Wesley's Chapel
Encyclopedia
Wesley's Chapel is a chapel in London which was built by the founder of Methodism
, John Wesley
. The site also is now both a place of worship and a visitor attraction, incorporating the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley's House. The chapel was opened in 1778 to replace John Wesley's earlier London chapel, The Foundery.
In 1776 John Wesley
applied to the City of London for a site to build his new chapel and was granted an area of land on City Road
, London. After raising considerable funds the foundation stone for the new chapel was laid on 21 April 1777. The architect of his new chapel was George Dance the Younger
, surveyor to the City of London. It was built by Samuel Tooth who was a member of the Foundery Chapel. The opening service was on All Saints' Day, 1778.
. However, the building has seen a number of changes over the years. Originally the chapel had no stained glass and no organ. In 1864 the gallery was modernised, with the front being lowered and raked seating was installed. The original pillar supporting the gallery were ships' masts donated from George III. In 1891 these pillars were replaced by French jasper pillars donated from Methodist Churches overseas.
The site also houses one of the few surviving examples of a Gentleman's Convenience built by the renowned sanitary engineer, Josiah George Jennings
, in 1891 and restored in 1972.
also built a house for himself next to the chapel. He lived in the house, which is also Grade I listed, for the last eleven years of his life. He died there on 2 March 1791 and was buried at the chapel a week later. His tomb is in the garden to the rear of the chapel, where he is buried with six of his preachers, his sister Martha Hall and his doctor and biographer, Dr John Whitehead. The house is well preserved example of a middle class
eighteenth century home.
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. The site also is now both a place of worship and a visitor attraction, incorporating the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley's House. The chapel was opened in 1778 to replace John Wesley's earlier London chapel, The Foundery.
In 1776 John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
applied to the City of London for a site to build his new chapel and was granted an area of land on City Road
City Road
City Road or The City Road is a road that runs through inner north and central London. The northwestern extremity of the road is at the Angel, Islington where it forms a continuation of Pentonville Road. Pentonville Road itself is the modern name for London's first bypass, the New Road from...
, London. After raising considerable funds the foundation stone for the new chapel was laid on 21 April 1777. The architect of his new chapel was George Dance the Younger
George Dance the Younger
George Dance the Younger was an English architect and surveyor. The fifth and youngest son of George Dance the Elder, he came from a distinguished family of architects, artists and dramatists...
, surveyor to the City of London. It was built by Samuel Tooth who was a member of the Foundery Chapel. The opening service was on All Saints' Day, 1778.
Architecture
The building has Grade I listed status and is a fine example of Georgian architectureGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
. However, the building has seen a number of changes over the years. Originally the chapel had no stained glass and no organ. In 1864 the gallery was modernised, with the front being lowered and raked seating was installed. The original pillar supporting the gallery were ships' masts donated from George III. In 1891 these pillars were replaced by French jasper pillars donated from Methodist Churches overseas.
The site also houses one of the few surviving examples of a Gentleman's Convenience built by the renowned sanitary engineer, Josiah George Jennings
George Jennings
George Jennings was an English sanitary engineer and plumber who invented the first public toilets.Josiah George Jennings was born on 10 November 1810 in Eling, at the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. He was the eldest of seven children of Jonas Joseph Jennings and Mary Dimmock...
, in 1891 and restored in 1972.
The site
John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
also built a house for himself next to the chapel. He lived in the house, which is also Grade I listed, for the last eleven years of his life. He died there on 2 March 1791 and was buried at the chapel a week later. His tomb is in the garden to the rear of the chapel, where he is buried with six of his preachers, his sister Martha Hall and his doctor and biographer, Dr John Whitehead. The house is well preserved example of a middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
eighteenth century home.