Whitfield'S Tabernacle

Whitfield's Tabernacle is an important surviving example of the 18th century evangelical movement, built in 1741 and enlarged in 1802. The building features rendered rubble walls and a pantile roof divided into three hipped sections, with the center section slightly higher than the side sections and eaves all around. The entrance elevation facing Park Road has three cambered-headed window openings on the upper level and three flat-headed openings on the lower level, with sashes that have glazing bars in exposed wooden frames. To the right, there is a plain square-headed door opening with a recessed door. A bronze plaque notes that the building was erected by George Whitfield BA and John Cennick in 1741, marking it as Whitfield's first tabernacle and the oldest existing memorial to his significant role in the 18th century revival. The right-hand end elevation includes two plain doors, one at each end, and a cambered-headed window above, along with three tall semi-circular headed windows in the center, also with sashes and glazing bars in exposed wood frames. There is a mid-19th century two-storey vestry and committee room extension to the west. Inside, the building features a gallery on three sides supported by corner columns with palmette caps, and panelled galleries, one of which includes the original preaching stone. The original building has a central roof, while the flanking roofs were added in 1802 along with the galleries.