Spotted this place out of the corner of my eye while driving through
Kingswood Bristol, its right on the main shopping street, small rusty
gates with an overgrown path to a church.
View through the gates.
I parked the car and considered climbing the gates on the main road
to gain access to the site, bit too public with a lot of cctv in the
area so I decided to have a walk around the block to see if I could
find an easier and more discrete way in?
Down the road and around the corner I found this which is the original
Whitfield Tabernacle building which dates from 1741, I didn't see the
programme but I believe it was mentioned on the BBC series Restoration
due to its grade 1 listing and terrible condition.
Just past the above building I found a gap in the hedgerow and squeezed
myself through to find myself in a large overgrown graveyard, so where
the hell was the building I'd see from the main road? After a fight through
nettles, brambles and fly tipped rubbish I eventually found the side of the
church its a much later buiding dating from 1851.
The original Tabernacle building of 1741 was extended in 1802 and 1830. However by the mid 19th Century the old meeting room was too small and outdated to accommodate the growing congregation and a new church was built nearby.
This was designed to Henry Masters and was completed in 1851. This served until 16th October 1983 when the Church was finally closed due to falling attendances.
The Tabernacle, Masters Church, Chapel House and associated Graveyard remain unused and are falling into disrepair. They are currently owned by the United Reformed Church.
The Tabernacle is Listed as a Grade 1 building and the Chapel House Grade II. This means that it is very important that they be retained for their architectural interest and also for their part in the Religious Revolution that changed the world.
Masters Church front.
Inside.
Its in a terrible state from arson and neglect, the floors completely screwed
and theres piles of minging pigeon shit everywhere. Graffiti on the pillars
and pretty much all of the windows are broken, I've been in quite a few
churches in my time but I didn't dig the vibe of this place so I didn't hang
about I just took a few pics and left, I will go back though I want a better
look around at all of the three buildings at this location.
Few more pics from inside the Masters Church.
Next to the original Tabernacle building is the chapel house also
looking rather the worse for wear, I didn't attempt to gain access
to either the house or the original Tabernacle as they are a bit too
close to residential property. At some point I will have a go but it
will have to be first thing in the morning, both of these buildings
have sadly suffered from repeated arson attacks and I don't want
a concerned local calling the old bill on me.
Bishop
Kingswood Bristol, its right on the main shopping street, small rusty
gates with an overgrown path to a church.
View through the gates.
I parked the car and considered climbing the gates on the main road
to gain access to the site, bit too public with a lot of cctv in the
area so I decided to have a walk around the block to see if I could
find an easier and more discrete way in?
Down the road and around the corner I found this which is the original
Whitfield Tabernacle building which dates from 1741, I didn't see the
programme but I believe it was mentioned on the BBC series Restoration
due to its grade 1 listing and terrible condition.
Just past the above building I found a gap in the hedgerow and squeezed
myself through to find myself in a large overgrown graveyard, so where
the hell was the building I'd see from the main road? After a fight through
nettles, brambles and fly tipped rubbish I eventually found the side of the
church its a much later buiding dating from 1851.
The original Tabernacle building of 1741 was extended in 1802 and 1830. However by the mid 19th Century the old meeting room was too small and outdated to accommodate the growing congregation and a new church was built nearby.
This was designed to Henry Masters and was completed in 1851. This served until 16th October 1983 when the Church was finally closed due to falling attendances.
The Tabernacle, Masters Church, Chapel House and associated Graveyard remain unused and are falling into disrepair. They are currently owned by the United Reformed Church.
The Tabernacle is Listed as a Grade 1 building and the Chapel House Grade II. This means that it is very important that they be retained for their architectural interest and also for their part in the Religious Revolution that changed the world.
Masters Church front.
Inside.
Its in a terrible state from arson and neglect, the floors completely screwed
and theres piles of minging pigeon shit everywhere. Graffiti on the pillars
and pretty much all of the windows are broken, I've been in quite a few
churches in my time but I didn't dig the vibe of this place so I didn't hang
about I just took a few pics and left, I will go back though I want a better
look around at all of the three buildings at this location.
Few more pics from inside the Masters Church.
Next to the original Tabernacle building is the chapel house also
looking rather the worse for wear, I didn't attempt to gain access
to either the house or the original Tabernacle as they are a bit too
close to residential property. At some point I will have a go but it
will have to be first thing in the morning, both of these buildings
have sadly suffered from repeated arson attacks and I don't want
a concerned local calling the old bill on me.
Bishop
