WATFORD METHODIST CIRCUIT

<span class="wrapper"><p>Hertfordshire Methodist Chapels</p> <p>Alphabetical list of chapels for which records have been received in the Record Office</p> <p>ALDENHAM NM7P</p> <p>ARKESDEN (Essex) NM9B</p> <p>ARLESEY Christchurch NM4D</p> <p>St John NM4N</p> <p>ASHWELL NM11C</p> <p>BALDOCK NM4U</p> <p>BARNET EAST Brookside NM1C</p> <p>BARNET HIGH NM1A</p> <p>BARNET NEW NM1B</p> <p>BENINGTON NM4E</p> <p>BERDEN (Essex) NM9C</p> <p>BERKHAMSTED Cowper Road NM3C</p> <p>High Street NM3E</p> <p>BIGGLESWADE (Bedfordshire) NM11A</p> <p>BISHOP'S STORTFORD NM9A</p> <p>BOREHAMWOOD NM1F</p> <p>BOXMOOR NM3H</p> <p>BURNT MILL (Essex) NM9D</p> <p>BUSHEY HEATH NM7N</p> <p>BUSHEY AND OXHEY NM7Q</p> <p>CHESHUNT NM10D</p> <p>CHORLEY WOOD NM7L</p> <p>CROXLEY GREEN NM7M</p> <p>CUPID GREEN (Hemel Hempstead) NM7H</p> <p>DASSELLS (Braughing) NM9G</p> <p>FLAMSTEAD NM2G</p> <p>Trowley Bottom NM2K</p> <p>GADDESDEN ROW NM2J</p> <p>GRAVELEY NM4F</p> <p>HARPENDEN High Street NM2B</p> <p>Batford NM2D</p> <p>Southdown Road NM2C</p> <p>Kinsbourne Green NM2A</p> <p>HATFIELD Birchwood NM5E</p> <p>Broadway NM5D</p> <p>Oxlease NM5F</p> <p>HEMEL HEMPSTEAD Marlowes NM3B</p> <p>Lower Marlow NM3D</p> <p>Wesley NM3F</p> <p>Bourne NM3H</p> <p>Cupid Green NM7H</p> <p>HENLOW (Bedfordshire) NM4V</p> <p>HERTFORD NM10A</p> <p>HINXWORTH NM11B</p> <p>HITCHIN Brand Street NM4A</p> <p>Nightingale Road NM4B</p> <p>Christchurch NM4C</p> <p>Walsworth NM4L</p> <p>ICKLEFORD NM4G</p> <p>KIMPTON NM2F</p> <p>KINSBOURNE GREEN (Harpenden) NM2A</p> <p>KNEBWORTH NM8A</p> <p>LANGLEY, ABBOTS NM7C</p> <p>LANGLEY, KINGS NM7G</p> <p>LETCHWORTH Broadway NM4P</p> <p>Central NM4Q</p> <p>North Avenue NM4R</p> <p>LEY HILL (Buckinghamshire) NM3K</p> <p>MARKYATE NM2H</p> <p>NASH MILLS NM3G</p> <p>OFFLEY NM4H</p> <p>PEGSDON NM4I</p> <p>PELHAM, FURNEUX NM9H</p> <p>PIRTON NM4J</p> <p>POTTERS BAR NM1D</p> <p>RADLETT NM1E</p> <p>REDBOURN NM5G</p> <p>RICKMANSWORTH High Street NM7E</p> <p>Mill End NM7F</p> <p>SAFFRON WALDEN (Essex) NM9F</p> <p>ST ALBANS Boundary Road NM5B</p> <p>Marlborough Road NM5A</p> <p>Hatfield Road NM5J</p> <p>SEWARDSTONE (Essex) NM10E</p> <p>SHEERING (Essex) NM9E</p> <p>SHENLEY NM5H</p> <p>SLEAPSHYDE NM5C</p> <p>STEVENAGE Old Town NM6A</p> <p>Chells NM6B</p> <p>Broadwater NM6C</p> <p>STOTFOLD (Befordshire) Brook Street NM4S</p> <p>High Street NM4T</p> <p>STUDHAM (Bedfordshire) NM2L</p> <p>TRING Langdon Street NM3J</p> <p>TROWLEY BOTTOM (Flamstead) NM2K</p> <p>TWO WATERS NM3A</p> <p>WALKERN NM4K</p> <p>WALSWORTH (Hitchin) NM4L</p> <p>WALTHAM ABBEY (Essex) NM10F</p> <p>WARE NM10B</p> <p>WARESIDE NM10C</p> <p>WATFORD North NM7B</p> <p>Queen's Road NM7 &amp; NM7J</p> <p>St Albans Road NM7I</p> <p>Vicarage Road NM7D</p> <p>Whippendell Road NM7K</p> <p>WELWYN Oaklands NM8B</p> <p>WESTON NM4M</p> <p>WHEATHAMPSTEAD The Mill NM5I</p> <p>The Folly NM2E</p> <p>WHETSTONE (Middlesex) NM1G</p></span>

