286

About

286, formerly Swaythling Methodist Church, is a grade II listed gurdwara and former church building in Swaythling, Southampton. The building was owned and managed by Southampton Methodist Circuit with City Life Church providing assistance with the day-to-day operations. Until the building was sold in 2021, Swaythling Methodist Church continued to meet on the premises in the Nona Bell Centre as a community of St James Road Methodist Church in Shirley, having closed as an official Methodist Church in 2013.

Building: The building includes a number of halls and smaller rooms in addition to the main auditorium, as well as a manse and some workshops. Designed by Herbert Collins in a neo-Georgian style and built in 1932, following his construction of many houses in the surrounding area, with the remit "I have built the houses, now build a place for the people to go". The buildings were constructed in partnership with J. Arthur Rank with full cinema facilities. The projector room is still present. The main auditorium is octagonal with a balcony over the entrance porch; the balcony is accessible via two stair towers on the north face. Attached to the south side is a wing containing...