Broad Street Wesleyan Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broad Street Wesleyan Chapel |
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Broad Street Wesleyan Chapel from the History and Antiquities of Nottingham. James Orange. 1840.
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| 52°57′18″N 1°08′42″W / 52.955108°N 1.144958°W | |
| Location | Nottingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Wesleyan Methodist |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Samuel Sutton Rawlinson |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Construction cost | £9,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 97.6 feet (29.7 m) |
| Width | 64 feet (20 m) |
The Broad Street Wesleyan Chapel was a special Methodist church in Nottingham, England. It served its community from 1839 until 1954. Today, this historic building has a new life as the Broadway Cinema.
Contents
A Look Back: The Chapel's Story
The Broad Street Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1839. The architect who designed it was S. S. Rawlinson. This large chapel could seat 1,920 people. It also had a school room big enough for 400 children.
Building the chapel cost about £9,000. This was a lot of money back then! The chapel officially opened its doors on June 20, 1839. On its opening day, people donated £1,870.
A very important event happened here in 1844. A preacher named Rev. James Caughey visited the chapel. It is believed that during his visit, William Booth became a Christian. William Booth later went on to found the Salvation Army.
Why the Chapel Closed
By 1947, the chapel needed a lot of repairs, especially a new roof. The cost to fix it was very high. Also, fewer and fewer people were attending the church. Because of these reasons, the chapel had to close in 1954.
From Chapel to Cinema
After the chapel closed, the building was bought by the Nottingham Cooperative Society. They wanted to use it as an Educational Centre. In 1959, the Co-operative Educational Centre opened its doors. It worked with the Nottingham and District Film Society.
Over time, this center became a place supported by the British Film Institute. Eventually, it transformed into what we know today as the Broadway Cinema.
The Chapel's Organ
When the chapel first opened, it got a used organ from Mr. Ward of York. This organ was later replaced. In 1909, a brand new organ was installed by a company called Norman and Beard.
This 1909 organ is still in use today! It was later given to the University of Nottingham. You can find it in the Great Hall there. Details about this organ are available on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists of the Chapel
- George Middleton (who used to be the organist at Emmanuel Church, Nottingham)
- William Vivian Todd (from 1948 onwards)
