Earlswood Valley Methodist Church
How to get here:
- From Newport By Car:
- From J24 M4 / A449 Coldra, take A48 towards Langstone. Continue on A48 through to Caerwent. After Caerwent, as you approach Crick, take the Left turn to Shireneweton.
- Follow this road through Shirenewton and on for about 1 mile. Take the Left fork signed Earlswood.
- Then take the first LEFT, which is a narrow lane, opposite a phonebox and bus shelter. (If you reach Earlswood Vilage Hall you have missed the turn.)
- Follow this lane down the hill, round a sharp right hand bend and continue down hill to the foot of the valley. At the bottom the road widens out. The wider area on the right is the Parking area for the chapel.
- Walk a few yards up the hill, and the chapel is straight ahead.
- For alternative parking for one or two cars it is possible to go past Chapel Farm on the left and look out for a right hand fork in the road which leads, after a few yards, to the Church.
- By rail or bus to Chepstow
- then by taxi, or infrequent local bus service 63 from Chepstow Bus Station to Usk, alight Earlswood. From this bus stop there is a five minute walk down a steep, narrow lane.
- Bus does not run on Sunday.
- For information please visit Traveline Cymru (see Links).
Worship: Sunday at 3:00 pm.
Minister: Rev. Andrew Webster.
Contact:
Information:
Earlswood Valley Chapel is the oldest Methodist Chapel in Wales. Ann Lewis, born in Earlswood in 1747 and married at 22 years to James Lewis an agricultural worker, was determined to hear John Wesley preach at Devauden Green. She was so impressed that she traveled many miles to hear him preach. Back in Valley she held prayer meetings in her tiny thatched cottage and founded a branch of the Methodist Missionary Society. She inspired so many people that soon the cottage became too small and Ann knew a chapel must be built. It is said she travelled far and wide to raise funds, including many visits to Bristol. She would walk from Earlwood to Blackrock, Portskewett, take the ferry across the Severn and then walk to Bristol. On one occasion she returned with 20 pounds from the Wesleys towards the building. Eventually the land was bought. Later her first husband died and she had married again changing her name to Rosser. The building work was mostly done by local labour and there is a well known story which says that much of the stone from a nearby quarry was carried by the women in their aprons. The Chapel was open for worship in 1791 and services have been held in this chapel every since. The small building on the side of the chapel, now turned into a kitchen and the usual services, started life as a stable for the the preacher’s horse.
Regular Events:
- None listed.
