Framlingham Unitarian Meeting House

OUR MEETING HOUSE

A simple but beautiful brick ‘preaching box’ that reflects the Puritan origins of its congregation

The Meeting House was built in 1717 by a congregation of Protestant Dissenters. The structure is a simple but beautiful brick ‘preaching box’ that reflects the Puritan origins of its congregation.

The original interior arrangement was described in 1834 as having galleries on three sides (only one remains). At some point in the 19th century the interior was ‘turned’, i.e. the pulpit was switched from the long side wall to the short end wall (a change reversed in the 2010/2011 restoration); the original box pews were replaced with bench pews; two galleries were removed and a window and a door were blocked. The door has now been reopened.

Although the present pulpit is unlikely to be original, a point of interest is the naive carving of a dove representing the Holy Spirit. Memorials from the Unitarian Chapel in Bedfield (closed in 2010) can be seen in the gallery.

The burial ground behind the Meeting House was used from 1792 to the mid nineteenth century.

The house next door to the Meeting House is the old manse (purchased in 1757) but it is no longer in Unitarian ownership.

(Based on words of former Framlingham minister, Rev. Cliff Reed)

Please note that our building has disabled access and toilet facilities with disabled access.