Church and Chapel Architecture, with an Account of the Hebrew Church

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 edition. Excerpt: ...of the age. We cannot conclude this brief notice of the chapels of the Wesleyans in England, without adverting to the first erected in the sister country of America, and which, like those of the Foundry and Bristol here, may be regarded as the mother church of that numerous and influential body, the Wesleyan Episcopal church of America. The first meeting house was a log hut; but subsequently, through the interest of Captain Webb, a piece of ground was procured upon Golden Hill, a rising ground near the borders of New York, and now named John street. Materials were purchased, and contracts entered into in the names of those individuals who joined Captain Webb, in the undertaking. The building was 60ft. long by 42ft. wide. It was opened on the 30th October, 1768, by Mr. Embury; who, being by trade a carpenter, had himself constructed the pulpit from which he preached. It had an area in front about 30ft. square, separated from the street by a wooden fence. There were three square headed windows, surmounted by a circular one near the roof, below which was an arched door; and subsequently side entrances by steps to the galleries; the women and the men going in on different sides, as in England. In order to reach the galleries, when first erected, it was necessary to mount by a ladder and then to sit upon the platforms; and for a long time benches only, without backs were provided below. Such was the construction of the first Methodist chapel in the western world; such the spot where was to be sown the seed destined to spread throughout that vast continent, with unparalleled rapidity and success. The chapels in America, are in general very superior, and capable of accommodating numerous congregations; the first above referred to, was calculated...