"The 3rd of June, 1834, was a grand day in Snargate Street, when
the foundation stone of the Wesleyan chapel was laid. The
Wesleyans were then the pioneers of Evangelical Christianity. This
was their third chapel in Dover, their first having been in the Pier,
and their second at Buckland. The move to Snargate Street from the
Pier was the most important step the Wesleyans had taken since their
establishment in Dover, the dense and decorous crowd which assembled, to
witness the stone-laying, being in striking contrast with the howling
mob who surrounded Charles Wesley, when he preached in Biggin Street, 74
years earlier. On the site of the new chapel were assembled 300
Sunday School children. There were 1000 other spectators admitted
to the site by tickets, and hundreds more crowded the surrounding
cliffs, windows and housetops. Three hymns, composed specially for
the occasion, were sung, accompanied (the report says) by instrumental
music, which was not then a common thing with the Wesleyans. In
the foundation stone was placed an iron box containing coins of the
reigns of George III., George IV., and of his then reigning Majesty,
William IV.; also a copper plate engraved with John Wesley's motto, "The
best of all is, God is with us," together with a parchment, inscribed
with the date of the stone-laying and the name of Mr. White, who had
been more than fifty years a member of the Dover Wesleyan Society, who
laid the stone. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. J.
Roberts, late missionary at Ceylon; after which the whole company sang,
"God save the King." The chapel was opened for worship on the 3rd
October, in the same year." (J.B.J. 1907)
