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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Original Mormon chapel reopens
London UK Times 24Apr00 D1
By Ruth Gledhill: Religion Correspondent
ELDERSFIELD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of
the Quorum of the Twelve rededicated what the London Times calls the
"world's first Mormon chapel" as a museum of LDS history in Great
Britain. The restored building will also be used for "religious
celebrations" on occasion.
The chapel was built in 1836 by the United Brethren, a Christian group
from which many Mormons of that era converted, and given to the Mormons
in 1840. It was later sold in the 19th century to assist poor Mormon
converts in emigrating to Utah. At one time it served a total of 40 LDS
congregations from the surrounding 15-mile area.
LDS Church spokesman Bryan Grant says the church tried to make the
building as authentic as possible. "The chapel has been restored as far
as possible to how it would have been more than 150 years ago. We had
artists' drawings and photographs of the chapel as it was."
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