Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church is inside the
junction between Pier Avenue and Rosemary Road West in Clacton-on-Sea.
Methodist preachers first appeared in Great Clacton in 1794, but it
took until 1824 for the first of several Methodist chapels to be built
in the region. Trinity Church was built in 1877 in concrete with Kentish
Ragstone facings. The original cruciform building had a central pulpit,
and no organ until 1885, when one was purchased from Melrose Castle
in Scotland.
Pier Avenue Baptist Church is on the
south-west side of Pier Avenue, midway between Trinity Church and
Old Road. A brick chapel was built here in 1902 (and still survives
as the Fellowship Hall), despite the existence of Christ Church Union
Church. A larger, corrugated iron church replaced this in 1908, and
the present, more permanent structure was built in 1928-1929, with
foundation stones being laid on 7 November 1928 (one on behalf of the
members of Christ Church).
Salvation Army Citadel is on the south-west
corner of St Osyth Road and Old Road. Originally opened in 1901 as
Clacton Primitive Methodist Church, the building was renamed
Zion Church before the Methodist Union of 1932. Then surplus to
requirements, it was reconstructed in 1952, and opened on 30 April of
that year as a Salvation Army citadel. Behind the main building (around
the corner to the left of the photo) is the Army's Catherine Booth
Community Centre.
All photos on this page kindly contributed by
the late David Kelleher.
