Orford Methodist Church is a more recent building than St. Bartholomew’s but has a significant presence in the village. It attracts a large congregation and regularly offers less ecumenical services with teas and art shows.
Orford's Methodist church is tucked away in a side road, an imposing sight with the ruined tower of the castle rising behind it. It is a perfectly Edwardian building, the foundation stone laid on the 29th October 1901. The style is very much that of Anglican and Methodist churches of the period, a large perpendicular window above an entrance portico, the red brick banded with white. The pinnacles create a deliciously independent faux-classical effect. Two corbel heads either side of the window grin and scowl in turn. All in all, this is a fun building.
It replaced an earlier Primitive Methodist building of 1837. At the time of the 1851 census of religious worship, Orford Methodist Society had a membership of 18, and was served by William Dolman, the Minister at Kelsale, who had a fair journey each Sunday. The old building held just 150 people, so was probably much smaller than its 20th Century replacement. It seems to have been nearly full every Sunday.
Simon Knott, December 2009
Minister: Stephen Caley
Telephone: 01394 450676
email
Broad Street,
Orford,
Woodbridge,
Suffolk IP12 2NQ
www.eamethodist.org.uk
Sunday Service at 10.30am with Children's Corner/Activities
Informal Late afternoon/Evening Services as announced
Weekly Monday Tea Room - serving good food
Weekly Wednesday Luncheon
Fortnightly, Thursdays - Inspirational Art/Colouring/Knitting
