In 1778 John Wesley himself came to Coleraine and preached to large congregations in the Barrack Square. 


He returned in 1785, when he considered Coleraine to be "A clean town, free from noise, and the people very intelligent". 


In the same year, 1785, an influential merchant named John Gait founded the Sunday School, claimed now to be the oldest continuing Sunday School in Ireland. 



Church and Manse built 1801

In 1801 John Gait provided the site for a Church building and Teacher's residence in Queen Street, then known as Preaching House Street. The buildings cost £500 and were in continuous use until the present Wesley Hall suite of premises was built in 1961, at a cost of £24,000. 


In 1850 it was decided that the work of Methodism in the town warranted better premises and the present site at the rear of the old premises was secured. The Architect was Mr Isaac Farrell of DubIin, who was also responsible for a number of other Irish Methodist Churches and for the original buildings of Coleraine Academical Institution.

The Coleraine Chronicle of 16th September, 1854, (8 days after the new Church was opened) records that the premises were a great improvement to that part of the town and the Church was an ornamental addition to the public buildings of Coleraine. There followed a detailed description of the Church, which is in the Corinthian Order Of Architecture. Special mention is made of the fine ceiling covered with groined arches and beautifully ornamented. The pulpit of mahogany was stated to be one of the most beautiful to be found in any church in the country.  The ground landlords were the Hon. the Irish Society and the Trustees of the Montgomery Estate. The total outlay, including the cost of the Manse beside the Church (on what is now a car park) amounted to £2,540. The Chapel Fund gave a grant of £200, Mr .and Mrs. Archibald McElwaine gave £1,000, £300 came from the Ron. the Irish Society and £50 from the Worshipful Companyof Clothworkers.