Sandhurst and Yateley Methodist Church – 120 years old this May! (2026)
Here is a significant date for your diaries…..
We will be celebrating the 120th anniversary of our church on Sunday 10th May.
The first Wesleyan congregation met in Sandhurst in the open air on 1 January 1865, later moving into a barn and eventually into a brick chapel which opened in 1869. 36 years later the chapel was in need of major repairs and the decision was made to acquire a new site and build a new church. The resulting Sandhurst New Wesleyan Church opened for worship on 2 May 1906.* This was the church we now call Sandhurst & Yateley Methodist Church. Since the opening services took place over several Sundays, we have chosen Sunday 10 May for our celebration.
There will be a special service led by Revd. John Amankwatia, followed by lunch and a drama reflecting the church’s history. It will be a joyful day of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness and the vision of those early Methodists.
Please put the date in your diary. More details will follow in the next newsletter.
*Information on the history of the church was taken from ‘A Winding Lane in the Wilderness’ a local history of Methodism in Sandhurst, compiled by Elizabeth Godden. It is a most interesting read which I can highly recommend. SG
Please ask Robert, Sharon or the stewards if you would like to borrow a copy.