Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood

Infobox Historic building


caption=Front View
name=Whitefield's Tabernacle
location_town=Kingswood
location_country=England
architect=
client=George Whitefield
engineer=
construction_start_date=
completion_date=1741
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style=
size=

Whitefield's Tabernacle (gbmapping|ST648738) is a Congregational church (now United Reformed) in Kingswood, a town on the eastern edge of Bristol where George Whitefield preached in the open air to coal miners. The name refers to two buildings in which the church met.

It originally met in the Second Kingswood School, which was built in the first half of the 18th century for George Whitefield and John Cennick after a separation occurred between them and John Wesley. The former school building was expanded to a large size, and is a grade I listed building, [cite web | title=Whitfield's Tabernacle | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=28737 | accessdate=2007-03-13] . It is now roofless and derelict after an arson attack. [cite web | title=Kingswood Whitefield Tabernacle | work=Memories of Bristol England Past and Present | url=http://www.bristolhistory.com/?pageid=58937 | accessdate=2007-03-21]

In 1851 a very large gothic building, designed by Henry Masters, was constructed a little to the west of the original. In the late 20th century this building was closed and the United Reformed Church congregation moved back into the original 18th century building for a few years, before leaving both buildings to join together for worship with another congregation associated with the 18th-century revival, the Moravian Church, in the Moravian building on the other side of the main road.

In 2003 the Tabernacle featured in the BBC's Restoration series [cite web | title=WHITFIELD TABERNACLE | work=BBC - History - Restoration - Series 1 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2003/#whitfieldtabernacle | accessdate=2007-03-21]

As of 2007, there are plans for the redevelopment of the three listed buildings on the Tabernacle site, namely the two churches and the 18th century Chapel House. Besides various proposed memorial facilities, the plan includes flats in the Chapel House and the 19th century building. [cite web | title=Kingswood Whitefield Tabernacle | work=Memories of Bristol England Past and Present | url=http://www.bristolhistory.com/?pageid=58937 | accessdate=2007-03-21]

Gallery

See also [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=london+st,+kingswood,+bristol&layer=&sll=51.483361,-2.500248&sspn=0.012935,0.043259&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=51.463351,-2.506522&spn=0.000974,0.002704&t=k&om=1 Google Maps] for an aerial view giving a clearer idea of the buildings' location and scale.

References

ee also

* Churches in Bristol
* Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
* Whitefield's Tabernacle - disambiguation page with a list of churches by this name

External links

* [http://www.bristolhistory.com/?pageid=58937 Memories of Bristol England Past and Present page on the Kingswood Tabernacle] Page about current restoration projects on both buildings, with some photos
*EHbarName|Whitfields+tabernacle