Tabernacle, Notting Hill
Encyclopedia
The Tabernacle is a Grade II*-listed building in Powis Square, Notting Hill
, west London
, England, built in 1887. The building boasts a Curved Romanesque facade of red brick and terracotta, and towers with broach spires on either side. Today the Tabernacle serves as a cultural arts and entertainment venue for all the community, including a multipurpose theatre (complete with original decor), meeting rooms, music studio, art gallery, bar & kitchen, conservatory and a garden courtyard.
was still owned by the Talbot family) , it was founded as an evangelical
Christian
church in 1869 by the former barrister
Gordon Forlong 1819-1908 , in order to serve as a "non-sectarian Church of Christ". Forlong had been a preacher at the Victoria Hall in Archer St, and was soon able to raise the capital to build a temporary iron church, with a capacity of around 1,000 people.
The iron church was larger than most similar buildings in Kensington, and had an end gallery, the total capacity being for over a thousand people. (ref. 146) The present building, featuring a Romanesque façade of red brick and terracotta was constructed in 1887, during the ministry of Frank Henry White, and was designed by architects Habershon and Fawckner.
These walls breathe “breakthrough”
1888: Lord Shaftesbury opens the ‘old tin’ Talbot Tabernacle on Powis Square.
A corner stone dated 1883 with the name Mrs Henry Reed, Tasmania, is situated at the rear exit of The Tabernacle. This stone is linked to Henry Reed, originally from Doncaster, who was a very wealthy man who was also an evangelist and preacher. He was also linked with Booth of Salvation fame. He settled in Tasmania for many years and although he returned to England and lived for a while in Kent and Yorkshire he returned to Tasmania where he died in 1880. His second wife Margaret Sayres Elizabeth Reed nee Frith would have been the one named on the corner stone and it seems likely that she donated something towards the building of the Tabernacle. This would become more clear if the original accounts have survived.
There is a possible link with Margaret Reed and the area as she may have lived at Porchester Road before she was married. (This road was originally called Connaught). Alhough she was born in Ireland there is a possibility that she lived with her sister and brother-in-law (both also born in Ireland) at the Connaught Road address.
1950s: Powis Square is epicentre of Rachman’s slum empire. As more West Indians come to live in Notting Hill (7000 by 1958), Rachman was one of the few landlords to rent properties to them. But he exploited the situation by overcrowding and overcharging.
1958: Barred from the pubs, the West Indian hustlers built their own scene of illegal ‘blues’ clubs – tensions rise with the white youths of Notting Dale, fanned by Oswald Mosley and his fascists. Riots break out over August Bank Holiday, causing national outcry.
1960’s: Brian Jones lives in Powis Square. Counter Culture takes root nearby. London Free School opens. Michael de Freitas has become Michael X, Britain’s Black Power leader. World Heavy Champion Muhammed Ali visits Portobello Rd.
1966: The first Carnival in Powis Square is started by Rhaune Laslett (15 April 1919 – 28 April 2002)[1] Rhaune was a community activist and the principal organiser of the Notting Hill Fayre or Festival, that evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival.
She set up the 'Children's Play Group' at 34 Tavistock Crescent which was visited on May 15, 1966 by Muhammed Ali prior to his fight against Henry Cooper.[2]
She became president of the London Free School, a coalition of local activists, including some emerging underground artists of the area, particularly John 'Hoppy' Hopkins. John Michell and Michael X provided 26 Powis Terrace as a base and the idea of a free festival which became the Notting Hill Carnival was born.
In a series of articles to newspaper correspondents and in The Grove magazine, Rhuane outlined the aims of the carnival – that the various culture groups of Notting Hill become more familiar with each other's customs, to bring more colour and life to the streets and to counter the perception of the area being a run-down slum. As she stated to The Grove, “We felt that although West Indians, Africans, Irish and many other nationalities all live in a very congested area, there is very little communication between us. If we can infect them with a desire to participate then this can only have good results.”
Out of the new-found energy in and around the Free School, and George Clarks work to establish the Community Workshop, Rhaune established the Notting Hill Neighbourhood Service. One of the first voluntary services to offer free legal and drugs advice as well as an all-round welfare service.[3] The work of the service is featured in a chapter of the book 'Drop Out' by Robin Farquharson.[4]
1968-73: Pink Floyd debut with a residency at All Saints Church Hall. Hawkwind form nearby. The BBC film ‘Interstellar Overdrive’ at The Tabernacle. Hendrix, Marley, Van Morrison and Rolling stones are regulars at The Globe.
