Lewin's Mead Unitarian meeting house facts for kids
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The Lewin's Mead Unitarian meeting house was once a Unitarian church in Bristol, England. Today, it serves new purposes.
About the Building
This historic building, called a meeting house, was built between 1788 and 1791. It stands in an area of Bristol called Lewin's Mead. Before this church, a chapel from 1705 was on the same spot. Even earlier, it was the site of a Franciscan monastery, which is a type of religious community.
The church was designed by William Blackburn. He used a style called Neoclassical, which means it looked like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It was built to hold about 400 people. There were also stables and a coach-house for horses and carriages. Later, a lecture room was added in 1818, and schoolrooms were built in 1826. Some records even suggest it could hold up to 1000 people!
Since 1959, the building has been a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected. In 1987, it was changed into offices by architects named Feilden Clegg. It became the home for a company that helps with building projects, called Provelio.
In January 2017, a group of Church of England churches called Emmanuel Bristol bought the building. They now use it for their city centre church meetings.
The People Who Worshipped Here
In the 1700s, the people who attended this church were quite wealthy. They formed a strong community in Bristol.
One important minister, or religious leader, was Lant Carpenter. He served the church from 1817 to 1839. Lant Carpenter was the father of Mary Carpenter, who became a famous social reformer. She worked to improve society and help those in need.
Today, Unitarians still meet in Bristol at other places. These include Frenchay Chapel and Brunswick Square.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
