The Chapel on the Hill          Barham Genealogy

Superintendent Minister The Reverend Phillip Barker

Wesleyan Methodism developed within the Church of England but became a separate church after John Wesley's failure to keep the movement within the established church.

Methodism spread rapidly across the UK but Kent was said to be regarded as one of the less fruitful parts of his mission and he made frequent visits to Canterbury and Dover between 1750 and 1789.   No record of his turning off the Dover Road is written but geographic closeness to the village suggests that it would have been practical for him to have met with Methodists in the village during that time.

Barham's Methodists start to appear in Canterbury Cathedral's records quoting a society's existence as early as 1814 - some 23 years after Wesley's death.   This source is not unusual as there were a series of Acts of Parliament that limited dissention from the doctrines of the Church of England was possible.   The Toleration Act of 1689, however, gave the possibility for dissenters to register premises they intended to use as a meeting place.   Wesley advised his followers, as a matter of expediency, to register but side-step the issues by describing themselves in some intangible way.   Thus Thomas Hobday notified the Archbishop on 20th May 1814: -

"---that a barn in the Parish of Barham in the occupation of Henry Bradley is intended to be used as a place of religious worship by an assembly or congregation of protestants."

The barn has not been identified and nothing is known of Mr Bradley.   Thomas Hobday was probably a member of the family whos name crops up frequently in Chapel records.

In 1825 a dwelling occupied by Joseph Fox was certified and in 1836 an oast occupied by Edward Gibbons was certified.   The latter was probably the last temporary meeting place whilst the Chapel was under construction.

In 1835 a deed was drawn up whereby John Hobday, a cordwainer of Barham sold a plot of pasture land to a body of thirteen trustees for "twenty-one pounds of lawful English money."   The preamble states that "Whereas the parties of the second part being possessed of certain sums of money intended to be laid out in the purchase of a piece of ground and hereitaments and in erecting and building thereon a Chapel or place of Religious Worship with such appurtenances as may be thought convenient for the use of the people called Methodists".

It is probable that both foundations and building of the Chapel was carried out by local skilled workers as most villages, at that time, had the relevant trades such as masons, blacksmiths and carpenters.

The design of the Barham Chapel is simple and the appearance plain both inside and out.   This was characteristic of small Chapels in the 19th century following the influence of Wesley's own thinking and prejudices.   A Chapel was not required for any ritual because Methodists were expected to continue attendance at their Parish Church.   The need was for a room in which the could gather to hear the Bible read and express their faith with lusty singing of hymns and community reading of psalms.

Wesley recommended that Chapels should be of a 21 to 18 proportion with a roof rise of one third of the breadth.   There should be a square projecting pulpit, no pews (but backless benches) and adequate doors and windows.   The Barham Chapel, therefore, largely leaned towards Wesley's guidance for avoiding superfluous ornament by providing for standing worshippers and a few backless forms for women, the elderly and infirm.   There was also a makeshift rostrum for the preacher.   The dimensions are slightly different being 30 to 21 with walls constructed of flints, strengthened at the corners and at door and window openings with a smallish brick which probably came from the local works in Brickfields Lane.   The front south side and rear walls have been cement rendered and the slated roof is gabled at the front and hipped at the ends.

A gallery was added in 1874 with access via a single steep staircase and furniture being backed forms provided for children and servants.   The windows at the back of the gallery were glazed partly by an obscuring glass to hide the ankles of the ladies from outside passers by and to prevent worshippers from looking out and having their distraction from the sermon.

Warmth was provided by coke burnt in a large circular stove let into the Chapel floor and artificial light provided by oil lamps and candles until superceded by electricity before WW2.

The present bare appearance of the front facade of the Chapel was softened at construction by a row of lime trees.   Records show that they needed cutting at two or three year intervals.   The last recorded payment for this was 1914 which may point to their removal at the time of widening of the Valley Road through the village.

During alterations during the late 1970s, it was discovered that the front and side walls are 15" (38cm) to 18" (46cm) thick solid flint work but the rear wall a mere 4½" (11.5cm) brick thick, plastered inside and out with a large area of timber frame.   The reason for this is unclear unless the original idea included a preacher's lobby which would then have made the wall internal to the building.