The Gadfield Elm Chapel is the oldest extant chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[Metis_LDS]

I am posting this in celebration of the United KIngdom getting a third Temple in Birmingham UK as announced yesterday.

From the Wikipedia,

The Gadfield Elm Chapel near the village of Pendock in Worcestershire, England, is the oldest extant chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

The structure was built in 1836 as a religious meeting house by the United Brethren, a group of breakaway Primitive Methodists led by Thomas Knighton. In 1840, Latter Day Saint missionary and apostle Wilford Woodruff preached among the United Brethren; ultimately all but one of the 600 members converted to Mormonism. After the conversions, the structure was deeded to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Knighton and John Benbow.

As a chapel of the early Latter Day Saint movement, the building was a centre of activity for the church in the Malvern Hills area. Several regional conferences of the church were held in the chapel, and Brigham Young, who at the time was President of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke there at least once. The chapel was sold by the church in 1842 to help fund the emigration of British Latter Day Saints to America.

The building was privately owned until it was purchased in 1994 by the Gadfield Elm Trust, a group of LDS Church members interested in preserving the chapel. The Trust renovated and restored the chapel, and it was dedicated by the church apostle Jeffrey R. Holland on 23 April 2000.

In 2004, the Trust donated ownership of the chapel to the LDS Church, and it was rededicated by church president Gordon B. Hinckley on 26 May 2004. The chapel is operated as a historical tourist site by the church and admission to the public is free.

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Metis_LDS

[Calm]

Wonderful bit of history, thanks for posting.

[InCognitus]

2 hours ago, Metis_LDS said:

In 2004, the Trust donated ownership of the chapel to the LDS Church, and it was rededicated by church president Gordon B. Hinckley on 26 May 2004. The chapel is operated as a historical tourist site by the church and admission to the public is free.

 

Where is the cultural hall in that chapel?  It must have a huge basement.

But seriously, it's nice to become aware of this site.

[rockpond]

When I traveled to England (2011), if you visited the Gadfield Elm Chapel when it wasn't staffed, you could access it by a key pad on the door.  To get the code, you were given a series of questions with numerical answers designed to test you for a minimal knowledge of LDS teachings.  Questions like:  How many books with the name of Nephi in the Book of Mormon?  And, what is the age of accountability?  It was a fun way to access the building with my kids.

If anyone is there, I highly recommend visiting - it's worth touring.  And, bring a picnic lunch as the grounds are beautiful and peaceful.

*All info above is over a decade old so take it for what it's worth.

[Stargazer]

10 hours ago, Metis_LDS said:

The Gadfield Elm Chapel near the village of Pendock in Worcestershire, England, is the oldest extant chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

I've been there! It is out in the countryside and looks lovely. We got a tour from one of members who is involved in maintaining the site (easy to do since he is an old friend), and was part of the group that acquired it. 

If you're ever in the vicinity, you have to see it.

[Stargazer]

7 hours ago, InCognitus said:

Where is the cultural hall in that chapel?  It must have a huge basement.

But seriously, it's nice to become aware of this site.

It doesn't have a basement, actually. The chapel portion goes all the way to the ceiling. At the entrance vestibule there is a flight of stairs that goes up to an office-like area. 

Here's a neat video about the chapel:

 

[Judd]

3 hours ago, Stargazer said:

It doesn't have a basement, actually.

 

 

[Boanerges]

23 hours ago, InCognitus said:

Where is the cultural hall in that chapel?  It must have a huge basement.

But seriously, it's nice to become aware of this site.

It is England after all. I think it's like Dr. Who's TARDIS - much bigger on the inside.