The New Room / John Wesley's Chapel, Bristol
The New Room / John Wesley's Chapel, Bristol
The New Room on Broadmead (The Horsefair) is the world’s oldest Methodist chapel, a Grade I mid-Georgian meeting house founded by John Wesley in 1739.
- Location
- Bristol, City of Bristol
- Country
- England
- County
- City of Bristol
- City / town
- Bristol
- Address
- The Horsefair, Bristol, City of Bristol, BS1 3JE
- Postcode
- BS1 3JE
- Built
- 1739; enlarged 1748; restored 1929
- Architect
- Possibly George Tully; restoration by Sir George Oatley (1929)
- Denomination
- Methodist Church
- Grade
- I
- Style
- Mid Georgian
- Materials
- Roughcast with limestone dressings, hipped pantile roof
- Grid reference
- ST 590 733
- Opening hours
- The chapel is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas
Overview
Historic England records a chapel of 1739, enlarged in 1748, possibly by George Tully, and restored in 1929 by Sir George Oatley. It is roughcast with limestone dressings and a hipped pantile roof, an aisled hall with galleries lit by a central octagonal lantern. Wesley and George Whitefield bought the first Methodist meeting room here in 1739. The restricted site placed living rooms over the meeting house; the lantern lights the whole interior. Original fittings include a two-tier east pulpit, box pews, fixed side benches, the communion table, a 1755 poor box, and a John Snetzler organ of 1761 (given in 1939).
The New Room became the cradle of the worldwide Methodist movement. It remains a place of worship and houses a museum of John and Charles Wesley. Listed Grade I on 8 January 1959, amended 30 December 1994 (NHLE 1202025).