In 1996 the South Wirral Circuit of the Methodist Church began to seek a new vision for Neston Methodist Church in the sharing of the love of Jesus Christ with the surrounding community. This led to Cheshire County Council, Age Concern and the Church getting together in partnership to put into being 'Project 99' in order to bring a much needed day care facility for the older person and disabled and the transfer of the popular 'Drop-in' from the Townhall to a premises that would be modernised to benefit both Church and Community from 1999 onwards.
1998 saw the Circuit agreeing to a remodelling scheme costing £108,000. With the rebuilding work now completed the Church is now able to offer a modernised tea/coffee/snackbar run by Age Concern, extra office space for use by Age Concern, the Methodist 'Live at home' scheme and other use. Also two meeting rooms both for Church and Community use.
It is now believed that Neston Methodist Church can have a vital role to play in the community and this remodelled building will go some way to meeting the challenges and changes the 21st century will bring to society.
Neston Methodist Church is one of three Methodist churches having a presence in Neston and District the other two being Little Neston Methodist Church a short distance away and Willaston Methodist Church. Neston Methodist Church is situated right in the town centre a few yards from the townhall and at the top end of the High Street which is ideal for the project envisaged. Major carparks are only yards away as are the bus stops and Neston Railway Station with links to Birkenhead,Chester,Liverpool and Wrexham. Up to recent times Neston's future has been uncertain because of the small numbers in the congregation and the project provides an excellent opportunity to change this situation. The Team Ministry of Neston Methodist Church Deacon Lynne Sylvester and Reverend Geofrey Cooke also has oversight at Little Neston and Willaston.
For many years Wesleyan Methodism was not represented in the Neston area. Little Neston Methodist Church was a Primitive Methodist Church. The Methodist Church had split into sections in the 19th century. In 1874 a non-denominational Mission hall was built on the present site of Neston Methodist Church. It was built by a tug boat owner Captain Ward. He died in 1890 and the congregation could not raise the money to buy the building. In 1899 this building came into the hands of the young and vigorous Rock ferry circuit.
The congregation however worked hard to raise funds for a permanent building and the old tin chapel was sold and a permanent structure erected by a Nottingham builder with experience in this type of church building.The foundation stone was laiid on 27th June 1908.
In the 1940s and fifties the premises were used on weekdays by the welfare clinic. Perhaps partly as a result of this the Sunday School began to build up and in the fifties a very active Youth Fellowship was begun. Young people from Neston Methodist and Little Neston methodist met in alternate churches for Bible Study, prayer and fellowship.There was a playgroup on the premises for many years. Some 20 years ago Age Concern forged the first links by opening an office on the premises. This close working relationship resulted in the creation of the popular 'Teapot/coffee rooms which proved very popular and led to the modernised snackbar which was incorporated into the new premises.
The historian the Rev F.F. Brotherton wrote in 1903. "The opening sermon was preached by the Rev Charles Garrat. Some triumphs of Grace have been witnessed under the new regime, a body of hearty young people is growing up and there is every prospect of a strong cause being established in the place. The site is an excellent one and a permanent church would be an ornament as well as a blessing to the town".
The aim of the church is, and always has been, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the area and to provide a lively, worshipful and caring Christian community for people of all ages including children.
To achieve this, priorities include:-
Having been given financial backing and support from Christians throughout the Circuit and local trades also, we need to find ways of continuing to raise finance to support the day to day needs of the church.
We believe that Neston Methodist Church has a vital role to play within the community and that the remodelling of the building for the 21st century will meet the challenges ahead. We believe that we are right to change to meet the changes in society. We are confident that the congregation will increase although it may well be an older congregation resulting in a greater turnover due to natural causes.
