Galeed Strict Baptist Chapel, Brighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Galeed Strict Baptist Chapel |
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| Galeed Chapel | |
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The chapel from the west-southwest in 2013
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| 50°49′39″N 0°08′27″W / 50.8274°N 0.1409°W | |
| Location | 80 Gloucester Road, North Laine, Brighton BN1 4AQ |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Churchmanship | Strict Baptists |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 15 October 1868 |
| Events | 1867: Secession of Strict Baptists from The Tabernacle, West Street 5 January 1868: Seceders established new church at Windsor Street 15 October 1868: New chapel opened on Gloucester Road 16 September 1869: Church formally constituted 7 October 1870: Chapel registered for marriages |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin H. Nunn |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Years built | 1868 |
| Completed | 1868 |
Galeed Strict Baptist Chapel, also known as Galeed Chapel, is a special church building in the North Laine area of Brighton, England. It was built in 1868 for a group of people called Strict Baptists. They had started a new church after leaving another chapel in Brighton in 1867. This happened because they had different ideas about their faith.
The chapel looks much the same as it did when it first opened. It is still used by Strict Baptists today. It is the only church of its kind left in Brighton. The building is in a protected area and is considered a locally important building. Many important people in the Strict Baptist movement have been connected to Galeed Chapel.
Contents
What Does "Galeed" Mean?
The name Galeed comes from an old Hebrew word. It means "heap of witness." In the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, it refers to a pile of stones. This pile of stones was built to remember a peace agreement between two people, Jacob and Laban. Henry White, who was the first pastor (leader) of the chapel, chose this name.
How the Chapel Started
In the 17th to 19th centuries, many different Christian groups, called Protestants, were active in East Sussex. Many of them followed a type of belief called Calvinist doctrine. In Brighton, several Strict Baptist churches began during this time.
One important church was The Tabernacle on West Street. It opened in 1834. In 1847, a man named John Grace became its pastor. He had different ideas about baptism than the Strict Baptists. Strict Baptists believe that baptism is a step you take before becoming a full member of the church. This is sometimes called "closed communion."
After John Grace passed away in 1865, two new pastors led The Tabernacle. One of them, Henry White, was a Strict Baptist. In 1867, most church members voted for the other pastor. Because of this, the Strict Baptists, led by Henry White, decided to leave and start their own church.
They first met in people's homes, then in a rented room on Windsor Street. Henry White led the first service there on January 5, 1868. The group grew quickly. Soon, they decided to build their own permanent chapel nearby.
History of Galeed Chapel Building
The new church members bought land on Gloucester Road for their chapel. This was close to Windsor Street and Brighton railway station. Benjamin H. Nunn, who was John Grace's son-in-law, designed the building. John Marshall, one of the church's first members, built the chapel. It was finished in late 1868. The money for building it was paid back over 14 years.
The new chapel officially opened on October 15, 1868. Three special services were held that day. Henry White became the pastor on January 4, 1869. Sadly, he passed away in August of that year at only 36 years old. Even without a pastor for a while, the church grew fast.
On September 16, 1869, the church officially became a Strict Baptist church with ten members. John Marshall, who built the chapel, was one of them. The membership quickly grew to 19. Many more people were baptized and joined the church in the next few years. In 1870, the chapel was officially registered for worship and for weddings.
Pastors and Important Leaders
A new pastor, James Dennett, was appointed in 1876 but left soon after due to health reasons. The church then had different guest preachers for a while.
In 1882, James Popham became the pastor. He was a very important leader for the church and for Strict Baptists across the country. He led Galeed Chapel for 55 years until he passed away in 1937. From 1905, he also edited a Christian magazine called the Gospel Standard. Many Strict Baptist chapels, including Galeed, are connected to this magazine.
James Popham's 50th year as pastor was celebrated in a huge way in 1932. So many people wanted to attend that the service had to be moved to a much larger church building on North Street. About 1,500 people came to celebrate!
After James Popham passed away, the church did not have a settled pastor for a long time. In 1957, Frank L. Gosden became the pastor. He had been a member of Galeed Chapel before. He served until he passed away in 1980.
The next pastor, John Walder, started in 1983. He led the church through some difficult times. He passed away in 2016. The current pastor, Matthew Hyde, took over in 2018.
Chapel Activities and Libraries
Today, Galeed Chapel has services on Sunday mornings and evenings. There is also a prayer meeting before the Sunday morning service. On Wednesday evenings, there is a preaching service, and on Friday evenings, a prayer meeting. The church uses a hymnbook from the 1800s called A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship.
In the middle of the 20th century, two important libraries for Christian books were started by people connected to Galeed Chapel. Geoffrey Williams, a member since 1903, started collecting books. His collection became the Evangelical Library in 1924. This library has many different Protestant books.
In 1949, Sydney Paul, a deacon at Galeed for 40 years, started the Gospel Standard Baptist Library. This library focuses specifically on Strict Baptist books. It moved to a special building in Hove in 1980. Sydney Paul also wrote a very important history of the Strict Baptist movement.
The Gospel Standard Baptist Library is on the grounds of the Bethesda Care Home. This home opened in 1972 for older people who attend Gospel Standard Strict Baptist Churches. Galeed Chapel's services are broadcast to the care home, and residents can also visit the chapel by minibus.
Location and Importance
Galeed Chapel is in the North Laine area of Brighton. This area is in the center of the city. It is known for its unique shops, pubs, and houses. Gloucester Road, where the chapel stands, is a busy shopping street. The chapel is part of a protected area called a conservation area.
In 2015, Galeed Chapel became a locally listed building. This means it is recognized as an important building in Brighton. The city council describes it as a "good example" of a simple Neoclassical chapel. It stands out in the North Laine area because of its design and its use as a religious building. It is also the only Strict Baptist chapel still active in Brighton.
Chapel Design
Galeed Chapel is built in the Neoclassical style. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. Its outside walls are covered in a smooth material called stucco.
The front of the chapel has three sections and two levels. On the ground floor, there are three doorways. The lower part of the building has a rough, textured look. On the top floor, there are three windows with sliding sashes. These windows are separated by flat columns called pilasters.
The pilasters support a triangular shape at the top called a pediment. Below the pediment, you can see the words galeed a.d. 1868. There is also a small round window, called an oculus, in the pediment. A gas lamp sticks out from the left side. The outside of the chapel is described as "plain" and "simple."
The inside of the chapel still looks much like it did in the 1800s. Some small changes were made over the years, like adding a new room in 1875 and a new entrance area in 1974. In recent years, it has been redecorated, and new toilets were added.
See also
- List of Strict Baptist churches
