Features / religion
A glimpse inside a hidden piece of Methodist history in Stokes Croft
Easter celebrations started early for Bristol Methodists who have taken part in recording a special BBC TV series exploring Easter traditions across the country.
Britain’s Easter Story is a two–part series to be broadcast on BBC One on Good Friday and Easter Sunday with TV choir master Gareth Malone and gospel choir conductor Karen Gibson, who travelled across the UK to explore the stories behind our Easter traditions.
The BBC filmed at the New Room in John Wesley’s Chapel in Broadmead and in Charles Wesley’s House on Charles Street.
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“We had more than a hundred people come along, and we will be looking out for them when the programmes are broadcast this Easter,” said David Worthington, director of the New Room.
Number 4 Charles Street was home to Charles Wesley, his wife Sarah and their children – Charles Junior, Sarah and Samuel, between 1766 and 1771
Charles Wesley’s house is owned by the Bristol Methodist Conference
The house opened to the public in 1999
Charles Street at the time was described as not a ‘highly desirable residential location’
The kitchen was the hub of the household, and it’s thought that Charles Wesley was vegetarian. Food would have been simple, which was common for early Methodists.
This is a replica of a dresser from the time. The kitchen would have been the warmest room in the house and the Wesleys had a cat that lived there to keep mice and rats away, possibly named Grimalkin.
“I passed the hour of retirement in my garden and was melted into tears by the divine goodness,” says Charles’ diary from September 2, 1749. The current garden is along the lines of a typical Georgian style
From 1933 to the 1980s, the house was used mainly as accommodation for Methodist students
The bed is a copy of John Wesley’s bed at the New Room
Many of Charles’ hymns would be written in the study
Charles Wesley loved music, but the piano would more likely have been played by Sarah and Charles Junior Wesley as Charles himself wasn’t very musical
Charles Wesley’s House can be visited by pre-booked group tours of ten or more people all year round and is also open during Bristol Open Doors from September 13-15. For more information, visit www.charleswesleyhouse.org.uk. For details of visits, email info@newroombristol.org.uk
All photos by Vivien Nagy
Read more: Bespoke stained glass window installed at the New Room
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