Evandale Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

The 14th anniversary of the Evandale Wesleyan Sabbath-school took place in the new church on a wet December day in 1885. Attendance in the afternoon was 200 and the evening 100.

On the 29th May 1885 to following appeared in the Mercury newspaper:

I am informed by one of tho trustees of

the Evandale Wesleyan Church that the old

church (now occupied as a schoolroom only)

is to be offered to the various friendly societies at a very low rental per night, to hold

their meetings in. I refer to the Oddfellows,

M.U., St. Andrew's Benefit Society, and the

Good Templars. The rent will be much

lower than they are now paying.

Circulars have been issued by one of the

trust connected with the Wesleyan Church,

soliciting help in clearing off a debt of about

£60 on tho now Wesleyan Church ...

The following is a quote from the Mercury newspaper 18th March 1886:

On Sabbath, 14th inst., the anniversary

services took place in connection with the new Wesleyan Church, Mr. Basil Archer

preaching both afternoon and evening to

good congregations. This church was built

about two years since by Mrs. H. Reed at a

cost of £500. No doubt her motives were of

the purest character, and she erected the

edifice for the glory of her Master, but a

clique had the management, and their objects

being different from Mrs. Reed's, consequently the two parties did not ride in the

same carriage, hence the church was closed

up by the above-named lady when she saw

the probable result. Mrs. Reed having

closed the building, subsequently offered it

for sale to the Wesleyans for £300, which they accepted, and paid cash for the purchase. Thus was threatening social trouble

well ended.

This may solve the mystery of the wooden church.