The Situation. The Beechen Cliff Methodist Church and Hall are being sold on the open market. Built in the early 20th century, the church has seen the loss of its congregation and the buildings have become increasingly difficult for the Methodist Church to sustain.
The Problem. The buildings, in particular the Community Hall, have become a central part of the Bear Flat community. It hosts a well regarded children’s nursey – Green Shoots – and is the focus of the monthly community market, repair café and community teas as well as keep-fit classes.
It is quite possible that this will be lost.
The BFA Position. The BFA’s position, in line with its constitutional charitable objectives, is to try and maintain the community assets associated with the church and hall.
The BFA is unlikely to be in a position to buy the site but it will work with all interested parties to explore ways to continue its community use.
So what has the BFA done? In 2025, in order to reinforce the value of the property to the community, the BFA applied to B&NES Council for Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing for the premises with the support of the Methodist Church. This was subsequently granted.
This has a two-fold purpose.
It signals to would-be purchasers the community value that the neighbourhood and
council place in the site.
It also secures a period in which no sale can be agreed, giving time for the community
to raise funds to purchase the site or otherwise consider its options. This period comes to
an end in October 2026.
Should the Methodist Church be listed?
The suggestion was made at the open meeting to seek national listing. BFA has looked intro this possibility and concluded that there is not enough evidence of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ to make listing a realistic prospect.
The church is already a locally listed building, nominated by BFA in fact. So, it is recognised as a heritage asset.
Local listing and ACV combined, plus a clear objection expressed by the local community, would likely make consent to demolish very hard to achieve
Rationale on our thinking
In deciding not to seek national listing, BFA probed how far the church is of ‘special architectural or historic interest’.
Buildings from1840 to1914 achieve such status only ‘if they are of high quality and character, and of historic interest’.
There are about 5000 Methodist chapels in England of which 869 (16 per cent) are listed. So, a case would need to be made that the church was in the top 16% for merit in heritage terms.
The Historic Environment Record suggests no particular special architectural or historic interest. The church is not mentioned in either of the recent Pevsners for Bath on historic buildings and places.
The conclusion was that that there is not enough evidence of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ to make listing a realistic prospect.
It was noted also that listing might deter purchasers and make changes to the church/hall more difficult. And it would likely take until May 2027 to compile a bid and for Historic England and then Government to come to a decision.
The church is already a locally listed building, is in the Bath Conservation Area and the City of Bath WHS. These designations combined with the status of Asset of Community Value would give the church/hall considerable protection. BFA could mount a powerful campaign if demolition or substantial alteration were to be proposed.
Events
18 Dec 2025: Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing granted
20 April 2026: Decision to sell the church announced
13 May 2026: Open meeting arranged by BFA for the neighbourhood. A summary and transcript of the meeting can be found here: Transcript-of-the-Open-Meeting-13th-May.pdf
22 May 2026: BFA submits the ACV Expression of Interest, triggering the ACV moratorium period
7 June 2026: Methodist Church announces the selection of its sales agent. The agent is James Pyle and Co: https://jamespyle.co.uk/
We will update this page with latest news and information as available to us.