Gadfield Elm Chapel facts for kids
The Gadfield Elm Chapel is a special building located near the village of Pendock in Worcestershire, England. It is known as the oldest chapel still standing that belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also called the LDS Church.
Contents
The Chapel's Story
Building the Chapel
The Gadfield Elm Chapel was built in 1836. It was first used as a meeting place for a religious group called the United Brethren. This group was made up of people who had separated from another church called the Primitive Methodists. Their leader was a man named Thomas Kington.
A New Faith Arrives
In 1840, a missionary from the Latter Day Saint movement named Wilford Woodruff visited the area. He was an important leader, also known as an apostle, in the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wilford Woodruff taught the United Brethren about his faith. Almost all 600 members of the United Brethren decided to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is sometimes called Mormonism.
After these conversions, Thomas Kington and another person named John Benbow officially gave the chapel to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This meant the building now belonged to the new church members.
An Important Meeting Place
For a while, the Gadfield Elm Chapel was a very important place for the early Church in the Malvern Hills area. Many regional meetings, called conferences, were held there. Even Brigham Young, who was a top leader in the church at the time, spoke at the chapel at least once.
Changes Over Time
In 1842, the church sold the chapel. This was done to help pay for British members of the church to move to America. The building then became privately owned for many years.
Saving and Restoring the Chapel
In 1994, a group of LDS Church members formed the Gadfield Elm Trust. They wanted to save and restore the old chapel. The Trust worked hard to fix up the building and make it look like it did in the past.
On April 23, 2000, a church leader named Jeffrey R. Holland dedicated the restored chapel. This was a special ceremony to mark its reopening.
A Gift to the Church
In 2004, the Gadfield Elm Trust gave the chapel to the LDS Church. On May 26, 2004, the church president at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, rededicated the chapel.
Today, the Gadfield Elm Chapel is a historical site. It is open to the public, and there is no charge to visit. People can learn about its history and its connection to the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
