A ‘More-than-Architectural’ Approach to Faith Spaces: Wesleyan Methodist Spaces in London, 1851–1932

Abstract

Taking spaces of Wesleyan Methodist practice in London between 1851 and 1932 as its case study, this article develops a ‘more-than-architectural’ approach to faith spaces and demonstrates the analytical benefits of its application. Interested in developing an approach to faith spaces simultaneously interested in their physical design, material construction, use and users, this more-than-architectural approach allows purpose-built, temporary and appropriated spaces of faith practice to be studied using the same analytical framework. Applying a more-than-architectural approach to Wesleyan spaces, this article challenges conventional interpretations of the interior design of Wesleyan chapels as static and stable. It considers the huge range of Wesleyan spaces that were used, it analyses the various theological ideals that influenced Wesleyan spaces, explores how non-Wesleyan activities that were conducted in Wesleyan spaces affected their design, and muses over the affect of the ever-changing nature of these spaces’ material form.

Keywords:

• More-than-architectural
• Methodism
• space
• fluidity
• appropriation
• temporality
• becoming

Notes

1. Programme for the laying of the foundation stone of the church, and list of opening, 1904-5. From the Haringey Archives. Idbcm:a/7/2/12/3

2. 29^th December 1873. Highgate Circuit Minute Book 1873-1887. From London Metropolitan Archives. LMA/4009/HC/01/001.

3. 23^rd March 1885. Highgate Circuit Minute Book 1873-1887. LMA. LMA/4009/HC/01/001; 2^nd September 1888. Highgate Circuit Minute Book 1888-1898. LMA. LMA/4009/HC/01/002.

4. 13^th November 1903. Bow Road Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1888–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/153; 23^rd March 1891. Highgate Circuit Minute Book 1888–1898. LMA. LMA/4009/HC/01/002.

5. 1^st November 1887. File marked ‘Old Bow and East End Mission Leaflets 1887–1964’: Bow Road Anniversary Booklet 1887. LMA. ACC/1850/142.

6. 14^th November 1906 and 17^th September 1907. New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book 1848-1925. From Tower Hamlets Local History Library. W/PMC/3/1/1.

7. 5^th February 1904. Bow Road Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1888–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/153. The Trustees of the Bow Road Chapel noted that any social institution using their premises needed to contribute to the trust fund and to cover the cost of the gas they used.

8. Indigent Blind Society used the Church Room at Bow Road Chapel on Mondays and Thursdays from 1929: 4^th February 1929. Bow Road Chapel Trustees Minute Book 1922–1976. LMA. ACC/1850/154; The Court Anne Lodge of Foresters used Bow Road Parlor between 1912–1917: Bow Road Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1888–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/153.

9. 22^nd March 1898, Rev. F Tunbridge held a Railway Temperance Meeting in the schoolhouse at Old Ford Chapel: Old Ford Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1871–1915. LMA. ACC/1850/243; 6^th Feb 1914, The British Women’s Temperance Association was given permission by the Poplar Chapel Trustees to hold a meeting in the Poplar Chapel Vestry: New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book 1846–1925. THLHL. W/PMC/3/1/1.

10. 20^th November 1852. New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book 1846–1925. THLHL. W/PMC/3/1/1; 27^th April 1900. Bow Road Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1888–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/153.

11. King George’s Hall and Institute: A Great War Memorial for Poplar. THLHL. W/PMC/6/1/3/2.

12. King George’s Hall and Institute: Royal Ceremony of Inauguration Program. 15^th November 1920. THLHL. W/PMC/6/1/3/1; King George’s Hall and Institute: A Great War Memorial for Poplar. THLHL. W/PMC/6/1/3/2.

13. Although critical of secular cinema productions, Wesleyans did use cinema for their own purposes. Poplar Chapel ran ‘Cinema Services’ on Sunday evenings in the early twentieth century. (17^th September 1907. New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book 1848–1925. THLHL. W/PMC/3/1/1); Rev. William Lax, Minister of Poplar Wesleyan Chapel from 1903–1937, starred in Mastership (1934), a film produced by Religious Film Society (British Film Institute, 7715); and one of the most important financial supporters of Methodist Central Halls, J. Arthur Rank, supported the production of religious films, established the Rank Organization in 1937 and bought the Odeon Cinema chain in 1938 (Connelly, 2015: 37). However, the cinema run from the Bow Common schoolhouse was used for secular screenings.

14. 29^th April 1913 – 14^th March 1918. Bow Common Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1904-1936. LMA. ACC/1850/147.

15. 14^th March 1918. Bow Common Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1904–1936. LMA. ACC/1850/147.

16. 9^th March 1916. Bow Common Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1904–1936. LMA. ACC/1850/147.

17. 13^th April 1917. Ibid.

18. The interior of Poplar Chapel was redecorated in September 1903, May 1906, April 1908 and the October 1911. New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book, 1848–1925. THLHL. W/PMC/3/1/1. The roof had to be repaired at Bow Road Chapel in November 1900: Bow Road Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1888–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/153.

19. New electric lighting was fitted in Bow Common Chapel in 1921: 21^st January 1921. Bow Common Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1904–1936. LMA. ACC/1850/147. Alternations were made to the design of the Poplar Chapel in 1911 to prevent drafts: 9^th November 1904. New Wesleyan Chapel Poplar Minute Book 1846–1925. LMA. W/PMC/3/1/1.

20. 31^st December 1922. Bow Road Chapel Trustees Account Book January 1920 – September 1954. LMA. ACC/1850/156.

21. 25^th September 1876. Bow Circuit Minutes 1866–1922. LMA. ACC/1850/001.

22. 30^th August 1899. Bow Road Chapel Leaders Meeting Minutes 1898-1937. LMA. ACC/1850/159.

23. The Board of Guardians from the Poplar Union used the Vestry at Old Ford as a vaccination center between 1881 and 1899: Old Ford Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1871–1915. LMA. ACC/1850/243.

24. 6th August 1924, 23rd June 1926 and 20th June 1927. Old Ford Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1920–1976. LMA. ACC/1850/244.

25. 6^th August 1924 and 23^rd June 1926. Old Ford Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1920–1976. LMA. ACC/1850/244.

26. 20^th June 1927. Old Ford Chapel Trustees Meeting Minute Book 1920–1976. LMA. ACC/1850/244.

27. John Wesley wrote a popular medical manual and opened dispensaries at his London and Bristol chapels (Madden 2009: 176). In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, new Central Halls were equipped to provide social and medical support (Connelly 2015: 42).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ruth Slatter (née Mason)

Ruth is a Ph.D. student in the UCL Department of Geography researching the designed spaces and material culture of Wesleyan Methodism in London between 1851 and 1932 and what they can reveal about congregational experiences of Methodism. Ruth's PhD is generously funded by the Wolfson Foundation. She is also a founding member of the Fig.9 experimental history of design collective www.fig9collective.com, a co-editor of www.visit1862.com, an online space dedicated to exploring the 1862 International Exhibition, and a regular blogger for the Journal of Victorian Culture Online. [email protected]