Gorleston High Street Methodist Chapel (GOSH plaque)

Built in 1807, the High Street Methodist New Connexion Chapel was the first purpose built Methodist chapel in Gorleston. Earlier Methodist places of worship had been converted from other premises. In 1812, it become a Wesleyan Methodist Church following the growth in numbers of the Wesleyans.

By 1843, the old chapel had become too small to meet the needs of the growing congregation and it was demolished to enable the building of a larger and more impressive building. The new Wesleyan High Street Methodist Chapel opened in 1844.

In 1853, for various financial reasons, Spelman and Sons, Auctioneers, were offering for sale the freehold building known as the Wesleyan Chapel. It was purchased by the Wesleyan Reformers, another schism of Methodism, and, in 1854, opened as a Wesleyan Reform Chapel.

In 1873, it became a United Methodist Free Church when the several factions of Methodism united.

About 1881, the building was sometimes referred to as the Temperance Hall or the Templers’ Hall, having become the base for the Star of Gorleston Lodge of Good Templers. However, within a few years it was again referred to as the Free Church Chapel, although the Star of Gorleston Lodge of Good Templers still held some activities there.

The United Methodist Church was formed in 1907 and that is what the High Street Chapel continued as until it was bomb damaged in the Second World War. It officially closed in 1948. After standing unused for many years it was sold for £700 and demolished in 1959 to help to fund the building of the Methodist Church on the Magdalen Estate. One fragment remained as the back wall of GT Motors shop and workshop.

While clearing the site prior to building the J. D. Wetherspoon Bar and Restaurant to be called the William Adams, workman unearthed a brick vault with an arched roof which was found to contain two coffins. The two bodies were unidentified as the nameplate, due to corrosion, was illegible. Both remains were sealed in zinc lined, hermetically sealed caskets. The deceased were re-interred in a private plot at Gorleston Old Cemetery.