Introduction

Watford Primitive Methodist Circuit

Watford Primitive Methodists were worshipping in a room in Hedges Yard, High Street by 1840. A chapel was in use in Carey Place, Watford by 1865 [see NM7J]. The circuit also included chapels at Croxley Green [see NM7M], Letchmore Heath [see NM7P], Bushey [see NM7N], Redbourn [see NM5G] and St Albans. In 1877 the chapels at Redbourn and St Albans formed themselves into a separate Primitive Methodist circuit. For later details concerning chapels in these two places see NM5. By 1893 the Watford circuit included the chapels at St Albans Road and Queen's Road Watford, Bushey Heath, Croxley Green, Aldenham and Chorleywood. A further church in Whippendell Road, Watford was opened in 1903, [see NM7I-P]. For a short period from 1897 this circuit also included Northwood and Ruislip, Middlesex. In 1901 a separate Harrow Mission was formed and the Northwood and Ruislip churches were removed from the Watford plan.

On the union of the Methodist churches in 1933 the Primitive churches were constituted a separate circuit named Watford (No 2). Not until 1947 were the former Primitive and Wesleyan (Watford No 1 circuit) churches united as one circuit.

Watford Wesleyan Methodist Circuit

A Wesleyan Society was first formed in Watford in 1808. Services were held in the Market Place then later in a room in Hedges Yard, High Street. In 1813 Watford formed part of the Luton Circuit. Records of this Circuit are now held by Bedfordshire Record Office, County Hall, Bedford MK42 9AP. A chapel was erected in Water Lane in 1814 and a second chapel opened in 1838 in Farthing Lane. By this date Watford was included in the St Albans Circuit [see NM5]. The Farthing Lane chapel was closed in 1868 on the opening of the chapel in Queen's Road [see NM7A].

A separate Watford circuit was formed in 1872 and as well as Watford and Rickmansworth also included the societies at Pinner, Eastcote and Harefield in Middlesex transferred from the Uxbridge circuit. In 1904 this circuit was amalgamated with the Hemel Hempstead circuit to include Watford (churches now existed in Queen's Road, Vicarage Road and St Albans Road, Watford and Villiers Road, New Bushey), Rickmansworth, Harefield, Pinner, Eastcote, Heronsgate, Hemel Hempstead, Nash Mills, Two Waters, Berkhamsted, Kings Langley and Abbotts Langley. The section including Heronsgate, Northwood, Eastcote, Pinner, Harefield and Rickmansworth was transferred to the Harrow circuit in 1922.

On the union of the Methodist churches in 1933 the Watford Wesleyan churches remained as a separate circuit known as Watford (No 1) consisting of Queen's Road, Vicarage Road and Harebreaks (formerly known as St Albans Road) Watford, Bushey and Oxhey (formerly Villiers Road, New Bushey), Hemel Hempstead, Nash Mills, Two Waters, Berkhamsted, Cupid Green, Kings Langley and Abbotts Langley. The Watford Primitive churches St Albans Road and Whippendell Road, Watford, Bushey Heath, Croxley Green, Aldenham and Chorleywood forming Watford (No 2) circuit. Not until 1947 were the two circuits amalgamated, with the addition of Rickmansworth and Harefield from the Harrow circuit to form a new Watford circuit.

The Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted circuit was formed in 1957 and the following chapels from the Watford circuit were transferred to it: Hemel Hempstead (Marlowes and Wesley), Two Waters, Boxmoor (opened 1953) and Nash Mills [see NM3].

The church at Springwell Avenue, Mill End, Rickmansworth was transferred to the Watford circuit from Chalfont and Chesham in 1958. It was closed in 1964 on the opening of the new church in Berry Lane, Rickmansworth. Harefield was transferred to Uxbridge circuit in 1958. The church at Cupid Green was closed in 1955 and at Chorleywood in 1969. A church at Carpenders Park, Watford in Prestwick Road was opened in 1953 and Queen's Road, Watford closed in 1966.

The Watford circuit now includes the churches at Whippendell Road, Vicarage Road, Harebreaks and Carpenders Park, Watford, Bushey and Oxhey, Bushey Heath, Rickmansworth (Berry Lane and High Street), Croxley Green, Abbotts Langley and Kings Langley.

The Watford circuit now forms part of the London North West District of the Methodist Church