrew auger Taken: 14 Sep 2011

From Wiltshire Community web site : The early Methodist societies in Seend were run by families who had their origins in 17th century Quakerism. Seend became a missionary centre with Thomas Twinney a most active preacher. It is believed that he lived in a cottage that came to be known as 'Wesley Cottage', where John Wesley preached on 12 March 1749. The Reverend T Jones thought that Seend should be regarded as the 'mother' church of various Wesleyan Societies throughout the locality and in 1757 the membership at Seend numbered 42. Services were held in the village or sometimes at Inmarsh. In 1774 land was leased to David Flower (of Seend Park Farm), local farmer and first trustee, who built the chapel in the High Street which was opened by John Wesley on 4th march 1775. The windows were designed in the 13th century grouped lancet style. There is an 18th century hood over the door and the plaque above the door (commemorating John Wesley's preaching in Seend) was engraved in 1929.

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