Protestant Methodist church on Gibraltar’s Main Street, historic Wesley House.
The Gibraltar Methodist Church, known as Wesley House, is a Protestant Methodist church at 297 Main Street near the Convent, the Governor’s residence. Rooted in Methodism dating from 1769 soldiers’ meetings, it belongs to the Methodist Church of Great Britain’s South East District and welcomes Christians from many backgrounds.
The Gibraltar Methodist Church, or Wesley House, is a Protestant Methodist church building at 297 Main Street in Gibraltar, close to the Convent, the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar. It is part of the South East District of the Methodist Church of Great Britain and has long been associated with the development of British Gibraltar. Methodism in Gibraltar began in 1769 with a group of garrison soldiers, including Sergeant‑major Henry Ince, a Methodist lay preacher. The first Methodist Church was built in 1809 in Prince Edward’s Road, later gaining a school and manse. As Methodism grew, work spread into southern Spain, where churches and schools were established. In 1898 a “Welcome” home for soldiers and sailors opened at No. 6 Church Street, moving in 1933 to 297 Main Street. The church moved to its present location in 1956, when the old church and manse were sold and the building reconstructed and renamed Wesley House. From there it became a spiritual home for Methodists and other Christians living and working in and around Gibraltar. In 1997 the church joined the then London South West District, reflecting a focus on the wider community rather than primarily on forces personnel.
