The first Methodist Society in the area was a Primitive Methodist society at Little Bayton where, after house Prayer Meetings, Bethesda Chapel was opened in 1852. In its early days the Little Bayton Society was often confronted with opposition from the local people, especially the miners whose cock-fighting, whippet-racing, gambling and drinking were habits which Gospel preaching firmly decried. The preachers were stoned but their message was passed on undamaged. The family of the Rev. Joseph Barkby, once President of the Primitive Methodist Conference, worshipped at Bethesda.
Little Bayton did not have electricity and oil lamps gave it light. A 'tortoise' coke stove gave it heat, a pressing need for a winter congregation and Preacher who had walked along a dark uncertain road to reach God's "House". It was genuine piety and conviction which inspired these early Methodists to maintain their witness in an area where Public Houses outnumbered ordinary dwellings.
Time came, however, when the latter were very few in number and the Society saw fit to move to what it was assured would be a new housing area. The new chapel was opened in Black Horse Road on Whit Saturday, 1949. Factories grew up all around instead of the promised houses, but Exhall Methodists happily remained as an oasis in the industrial wilderness. Sadly hopes of sharing in a new community venture in Hawkesbury Village came to naught in the mid 2000s. Sisterhood, Girls' Brigade and Sunday School are now in the past, but the small number of faithful worshippers maintained their regular witness.