Nexus Methodist Church (Walcot Building)

Nexus Methodist Church, formerly known as Walcot Methodist Church, stands on the south side of London Road. Built in 1815, it was designed by Rev. William Jenkins of London, an itinerant Methodist minister who had received some architectural training. This chapel was erected for the second Wesleyan society to be established in Bath, following the earlier New King Street society.

The building is constructed in limestone ashlar and rubblestone. It follows a five-bay rectangular plan and presents a symmetrical five-window front of two storeys. The facade is dominated by a slender raised pediment over three slightly stepped forward central ranges. Within the pediment's tympanum sits a plaque inscribed "WALCOT CHAPEL 1815", beneath which are three incised panels flanked by pilasters with incised panels that taper towards their bases. The parapet flanking the pediment sweeps down on each side to meet quoins, with the quadrants thus formed filled with fluted quarter fans. A modillion cornice and frieze span the entire facade. At the centre of the frieze sits a slightly raised horizontal panel inscribed "DEO SACRUM" and flanked by laurel wreaths.

The first floor features five incised semicircular arches with imposts surrounding eight-over-eight-pane sash windows with radial glazing bars. These windows are articulated by fluted pilasters rising from the ground floor platband and crowned with Corinthian-style capitals. The central window is flanked by paired pilasters. The ground floor displays banded rustication and similar windows flanking a prostyle porch. This porch has paired fluted Doric columns at each corner supporting a deep entablature with a triglyph frieze, blocking course, and ornamented soffits. Double four-panel doors with a wide fanlight form the entrance.

The ground floor platband encircles the building. The left return contains two windows similar to those on the first floor right corner and three matching those on the first floor left, while five ground floor windows are similar in size and shape but feature coloured leaded glazing. A double porch to the schoolroom has paired semicircular arches articulated by Tuscan pilasters and supporting a cornice inscribed "GIRLS'" to the left and "BOYS'" to the right. The parapet facing the front is inscribed "WESLEYAN SCHOOLS". A lower ground floor contains three large six-over-six-pane sash windows with curved upper corners.

The right return is similar in design but without a porch. The rear elevation rises four storeys with a plain gable end and two coloured leaded windows to the upper corners. A four-storey rectangular projection to the centre features stone corbels and timber brackets at the top, possibly housing an organ.

The interior measures 71 feet by 52 feet and is surrounded on three sides by a horseshoe gallery. This gallery has a panelled front over the entablature supported by Doric columns. A late 19th-century rostrum pulpit occupies the interior, with an organ chamber behind it and a vestry beneath. Original box pews remain in place, though their doors have been removed.

The chapel is notable for the intactness of its various constituent parts and possesses a very handsome street frontage. It represents an important example of early 19th-century Methodist chapel architecture designed by a minister-architect.