1973: The Siege of Notting Hill – local councillors are locked into All Saints Hall to listen to demands that include opening the Tabernacle as a Community Centre and saving the Electric Cinema from redevelopment. The Tabernacle is squatted and will soon become the heart of the community
1974-80: The Tabernacle has become the community arts centre base of the Carnival and the Mangrove steel band (it still is today). Rough Trade opens in ‘76. In ‘77 it is the venue of the Raincoats’ debut gig; and at the end of the 70s, Joe Strummer appears at the time of ‘London Calling’ with Richard Dudanski’s Ladbroke Grove All Stars 101’ers reunion.
The 90’s: The Stones and Pink Floyd rehearse at the Tabernacle. It reopens after a £4 million refurbishment, featuring a new hall, studios, art gallery and bar/restaurant. The first 21st century Portobello Film Festival is screened at the Tab. Joe Strummer dies in 2002. In 2006, the building is used as the rehearsal studio of The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
.
There is much architectural interest in the Tabernacle. The venue has been associated with big names such as Pink Floyd
and The Clash
who performed in the theatre in the 1960s and 1970s and it has direct links with the world famous Notting Hill Carnival
through Carnival Village and its four partner organisations.
2009 – Present: The Tabernacle officially re-opened on Carnival weekend, August 2009. You could say the first six months were a little busy – we’ve had music from the likes of…Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen, Take That, Jamie Cullum, Jarvis Cocker, Speech Debelle, Brett Anderson, Finlay Quaye, Filthy Dukes, Scouting For Girls, Delphic, Miike Snow, Corrine Bailey Rae, James Rhodes, James Marsters, Medium Rare Cabaret…laughs from…Peter Serafinowicz, Stephen Merchant, David Walliams, Kojo, Tim Key, Stewart Lee…talks from…Vivienne Westwood, Lord Gawain Douglas, D J Taylor, Sir Robert Irwin, Dan Cruikshank, Luke Wright, Last Tuesday Society…and regular old friends…Bookslam, London Jazz festival, Carnival comedy club, Portobello Film Festival, Pan Jazz, Hendricks Lecture Series and the Portobello Panto.
For ALL enquiries
Christopher Scholey, General Manager
Events Manager, Events Manager
tel : 0207 221 9700
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, built in 1887. The building boasts a Curved Romanesque facade of red brick and terracotta, and towers with broach spires on either side. Today the Tabernacle serves as a cultural arts and entertainment venue for all the community, including a multipurpose theatre (complete with original decor), meeting rooms, music studio, art gallery, bar & kitchen, conservatory and a garden courtyard.
History
Originally known as The Talbot Tabernacle (in the 1850s the freehold of nearby Portobello FarmPortobello Road
Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London, England. It runs almost the length of Notting Hill from south to north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove. On Saturdays it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London's...
was still owned by the Talbot family) , it was founded as an evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church in 1869 by the former barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
Gordon Forlong 1819-1908 , in order to serve as a "non-sectarian Church of Christ". Forlong had been a preacher at the Victoria Hall in Archer St, and was soon able to raise the capital to build a temporary iron church, with a capacity of around 1,000 people.
The iron church was larger than most similar buildings in Kensington, and had an end gallery, the total capacity being for over a thousand people. (ref. 146) The present building, featuring a Romanesque façade of red brick and terracotta was constructed in 1887, during the ministry of Frank Henry White, and was designed by architects Habershon and Fawckner.
These walls breathe “breakthrough”
1888: Lord Shaftesbury opens the ‘old tin’ Talbot Tabernacle on Powis Square.
A corner stone dated 1883 with the name Mrs Henry Reed, Tasmania, is situated at the rear exit of The Tabernacle. This stone is linked to Henry Reed, originally from Doncaster, who was a very wealthy man who was also an evangelist and preacher. He was also linked with Booth of Salvation fame. He settled in Tasmania for many years and although he returned to England and lived for a while in Kent and Yorkshire he returned to Tasmania where he died in 1880. His second wife Margaret Sayres Elizabeth Reed nee Frith would have been the one named on the corner stone and it seems likely that she donated something towards the building of the Tabernacle. This would become more clear if the original accounts have survived.
There is a possible link with Margaret Reed and the area as she may have lived at Porchester Road before she was married. (This road was originally called Connaught). Alhough she was born in Ireland there is a possibility that she lived with her sister and brother-in-law (both also born in Ireland) at the Connaught Road address.
1950s: Powis Square is epicentre of Rachman’s slum empire. As more West Indians come to live in Notting Hill (7000 by 1958), Rachman was one of the few landlords to rent properties to them. But he exploited the situation by overcrowding and overcharging.
