Churches of the British Isles

St Nicholas at Wade Methodist Church, Manor Hall stands on the western side of Manor Road, approximately forty metres north of the turning for Manor Lea Road. This is a little way to the east of the former Wesleyan chapel in the village (see above), and this plan red brick building was probably a direct replacement for that earlier chapel. In 1936 there was also a Brethren Meeting Room in St Nicholas at Wade, but its history and fate are unknown.

Sarre Primitive Methodist Chapel stands some way back from the north-eastern side of Old Road in Sarre, near Minster, at the end of a short L-shaped side path about fifty metres from the Island Road junction. This chapel was founded at an unknown date, possibly in the mid or late 1800s. Now it is a private residence, and little of it can be seen behind the thick tree cover without being intrusive and stepping directly into what is now a private garden.

Monkton Methodist Church lies in a very narrow plot on the northern side of Monkton Street, approximately 130 metres east of the Willets Hill junction in Monkton. The small chapel building existed before 1913, at which time the site was open on both sides, with no neighbouring buildings. The narrow street was gradually built up over the subsequent century during which the church remained operational, so that today it is a tricky subject to photograph.

St Mary Magdalene Monkton stands alongside Monkton Court, on the southern side of Monkton Street, roughly midway between the A253 and Millers Lane in Monkton, near Minster. The village was recorded in Domesday in 1086 as Monocstune ('Monks' town'), as it was a possession of the priory of Christchurch in Canterbury. The present church was built in the late twelfth century, although given the link with Canterbury there may have been an earlier church here.

The church is set up high on a hill overlooking what was once the Wantsum Channel and is extremely exposed to winds. The building was reduced in size and altered in the fifteenth century. This was probably when the five-bay north arcade was removed, following the withdrawal of the monks from the area. The church now consists of chancel, and nave with north porch and a three-stage west tower. The north porch was restored in 1860, along with other elements.

All photos on this page by P L Kessler.