History


History of the Methodist Church in Sudbury



Sudbury

Sudbury is a small, ancient market town, which dates back to Saxon times. It is found in the county of Suffolk, on the River Stour, 15 miles from Colchester and 60 miles from London. For centuries the weaving and silk industry has prospered here and many great houses and churches have been built. It has been used for television locations, most significantly for BBC's Lovejoy. Sudbury is surrounded by attractive countryside often painted by Constable and Gainsborough, and also by quintessentially English villages, such as Long Melford. 
Sudbury is centered around the Market Hill and North Street, with the town hall close to their meeting place, and opposite St Peter's church. At the side of the church is the (real) drinking trough where the 101 Dalmatians took a drink when they crossed into Suffolk. In front of St Peter's church is the statue of Thomas Gainsborough which overlooks the market place. For more information, please  look at  the Chamber of Commerce Sudbury website.

History of the Methodist Church in Sudbury

1863   -  Foundation Stone laid for Primitive Methodist Chapel in Gregory Street (now the Apostolic Church)
1800's -  Wesleyan Society meet in North Street Hall
1897   -  Land at the corner of York Road and Melford Road purchased at auction on 7th December for £240
1901   -  Foundation Stone laid for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Melford Road (now St. John's Methodist Church)
1902   -  Wesleyan Methodist Church opened April 10th
1932   -  Uniting of Primitive and Wesleyan Congregations to worship at St. John's Methodist Church
1933   -  Foundation stone laid for the new Sunday School Hall at St. John's
1934   -  St. John's new Sunday School Hall opened
1964   -  The Sudbury Circuit amalgamated with that of Bury St. Edmunds and became The Methodist Church Bury St. Edmunds and Sudbury Circuit (today known as The Methodist Church Bury St. Edmunds Circuit)
1993   -  Extension of the Church Hall and the building of The Link completed and re-named St. John's Community Centre
2002   -  St. John's celebrated its first centenary and looks forward to continuing its presence in Sudbury by working together with other congregations in Sudbury and District to worship God and witness to Jesus Christ within the community through effective use of people and property, time, skills and money.