Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood
Encyclopedia
Whitefield's sometimes Whitfield's Tabernacle is a former Calvinistic Methodist
and Congregational (now United Reformed
) church in Kingswood
, a town on the eastern edge of Bristol where George Whitefield
preached in the open air to coal miners. The name refers to two buildings in which the church met.
The congregation originally met in the New Society Room which was built in 1741 for George Whitefield
and John Cennick
after a separation occurred between them and John Wesley
. The former Society Room building was expanded to a large size, and is a grade I listed building. It is now roofless and derelict after an arson attack.
In 1851 a very large gothic building, designed by Henry Masters, was constructed a little to the west of the original tabernacle. In the late 20th century this building was closed and the United Reformed Church
congregation moved back into the original 18th century building for a few years, before leaving both buildings to join together for worship with another congregation associated with the 18th-century revival, the Moravian Church, in the Moravian building on the other side of the High Street.
In 2003 the Tabernacle featured in the BBC's Restoration
series.
As of 2007, there were plans for the redevelopment of the three listed buildings on the Tabernacle site, namely the two churches and the 18th century Chapel House. Besides various proposed memorial facilities, the plan includes flats in the Chapel House and the 19th century building. At February 2011 the site was still derelict although the large disused churchyard had been cleared of vegetation.
Calvinistic Methodists
Calvinistic Methodists are a body of Christians forming the Presbyterian Church of Wales and claiming to be the only denomination of the Presbyterian order in Wales which is of purely Welsh origin.-Early history:...
and Congregational (now United Reformed
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
) church in Kingswood
Kingswood, South Gloucestershire
Kingswood is an urban area in South Gloucestershire, England, bordering the City of Bristol to the west. It is located on both sides of the A420 road, which connects Bristol and Chippenham and which forms the high street through the principal retail zone...
, a town on the eastern edge of Bristol where George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
preached in the open air to coal miners. The name refers to two buildings in which the church met.
The congregation originally met in the New Society Room which was built in 1741 for George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
and John Cennick
John Cennick
John Cennick was an early Methodist and Moravian evangelist and hymnwriter. He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England to an Anglican family and raised in the Church of England....
after a separation occurred between them and 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 former Society Room building was expanded to a large size, and is a grade I listed building. It is now roofless and derelict after an arson attack.
In 1851 a very large gothic building, designed by Henry Masters, was constructed a little to the west of the original tabernacle. In the late 20th century this building was closed and the United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
congregation moved back into the original 18th century building for a few years, before leaving both buildings to join together for worship with another congregation associated with the 18th-century revival, the Moravian Church, in the Moravian building on the other side of the High Street.
In 2003 the Tabernacle featured in the BBC's Restoration
Restoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
series.
As of 2007, there were plans for the redevelopment of the three listed buildings on the Tabernacle site, namely the two churches and the 18th century Chapel House. Besides various proposed memorial facilities, the plan includes flats in the Chapel House and the 19th century building. At February 2011 the site was still derelict although the large disused churchyard had been cleared of vegetation.
See also
- Churches in BristolChurches in BristolThe English city of Bristol has a number of churches.The churches listed are Anglican except when otherwise noted.- External links :*...
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
- Whitefield's Tabernacle (disambiguation)
External links
- A Social History of Bristol in Photographs & Stories page on the Kingswood Tabernacle Page about current restoration projects on both buildings, with some photos
- Whitfield Tabernacle Conservation Area Local authority page at South Gloucestershire Council
- Restoration - Whitfield Tabernacle Leaflet giving history of building, at South Gloucestershire Council website
- The PG Group future project placeholder page with aerial artists impression
- South Gloucestershire Council Planning Applications Search for postcode BS15 1QU to locate the current status of Planning Applications for the 3 buildings on site
- See also Google Maps for an aerial view giving a clearer idea of the buildings' location and scale.