Wester-Skeld Methodist Church

The Methodist church at Wester-Skeld in Shetland was constructed in 1857. Although its insides are not generally remarkable, the fact that the denomination has not yet closed it down and flogged it off makes it notable. According to the minutes of the 2021 Methodist Conference, Shetland was the only one of the UK’s 30 Methodist synods to oppose the introduction of same-sex 'marriage'. All others were largely in favour, with Lancashire’s having the fourth highest level of support. So to find a majority synod of Bible-faithful Methodists, one must travel to the far north of Scotland and then take a ferry for several hours.

The good folk of Wester-Skeld may not have the most impressive building, nor the biggest congregation, but they still just about represent a faithful remnant of the people called Methodist whom John Wesley would not be ashamed to recognise. They are a dying breed in a dying denomination.