Ilsington Methodist Church
Ilsington Methodist Chapel was built in 1852 and is on the edge of Dartmoor, situated on the outskirts of the village only 1½ miles from Haytor. This peaceful setting with beautiful views across the countryside towards Teignmouth make it an ideal chapel for quiet days and meditation. Behind the chapel is the burial ground where relatives can come and remember their loved ones in this quiet, calm place.
The Chapel has a fully fitted kitchen and a toilet. Wheelchair access is possible but limited and the toilet does not comply with requirements for the disabled. There is a small hall at the rear (formerly the school room) that can be used for meetings for small groups with chairs and tables available that can be arranged as required.
The Chapel members have close links with the Community. We join with the Parish Church of St. Michael’s on several occasions during the year including Taize services and Services for Christian Unity. We have close links with the Village School and the pupils visit us annually for our Carol Service and for their ‘make a difference’ week.
As a chapel we support the Children’s Hospice South West; Christian Aid, by taking part in their annual sponsored walk, and knitting and sewing for Tools with a Mission.
We have three special services during the year. Chapel Anniversary in May and our Harvest Festival in September are held on a Sunday afternoon and are followed by tea. This means that our friends from within the Circuit and people who previously worshipped in the Chapel but have moved away can come back and join us on these occasions. On a weekday evening in December we are joined by the pupils of the Village School and their parents at a candlelit carol service where the children contribute by singing carols, reading and playing music. This is always a very special occasion.
One of our members will arrange walks and in the last two years these have been part of a series of Moorland walks from Chapels based on Dartmoor. These have proved to be a nice opportunity to meet and talk to people from other Chapels and have been followed by a cup of tea and a Songs of Praise.
We are supported by our friends from Bovey Tracey and have joined together to form the Bovey Tracey and Ilsington Wesley Guild that meets fortnightly during the winter.
In the late 1980’s the chapel members were very active in supporting Methodist Homes when they built 4 self contained flats in the village to enable older people to stay in the village with a co-ordinator to support the occupants. These opened in 1991 and whilst the Methodist Homes have sold these flats on to South Devon Rural Housing Association, our members continue to support the occupants as much as possible.
The members are all busy people who contribute to the local and wider community in many different ways but also try and meet socially including monthly lunches and bible study evenings.