1958: Barred from the pubs, the West Indian hustlers built their own scene of illegal ‘blues’ clubs – tensions rise with the white youths of Notting Dale, fanned by Oswald Mosley and his fascists. Riots break out over August Bank Holiday, causing national outcry.
1960’s: Brian Jones lives in Powis Square. Counter Culture takes root nearby. London Free School opens. Michael de Freitas has become Michael X, Britain’s Black Power leader. World Heavy Champion Muhammed Ali visits Portobello Rd.
1966: The first Carnival in Powis Square is started by Rhaune Laslett (15 April 1919 – 28 April 2002)[1] Rhaune was a community activist and the principal organiser of the Notting Hill Fayre or Festival, that evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival.
She set up the 'Children's Play Group' at 34 Tavistock Crescent which was visited on May 15, 1966 by Muhammed Ali prior to his fight against Henry Cooper.[2]
She became president of the London Free School, a coalition of local activists, including some emerging underground artists of the area, particularly John 'Hoppy' Hopkins. John Michell and Michael X provided 26 Powis Terrace as a base and the idea of a free festival which became the Notting Hill Carnival was born.
In a series of articles to newspaper correspondents and in The Grove magazine, Rhuane outlined the aims of the carnival – that the various culture groups of Notting Hill become more familiar with each other's customs, to bring more colour and life to the streets and to counter the perception of the area being a run-down slum. As she stated to The Grove, “We felt that although West Indians, Africans, Irish and many other nationalities all live in a very congested area, there is very little communication between us. If we can infect them with a desire to participate then this can only have good results.”
Out of the new-found energy in and around the Free School, and George Clarks work to establish the Community Workshop, Rhaune established the Notting Hill Neighbourhood Service. One of the first voluntary services to offer free legal and drugs advice as well as an all-round welfare service.[3] The work of the service is featured in a chapter of the book 'Drop Out' by Robin Farquharson.[4]
1968-73: Pink Floyd debut with a residency at All Saints Church Hall. Hawkwind form nearby. The BBC film ‘Interstellar Overdrive’ at The Tabernacle. Hendrix, Marley, Van Morrison and Rolling stones are regulars at The Globe.
1973: The Siege of Notting Hill – local councillors are locked into All Saints Hall to listen to demands that include opening the Tabernacle as a Community Centre and saving the Electric Cinema from redevelopment. The Tabernacle is squatted and will soon become the heart of the community
1974-80: The Tabernacle has become the community arts centre base of the Carnival and the Mangrove steel band (it still is today). Rough Trade opens in ‘76. In ‘77 it is the venue of the Raincoats’ debut gig; and at the end of the 70s, Joe Strummer appears at the time of ‘London Calling’ with Richard Dudanski’s Ladbroke Grove All Stars 101’ers reunion.
The 90’s: The Stones and Pink Floyd rehearse at the Tabernacle. It reopens after a £4 million refurbishment, featuring a new hall, studios, art gallery and bar/restaurant. The first 21st century Portobello Film Festival is screened at the Tab. Joe Strummer dies in 2002. In 2006, the building is used as the rehearsal studio of The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
The Tabernacle today
The Tabernacle is no longer a place of worship, but continues to serve the secular needs of the local community. The Carnival Village Trust and Tabernacle W11 runs The Tabernacle on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
.
There is much architectural interest in the Tabernacle. The venue has been associated with big names such as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
who performed in the theatre in the 1960s and 1970s and it has direct links with the world famous Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
through Carnival Village and its four partner organisations.
2009 – Present: The Tabernacle officially re-opened on Carnival weekend, August 2009. You could say the first six months were a little busy – we’ve had music from the likes of…Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen, Take That, Jamie Cullum, Jarvis Cocker, Speech Debelle, Brett Anderson, Finlay Quaye, Filthy Dukes, Scouting For Girls, Delphic, Miike Snow, Corrine Bailey Rae, James Rhodes, James Marsters, Medium Rare Cabaret…laughs from…Peter Serafinowicz, Stephen Merchant, David Walliams, Kojo, Tim Key, Stewart Lee…talks from…Vivienne Westwood, Lord Gawain Douglas, D J Taylor, Sir Robert Irwin, Dan Cruikshank, Luke Wright, Last Tuesday Society…and regular old friends…Bookslam, London Jazz festival, Carnival comedy club, Portobello Film Festival, Pan Jazz, Hendricks Lecture Series and the Portobello Panto.
For ALL enquiries
Christopher Scholey, General Manager
Events Manager, Events Manager
tel : 0207 221 9700
External links
- The Tabernacle at www.nottinghill.org Retrieved July 20 2010
- Photo of the Talbot Tabernacle at British History Online Retrieved July 20 2010
- Talbot Tabernacle at British History Online Retrieved July 20 2010