Salvation Army Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salvation Army Hall |
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The former Salvation Army hall in 2015 after conversion into an office
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The former Salvation Army Hall in Godalming, Surrey, England, is now an office building called Aurum House. This building has a long history, being used by three different religious groups since it was built around 1830. Godalming is an old town known for its many different Protestant Christian groups, called Nonconformists. This building first served the Congregationalists, then the Methodists, and later The Salvation Army. It closed in 2012 and was changed into offices. The building is important because of its history and design, so it is a Grade II listed building.
Contents
A Building's Journey: From Chapel to Office
Godalming is an old town with a history of different Christian groups. Many people in the town were Puritans, who were Protestants who wanted to change the Church of England. They often met in private gatherings called conventicles.
Early Days: The Congregationalists
One of these groups was the Congregationalists. By 1730, they had enough followers to buy land on Hart's Lane (now Mint Street). They built a chapel there, which they called Ebenezer Chapel. This chapel was built around 1730.
The Congregationalists grew, and in 1821, they made the building bigger. Around 1830, they rebuilt the chapel on the same spot. But by 1867, the group had become so large that they needed an even bigger place. They decided to sell the Mint Street building.
New Owners: The Methodists
A group of Wesleyan Methodists bought the old chapel for £450. They turned it into Godalming's first permanent Methodist chapel, opening it in 1869. The Methodist group also grew over time.
In 1903, the Methodists built a new, larger church nearby. They kept the Mint Street building at first and rented it to a Salvation Army group. Then, in 1918, they sold it to the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army and Beyond
The Salvation Army made some changes to the building in 1930. The windows were also replaced during the 20th century. The Salvation Army used the hall until September 29, 2012.
After it closed, a plan was made in May 2013 to turn the building into an office. This plan was approved two months later. Today, the building is an office called Aurum House.
A Special Building: Listed Status
The building was given a special status called "Grade II listed" on August 21, 1990. This means it is considered "nationally important and of special interest" because of its history and architecture. It is one of many historic buildings in Godalming.
What the Building Looks Like
The building's walls are made of Bargate stone, a light-brown stone found locally. It has brick details and special corner stones called rusticated quoins. The front of the building, facing Mint Street, is made of painted brick.
The front has three sections, and the top has a triangular shape called a gabled pediment. The main entrance is in the middle, with a window on each side. The windows at the back and sides are arched, while the front windows are straight. Inside, there was once a pulpit (a raised stand for a speaker) on one wall. There was also a gallery, which is like a balcony, but it was later replaced with an upstairs room.
See also
