| What: | Historic building c1763 |
| Where: | GL5 1DT Acre Street |
| Then: | An octagonal chapel known as The Round House built by the Methodists. |
| Now: | Used by the Salvation Army |
John Wesley came to Stroud early in his outdoor preaching career. He records a visit on 26 July 1742, when he stood on a butcher's block in the Shambles. Thereafter Stroud, "where there is a considerable increase in the work of God", was on his itinerary in the middle of March for many years.Wesley's hosts in Stroud were often the Arundell family of Arundell Mill. He dissuaded his friend Nancy Bolton of Witney (Oxon) from marrying John Arundell, thus causing distress to both families.
This building, known as the Round House because of its octagonal plan, was built in 1763, but its distinctive shape was largely lost when it was enlarged in 1796. It is still the oldest surviving octagonal Methodist chapel in the world, and retains a five-sided gallery from the mid 18th century
.In 1851, the church had congregations of 300-400. In 1876, a replacement Methodist Chapel was built in Castle Street and the old building was sold to the Salvation Army in 1879.
From January 2016, this website is managed by Stroud Local
History Society
Revised 2018 EMW
