John Wesley's New Room facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Wesley's New Room |
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Statue of John Wesley with the New Room behind
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| 51°27′28″N 2°35′24″W / 51.4579°N 2.5901°W | |
| Location | 36 The Horsefair, Bristol, England, |
| Denomination | Methodist |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | John Wesley |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | May 1739 |
John Wesley's New Room is a very old and important building in Broadmead, Bristol, England. It first opened in June 1739. It was a meeting place for the very first Methodist groups, and it was made bigger in 1748.
It's the oldest building ever built specifically for Methodists to meet and preach. Because it's so important, Historic England has given it a special Grade I listed building status. Today, there's a museum about Methodism in the rooms above the main chapel. Outside, in the courtyards, you can see statues of John Wesley and his brother Charles.
Contents
The Story of the New Room
On April 2, 1739, John Wesley started preaching outdoors in Bristol. He soon created groups of people who followed his teachings. Just two months later, under Wesley's guidance, this building was constructed. This makes it the oldest chapel built specifically for Methodists anywhere in the world! Wesley called it "our New Room in the Horsefair."
Inside the Chapel
The chapel was built with a special two-level pulpit, which was common back then. It also has an octagonal (eight-sided) window at the top. This design helped reduce the amount of window tax they had to pay.
Besides being a place for meetings and worship, the New Room was also used to help the poor. It had a dispensary, which was like a small clinic, and a schoolroom. The benches and pews inside were made from old ship timber, giving them a unique history.
Two Methodist groups, the Baldwin and Nicholas Street societies, joined together. They formed the United Society and began meeting at the New Room from June 3, 1739. Wesley wanted Methodism to work alongside the Church of England, not against it. So, he made sure meetings at the New Room only happened when Anglican church services were not taking place.
Making the Room Bigger
In 1748, the New Room was made larger. Some believe the Quaker architect George Tully might have designed the extension. This is because it looks similar to another building he designed around the same time.
John Wesley believed that formal worship should happen in churches. He only allowed the enlarged New Room to become a formal place of worship with some hesitation. This was to follow the Toleration Act 1688, a law that allowed certain religious groups to worship freely.
Rooms were built above the chapel where Wesley and other traveling preachers could stay. Wesley himself lived at the New Room from 1748 to 1771. He would lead Holy Communion services there when his brother Charles was away. Wesley also sold his published books from a bookstore inside the New Room. This helped spread Methodist ideas in Bristol. In fact, more than half of all printed materials in Bristol between 1695 and 1775 were written by Methodists!
Later Years and Restoration
After Wesley passed away, the property was taken over by the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists in 1808. However, in 1929, the Wesleyan Methodist Church bought it back.
The John Snetzler Chamber Organ, which dates back to 1761, was added in the 20th century. This happened after the building was restored in 1929 by Sir George Oatley.
Modern Day Visitor Centre
A beautiful garden was opened in the Broadmead Courtyard on May 24, 2011. This was done by the Lord Mayor of Bristol. Later, on July 13, 2017, the Horsefair Visitor Centre was opened by the Duke of Gloucester.
These new facilities include a café, a library, and an archive. There are also rooms for conferences and educational activities. Plus, the museum in the twelve upstairs rooms of the 1748 building has been expanded and made more interactive.
Because it is the oldest building built specifically for Methodists in the world, John Wesley's New Room has become a very important place. People from all over the world visit it as a place of pilgrimage.
