About

The Museum at the New Room tells the incredible story of the lives of John and Charles Wesley, the early beginnings of Methodism and its relevance today.

Explore 12 interactive rooms which take you on a fascinating journey into the world of Methodism in the 18th and 19th centuries. During your visit you will discover what life was like in Georgian Bristol and how Methodism spread throughout Britain, America and across the rest of the world.

Discover how the New Room played a vital role in providing healthcare and education for those in need and how John Wesley took a stand against slavery. Discover the challenges faced by Wesley in his fight for social justice and be inspired to continue that work today.

Early Beginnings

In 1739 George Whitefield invited John Wesley to preach in the open-air in Bristol. John accepted the invitation and began preaching to miners in Kingswood, 4 miles from the centre of Bristol. Within a few weeks work started on building a meeting place for two religious societies in the city. The building was put up in such haste that 9 years later in 1748 a ‘New Room’ was needed, adding an upper floor in order to accommodate visiting preachers’ bedrooms and a common room around a beautiful octagonal window. The preachers’ bedrooms are now home to the museum exploring the New Room’s early history and its importance in Bristol heritage.

Being well placed in the heart of the city, the New Room became a centre for the Wesleys’ work in Bristol. It was where John’s strong sense of social justice was first expressed. The New Room became a base for running a school for the poor, for providing food and clothes to the needy, for offering free medical care to the sick, and for helping those in the nearby prison. It was also the first place to use John Wesley’s ‘class’ system, where members were divided into sub-groups for mutual support and development.

The New Room was one of John Wesley’s three key centres. Many of the annual conferences were held there, including the one that first created Methodist circuits. Bristol’s trading links encouraged the growth of American Methodism. Thomas Webb, Francis Asbury, and others committed themselves to working there and sailed from nearby Pill. It was in Bristol that Wesley ordained some lay preachers in 1786 to become clergy in America and the New Room was a launching pad for his anti-slavery campaign.

Adults £7
Children (5-16) £4
Senior (over 65) £6
Student £6
Child (under 5)  Free
Carer Free

Family (1 adult and up to 3 childre) £10
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children ) £15*

*each additional child, £2 per child

All tickets to the museum are valid for one year from the date of purchase.