(Adapted from “The Centenary Story” by Jean Kirkwood, and updated by John Preston 2003)

The roots of Methodism in Windsor are very nearly as old as Methodism itself. It was only four months after John Wesley had felt his “heart strangely warmed” during the famous events of 24th May 1738, that he first preached in Windsor. His Journal records quite simply for Tuesday 26th September 1738, “I declared the Gospel of peace to a small company in Windsor.” That was the first of 14 visits in as many years.

By 1748 John Wesley makes reference to “members of the society” in Windsor but sadly there are no records tracing further developments until in 1800, a Mr. John Ould attended a prayer meeting in Windsor. Mr. Ould became the mainstay of Methodism in Windsor, and it appears that his house was the society's meeting place. By 1815 membership had reached 26, and in the following year a body of Trustees was formed to arrange for the erection of a Chapel with the Rev. Thomas Robinson appointed to be the Minister. A small Chapel was duly built in Bier Lane (now River Street) which was a heavily populated area in those days. It was in the Bier Lane Chapel that John Higgs, a native of Maidenhead, was converted in 1829 and he set to work to take Methodism to Maidenhead.

The membership clearly grew well in the early 19th Century and a gallery had to be added to the Chapel. Even so, Beir Lane was bursting at the seams and in 1837 larger new premises were opened just off Peascod Street (now part of King Edward Court). Records do not show why the Peascod Street Chapel lasted only 40 years. There were certainly concerns that it was tucked away down a passage off the street and presumably a more prominent edifice was considered desirable. And so, in 1874, the Quarterly Meeting gave permission for the erection of a new Chapel at a cost of £6,000. How many millions is that at today's prices? But the worshippers raised the money.

As can be seen in the Alma Road Chapel, the foundation stone of the present Church was laid on 8th May 1876 and the new building opened on the 21st February 1877. The members were justly proud of the marvellous new Church. It was heated by Grundy's Hot Air Apparatus, with fresh air drawn in at vents on the windowsills. In good Methodist tradition the pulpit was placed centrally, against the south wall, and the organ (installed in 1879) shared the north gallery with the choir for many years.

By 1960, the Church premises were showing signs of age and in 1961 a major renovation scheme was launched linked with the call to Revival. Thanks chiefly to the many regular weekly donations over several years, more that £10,000 was raised making possible the extensive renovation and re-decoration needed to see the building through the next 30 years.

In the late 1980's there was growing concern about the inadequacy of the Church building, particularly the two-storey Schoolroom section at the rear. After much prayerful study, a large scale Re-Development Scheme was agreed at the daunting cost of £800,000! Under the title “Forward in Faith” the venture was launched on 3rd June 1990 at a Grand Rally addressed by Viscount Tonypandy. Thanks to the enthusiasm and bright ideas of the Fund- raising Committee, and the dedication, generosity and hard work of very many people, the fund grew and the work began. We were helped very considerably at this time by the kindness of St. Edwards Church, who gave us free use of their Schoolroom suite throughout the building phase. And finally, with great rejoicing, the re-developed Church was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen (accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh) on 6th April 1993. It was not actually the final step, because fund-raising had to continue for a further 3 years! But on 2nd June 1996 a joyful Thanksgiving Service completed the mammoth task.

In 2007 we received a very generous donation covering the cost of upgrading our existing audio system to include projection facilities both in the church and in the hall downstairs. For major events the system is capable of projecting any activity in the church in the hall downstairs or vice versa.