27 October, 2011 GOSPEL HALL


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GOSPEL HALL

The meeting place of the Open Brethren, was built in 1949 to replace meeting rooms in Long Street. 

The congregation of Open Brethren was established by 1897 when amongst others, Mr Cherry, who was influenced by George Muller of Bristol, to consider renting an old woolcombing room behind 55 Long Street as there were enough people locally to desire a local meeting place. They converted the room to house pews and a small baptistry. Around 1900 there were 30 people on the church list, which with others meant that up to 60 could have been worshipping in the rooms every week. A great influence to the fellowship was locally born Dr Campbell Morgan. The building was purchased during the Second World War with the intention of altering it to make it more suitable for it's intended use. However major work was found to be needed. An alternative was needed and after prayer meetings Hilda Cleaver and a friend felt led to a plot of ground near the current chapel. A new building was erected by Reg Cox, a local builder, with Eddie Long. The building was opened officially on 3 December 1949. A prayer meeting on the 12 November saw the building opened to the congregation and a agreement was made between the committee of management: Ralph Cleaver, Edmund Jesse Houghton, Stephen Henry Collis Parslow & Frederick George Pitman, and a number representative of the assembly: Henry Wittern, David Hacker, Vivian Topps & Richard Peyton.

Gospel Hall May 2005

Photo © Lynne Cleaver 2005

Sources:

'Gathered Together' the History of Nonconformist Worship in Tetbury, by Robert Smith. 1998

Documents held by Mr R Wakefield, Tetbury

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