Brighton Friends Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brighton Friends Meeting House |
|
|---|---|
_(March_2014)_(1).jpg)
The meeting house from the south
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Religious Society of Friends |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Meeting house |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Prince Albert Street, Brighton, Brighton and Hove BN1 1AF, England |
 Location in Brighton
|
|
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Clayton & Black (1876 extension) |
| Architectural style | Classical/Victorian |
| Completed | 1805 |
| Construction cost | £1,000 (approx.) |
| Direction of façade | South |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Friends' Meeting House and The Cottage | |
| Designated | 11 April 1995 |
| Reference no. | 1380935 |
| Website | |
| www.brightonquakers.co.uk/ | |
The Brighton Friends Meeting House is a special place of worship for Quakers in the heart of Brighton, a city in East Sussex, England. Quakers are a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs. This building, which opened in 1805, replaced an older meeting house from 1690. It's located in an old part of Brighton called The Lanes, at the corner of Ship Street and Prince Albert Street. Because of its history and unique design, the building has been given a special "Grade II listed status" by English Heritage, meaning it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
Contents
A Long History: Quakers in Brighton
The Quaker community in Brighton faced challenges in the past. For a while, a law from 1664 made it hard for them to meet in public. But after a new law in 1689, they gained more freedom.
First Meeting House (1690)
By 1690, the Quakers bought an old building that used to make malt, and some land next to it. This became their first permanent meeting house and a burial ground. It was located near where the Pavilion Theatre stands today.
In the 1790s, pleasure gardens were built next to their meeting house. The Quakers then sold their land and building. They used the money to buy a new plot of land on Ship Street.
Building the Current Meeting House (1805)
With £1,000, they bought the new land and built the meeting house we see today. It opened for worship in 1805. The new building also had a small house for a caretaker.
Over the years, the meeting house grew. A large extension was added to the north in 1850. In 1876, another part was built to create rooms for learning and education. Today, these rooms are also used for different community activities.
Changes to the Burial Ground
When the meeting house first opened, it had a graveyard. But its size became much smaller when Prince Albert Street was built in 1838. A new burial ground was created in 1855, further east of Brighton. This second burial ground was later built over in 1972 when a new road was constructed. The graves were carefully moved to another cemetery.
Recognized as a Historic Building
The Brighton Friends Meeting House and its nearby buildings were given "Grade II listed status" on April 11, 1995. This means they are important historic buildings that should be preserved. It is one of many historic buildings in the city of Brighton and Hove.
Looking at the Architecture
The Brighton Friends Meeting House has different parts built at different times, giving it a unique look.
The Original Section (1805)
The oldest part of the building, from 1805, has three floors. It has a single entrance at its southwest corner. Some windows on the upper floors are bricked up, but the original windows are still visible. Each window is a different height, and those on the ground and first floors have a rounded top.
The Main Section (1850)
The central part of the meeting house was added in 1850. It has two floors and a decorative top section with a triangular shape called a pediment. There are two arched entrances under a covered porch. Above the porch, you can see the words "FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE" carved. There are windows on each side of the porch and three more rounded windows on the first floor.
The Cottage and Education Centre
Next to the meeting house is a small cottage and an adult education centre. These buildings are considered important because their style matches the meeting house. The cottage has a slate roof and brick walls decorated with flint and stone.
The 1876 extension, on the left side, looks similar to the 1850 addition. It has two floors, with two sets of paired windows on each side of its entrance. The area that was once a graveyard is now a peaceful garden surrounding this extension.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: A–B
- List of places of worship in Brighton and Hove
