Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood
| Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood | |
|---|---|
West side showing roof and window damage to the Masters Church which sits to the West of the Whitefield Tabernacle building | |
  Shown within Gloucestershire
| |
| Basic information | |
| Location | South Gloucestershire, England |
| Geographic coordinates | 51°27′47″N 2°30′25″W / 51.4631°N 2.5069°WCoordinates: 51°27′47″N 2°30′25″W / 51.4631°N 2.5069°W |
| Affiliation | United Reformed |
| District | Kingswood |
| Architectural description | |
| Completed | 1741 |
| Specifications | |
Whitefield's sometimes Whitfield's Tabernacle (grid reference ST648738) is a former Calvinistic Methodist and Congregational (now United Reformed)[1] 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.[1] The former Society Room building was expanded to a large size, and is a grade I listed building.[2] It is now roofless and derelict after an arson attack.[3]
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.[4]
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.[3] At February 2011 the site was still derelict although the large disused churchyard had been cleared of vegetation.[5]
See also
- Churches in Bristol
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
- Whitefield's Tabernacle (disambiguation)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Timothy Jenkins (1999). Religion in Everyday English Life: an Ethnographic Approach. New York: Berghahn. pp. 103–105.
- ↑ "Whitfield's Tabernacle". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Save the Tabernacle". A Social History of Bristol in photographs & stories. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
- ↑ "Whitfield Tabernacle". BBC - History - Restoration - Series 1. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
- ↑ The Derelict Miscellany : Whitefield's Tabernacle Retrieved 03-11
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Whitefield's Tabernacle. |
- A Social History of Bristol in Photographs & Stories page on the Kingswood Tabernacle Page about current restoration projects on both buildings, with some photos
- Heritage at Risk: Whitfields+tabernacle
- 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.