The Rotunda was a Primitive Methodist church in Aldershot in Hampshire in the UKRotunda Church, Aldershot on Aldershot History Group (AHG) that was completed in 1876 and demolished in the 1980s. While the building took its name from the architectural form rotunda, it was in fact octagonal, and was notable as one of only 14 octagonal chapels built by the Methodists.

Methodism in Aldershot

The Rev Dr William Harris Rule came to Aldershot in 1856 to open Methodist work among the troops, remaining until 1865Gerald le Grys Norgate, William Harris Rule - Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 49 and working in the town as a contemporary of missioner Mrs Louisa Daniell. The Wesleyan Connexion provided funding for the construction of an iron chapel on a site located in Church Street off Queens Road which was dedicated on 10 July 1857. Subsequently, a chaplain’s house and a Soldiers' Home were added. Methodism was not a recognised "religious denomination" in Army returns and there was great opposition from the local Anglican chaplains who found him an irritantMichael Francis Snape, The Royal Army Chaplains' Department, 1796-1953: Clergy Under Fire, The Boydell Press (2008) - Google Books pg 117 but Dr Rule was supported by Lieut-General William Knollys and by 1862 Methodism was accepted under "Other Protestants" and so the work could continue unhindered.Kenneth E. Hendrickson, Making Saints: Religion and the Public Image of the British Army, 1809-1885, Associated University Pressee (1998) - Google books pg 167

The Primitive Methodists at that time were served by chapels in Victoria Road (the now demolished Rotunda building) and the Ebenezer Primitive Methodist chapel on Ash Road, built in 1885;The Wesleyan Methodist Church, Aldershot - the Historic England Listed Buildings databaseParishes in Aldershot - A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1911 - British History OnlineM A Collier and R M Sherwood, Prim Aldershot, Tentmaker Publications (2011) pgs 230-232 while the Wesleyan Methodists were served by the Wesleyan church on Grosvenor Road completed in 1877.

The Rotunda

Built with red brick and slate roof on the corner of Victoria Road and Albert Road for the Primitive Methodists in Aldershot,Rotunda Church, Aldershot on Gen UKIParishes: Aldershot - A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4. Originally published by Victoria County History, London (1911) - British History Online pgs 2-5 construction began in 1874 and completed in 1876. Built on land obtained from benefactor Richard Allden, a local contractor who supplied hay for army horses, the £16,500 for its construction was raised by voluntary subscription and donations. The architect was Farnham-based Thomas Wonnacott, who chose an octagonal design familiar to Methodists. The construction was undertaken by local builder George Kemp.Collier and Sherwood, pg 70

A report in the Primitive Methodist 1875-76 Yearly Report said: "At Aldershot, the great military depot, we have built a schoolroom and house for the minister; the chapel is in course of erection. Several soldiers have been converted, among them, three young men, sons of ministers. Early in 1875 we opened our school room, which is now used as a temporary church."Collier and Sherwood, pg 71

The original church was named as 'The Primitive Methodist Church'Tim Childerhouse, Aldershot in Old Picture Postcards, European Library (1983) and following the unification of Wesleyan and Primitive Methodism in the Methodist Union of 1932 it was sold to the Reformed Episcopal Church of England when it was renamed Christ Church.

The building was unique in its octagonal construction and in the number of commemorative plaques on its interior walls. Adjacent to the church was once the Christ Church Hall (originally the school room for the Methodist church) which had four foundation stones laid on 15 December 1874: one dedicated by William Terry; one by Mary Allden; a third by the scholars of the Methodist Sabbath School, while the fourth stone was defaced and the inscription illegible.Bygone Aldershot - Aldershot Civic Society database The church building also had four foundation stones on its Victoria Road frontage which bore the date 22 March 1876. Inside the church were seven segments of seats while the eighth segment contained the dais or pulpit. This type of seating eliminated any precedence among the congregation.

Demolition The building was resold in 1962 and became flats, a driving centre and warehouse losing its Certificate as a Place of Worship in 1971The Rotunda, Aldershot - The London Gazette 14 May 1971 and was demolished in the 1980s despite efforts by local people to save it who pointed out its unique position in Methodist church design and Aldershot's social history.The Rotunda Church, Aldershot- Sense of Place (South East)Collier and Sherwood, pg 237 The church was demolished by George Kemp Stroud & Co Ltd, the successors to George Kemp who had built the church.

Today on the site stands the small Rotunda Industrial Estate.

See also Wesleyan Church, Aldershot

References