History

A little bit of history

On 27th February 1847 a contract was passed between Mr. F.C. Hodel and Mr. J.E. Fauvel on one hand and eleven gentlemen acting for the English Methodist Church and Rev. J. Mowat, Preacher, on the other.  This concerned a piece of land measuring 49 feet from east to west situated near First Tower in the Parish of St. Helier, on the Fief of the Priory of Mont Cochon.  On this land the Trustees and Preacher proposed to have build a Chapel for use by the Wesleyan Methodist society. 

This Chapel was opened on 26th December 1847, and took its name from the district, being called First Tower Wesleyan Chapel.  This was later changed to First Tower Methodist Church. 

The Foundation Stone of the School Room was laid in 1865 by Mr. Elias Neel, a Jurat of the Royal Court, in the presence of a large number of friends and a gathering of the school children.  The room was formally opened as a school by Mr. Charles Gallie on Sunday, 19th November 1865, when over one hundred scholars and teachers were present. 

At that time the Island had a French Circuit and an English Circuit, and First Tower was part of the latter. 

Extensive improvements were made in 1885, but by 1903 it was decided that further renovation of the Church was absolutely necessary as the Wesleyan Methodist cause at First Tower had greatly increased.  At a meeting of the Trustees on 23rd June the Improvements Committee recommended "that the Chapel being now too small for present requirements, it should be enlarged by knocking down the south-west gable, and setting it 15 or 16 feet further back, thus giving 55 extra sittings".  On 27th August memorial stones set into the outer wall of the Church were unveiled and the re-opening services were held on 11th and 15th February 1904. 

In 1937 another major renovation took place when a new rostrum, choir stalls and communion rail, all made of oak, were fitted and a stained glass window was installed above the rostrum.  The windows were re-framed on the inside to make them equal in size.  On 7th October at the re-opening service, Rev. F.J. Paine, the Superintendent, pointed out that it was hoped one day to have the pews altered to form a central aisle instead of two side aisles.  This was achieved in 1947, and the building of a new porch in 1950. 

Over the next twenty years work consisted mainly of repairs and redecoration until in 1976 members again turned their attention to building.  In view of the various activities taking place it was decided that a kitchen was badly needed.  This was built over the existing cellar which had once housed the boiler, and was opened in September 1977 by Mrs Hilda Baudains. 

A very important milestone in the history of the Church was reached in 2003 when Galaad Methodist Church amalgamated with First Tower.  The Church was renamed "The Bay Methodist Church" and the opening service was held on 12th January.