Progress on 'Greening the Broadmead'

Tuesday 8 February, Strategy Group meeting at the New Room in Bristol

John Wesley's Chapel, Bristol, is the oldest Methodist building in the world. It was built by John Wesley as 'our new room' in 1739, shortly after he started preaching outdoors for the first time. John was invited to speak to the poor of Bristol by his university friend, George Whitefield. As well as being a meeting house for two 'religious societies', the building was also for education and dispensing medical care and a lodging for John and, later, fellow travelling preachers.

Today, the Georgian chapel and lodging rooms are open for visitors Monday to Saturday, and are a venue for worship and cultural events. The upstairs rooms house a museum focusing on early Methodism and the life of 18th century itinerant preachers.

The chapel is surrounded by the multi-million pound Broadmead shopping centre in the heart of Bristol. Already, inside the chapel can be an oasis of calm in the bustling shopping streets, but now an ambitious project is underway to create a relaxing green space outside the chapel.

Hard landscaping is well underway for 'Greening the Broadmead'. The trustees are planning the official openig and dedication of the garden in the evening on 24 May, known by Methodists as 'Wesley Day' - the anniversary of John Wesley's 'conversion' in 1739.

All will be very welcome to celebrate at the chapel: for more details and updates on the garden works visit the New Room website.