The original building for the Methodist Church on St James’ Green in Thirsk was a Wesleyan Chapel that was built in 1816. The current building has been there for more than 100 years, and started life as the Sunday School. An article from the Northern Echo on Tuesday 1st June 1909 tells us that “The opening of the new Wesleyan Sunday School took place yesterday. It has cost £2,250. The building in the front is the new part, and that in the background, the Wesleyan Chapel.” This opening marked the end of a seven year project to raise funds. In 1903, land was bought containing three cottages and a small public house, “The Rising Sun” for £350, and an application was made to the Wesleyan Chapel Committee for permission to build a Sunday school. Church membership was 160; 166 scholars were receiving “instruction”. The first stones for Wesley Hall, as it was called, were laid in July 1908, and the official opening was on 2nd June, 1909, at a final cost of £2,305 0s 3d. “Our people have been most generous. The success has been wonderful.”

Although there was already a Sunday School Hall adjoining the Wesleyan Chapel which was the centre of Methodist life in the Thirsk area, it was felt that a new building would better serve the needs of the church and the community. A photograph of the interior shows a raised dais with a central rostrum at the east end. In front of that is a space filled with chairs, and the rest of the Hall filled with benches to seat 5-6 children each. There were 5 classrooms – 2 upstairs. As well as work with children, sewing classes, sales of work, chapel teas and rabbit suppers were held. The cellar had a goodly sized kitchen range, and room for a large boiler and plenty of coke.

In 1939 the War Office requisitioned the building. People remember going there to receive ration books. Soldiers used the smaller Hall at the back as a NAAFI where several church members offered time to help. A chapel representative joined the St. James’ Green Fire Watching Committee, and acquired 6 sandbags, 6 buckets and 1 dustbin. One of the classrooms was used as an emergency rest and storage room. Sunday School Anniversaries still took place in the war years, and it was noted in 1940 that there had been no annual treat or party, but that “a day in the country would be held if conditions permitted”. Also in 1940 it was reported that £150 per annum was received as compensation for the use of the building.

Heavy vehicles and tanks were on The Green during the war, and the Ministry was pressed afterwards to make good the damage done to the Chapel Yard by heavy lorries. An unsuccessful application was made for the Hall to be de-requisitioned, and on 2nd May, 1949, the Ministry of Labour asked to lease the building for 7 years at £130 per annum, and this agreement continued until 1959. In 1950 the Trustees asked that the Wesley Hall clock be repaired “by the Military.” More importantly, from that year combined services were held in the centre of Thirsk between Thirsk Wesleyan Chapel and Castlegate Primitive Methodist Church. This arrangement ended in 1959, when both large chapels were closed for worship, and Methodist worship in Thirsk was held in a newly refurbished Wesley Hall. The two original doors were removed to form one larger doorway, two of the class-rooms were converted into toilets, and a worship centre with pulpit and communion table was created at the east end and a stage at the other, with chairs for seating. From the 1950s church membership in general was in decline. Many village chapels around Thirsk closed, and in the 1970s the Sunday School closed.

As the 21st Century began money was needed to make the fabric of the building fit for purpose. The decision was made to fund a refurbishment of the building the cost being just more than 100 times the cost of the original building. Whilst the building was being refurbished worship was held in the Lord Nelson Pub (next door) and, whilst their building was being refurbished, worship was also shared with the Quakers, both of which proved to be enriching experiences.

The more flexible, open worship space has created opportunities to experience different styles of worship/devotion, including the creation of a Prayer Labyrinth, Bible Studies and Fellowships. The large space has enabled community groups to make use of the premises. We have had many encouraging comments from visitors impressed by the feel, colour and warmth of the place.

On Sunday 31st May 2009, the Church celebrated the centenary of the building when they received and dedicated a new Lectern, bookcase, banner, mosaic and framed embroidered picture of members’ signatures and events were held on the Anniversary Day, Tuesday, 2nd June.

In 2010 Thirsk Clock, a project working with young people in the area who have a variety of needs, made its home in the former schoolroom at the rear of the building. This has been a mutually beneficial arrangement. In 2020 the ‘Clock’ amalgamated with Thirsk Community Care and now is part of Community Works, and is doing very valuable and widely recognised work with the local and wider communities.