286, Southampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 286 |
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| OS grid reference | SU4330315583 |
| Location | Swaythling |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Swaythling Methodist Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder(s) | Herbert Collins |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 20 November 1997 |
| Architect(s) | Herbert Collins |
| Architectural type | Central Hall |
| Style | Neo-Georgian |
| Specifications | |
| Number of floors | 2 |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Materials | Red brick, Concrete, Slate, Copper |
| Administration | |
| Circuit | Southampton Methodist Circuit |
| District | Southampton Methodist District |
286 is a special building in Swaythling, Southampton. It used to be called Swaythling Methodist Church. Today, it is a gurdwara, which is a place of worship for people who follow Sikhism.
This building is very important because it is a "Grade II listed" building. This means it has historical or architectural value and is protected. The building was a church until 2013. After that, the Methodist Church group continued to meet there in a smaller area until 2021.
Contents
The Building's Design and History
The building was designed by a famous architect named Herbert Collins. He built many houses in the area before designing this church in 1932. He wanted to create a place for the people who lived in the houses he built.
Unique Features of the Building
The main part of the building, where people gather, is shaped like an octagon. It has a balcony that you can reach by two staircases. There are also other halls and rooms attached to the main building.
The roof of the main hall is slightly rounded, like a dome. It is covered in copper, which gives it a unique look. There are also separate buildings on the property that used to be workshops and a house for the minister.
Cinema Facilities
Interestingly, the building was built with full cinema facilities. This was done in partnership with J. Arthur Rank, who was well-known in the film industry. The room where the film projector used to be is still there today!
How the Building Changed Hands
The entire property was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on November 20, 1997. This means it is an important part of history.
Transfer to City Life Church
In 2016, the Methodist Church decided to transfer the building to City Life Church. This was part of a special policy that allowed buildings to be sold for less than their full value. The idea was to make sure the building could still be used for Christian worship. At the time, the building needed a lot of repairs, estimated to cost over £900,000.
New Policy and Sale
However, there were some challenges with the transfer. The Methodist Church had a rule that if the building was later sold by the new owners, some of the money would go back to the Methodist Church. This rule was changed a few times to make things clearer.
By 2021, the time limit for the special transfer had passed. So, the building was put up for sale on the open market. It was listed with a guide price of £1.2 million.
Becoming a Gurdwara
A Sikh group bought the building. They started a renovation plan, spending £50,000 to transform the building. Today, it serves as a Gurdwara, a place of worship for the Sikh community.
