Merrion Hall, Dublin
From BrethrenPedia
Merrion Hall was founded as a direct result of the "Great Revival" that swept over Ireland 1859-1860 thru the evangelistic ministry of Dwight Lyman Moody and his musical companion Ira David Sankey, not to mention follow-up evangelism of Joseph Denham Smith who eventually served as the first resident worker at Merrion.
It was built in 1863 near the Georgian "Merrion Square", as possibly the largest Brethren assembly in the world, and was also the 2nd assembly built in Dublin (the 1st being Aungier Street Hall, among private house meetings). "The Dublin Builder", upon its completion and opening, referred that "it may be regarded in somewhat the same light as the Spurgeon Tabernacle".
In fact, its "double deck preacher's platform" was said to have been "almost identical to that of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. Merrion also contained three completely oval galleries. The lower hall in the basement contained a below-floor baptism pool.
Contents
Early Days
The founders were William Fry, Henry Bewley, and Joseph Denham Smith (the evangelist forementioned). It was decided to erect a building that would serve as an "evangelistic centre" for Ireland brethren. In 1862, a suitable site was selected in Lower Merrion Street, regarded by many as one of the best positions near the center of Dublin.
The vision was for a building that would accommodate 2,500 persons. Voluntary subscriptions raised a sum of £5,000 towards the total cost of nearly £17,000 for the new building, which was completed and officially opened on August 26th, 1863.
The first trustees for the building were William Fry, Henry Bewley, with Hon. Somerset Maxwell.
Design
The description of the interior and exterior design, as described by the forementioned trades magazine, can be found at the Wikipedia article on Merrion Hall.
The cost was described as £16,000, including the fittings and furniture. This is equivalent to $20,906.00 in American dollars, which translates into $418,129 in 2018 with an inflation calculator. The dimensions of the site covered an area of 6,800 superficial feet, 85 feet width by 90 feet in depth. The building seated about 3,500, and, with standing room, would accommodate 5,000.
Architect
The architect was Alfred Gresham Jones (1824-1915) whose other designs can be found here.
One of Jones' other notable designs included the Dublin International Exhibit Building in 1863, which was cofounded by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (1798-1868) initially towards an arts and manufacturing world's fair in 1865 attended by one million people.
The Exhibit building was influenced by the Crystal Palace in London, England. This latter building was converted in 1908 into the central building of University College Dublin, and in 1981 reopened as the National Concert Hall.
Other Workers
- Ventilation system: Edmunson & Company; System designed by cofounder Henry Bewley.
- General contractor: Cockburn & Sons
- Iron work: Mr. Strong, of Hammond-lane.
1878 Mortgage
By 1878, the mortgage had been completely paid, after the death of Henry Bewley.
1904 Renovation
Extensive repairs and improvements were undertaken which included new drainage and the installation of a modern heating plant for the main hall. Soon afterwards, electric lighting replaced the gas illumination.
Ministry
Evangelists
Evangelists and other spiritual workers have included Denham Smith, Fred Elliott, Harold Wildish, Hudson Pope, Victor Cirel, Robert Pettifer, Raymond C. Stevenson, R.A. Lewis, William Houghton Fry, and many others. In the early days, Merrion Hall attracted many in the afternoons from the Church of Ireland, of both clergy and laity.
Sunday School
In 1951, the children's Sunday School required over 80 teachers each.
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Adult Teachers
Early
Early preachers included Richard Weaver, George Ferdinand Muller, Dr. Thomas John Barnardo, Denham Smith, Henry Grattan Guinness, Francis Christopher Bland, and others.
Later
Visiting preachers have included: Harold Barker, Albert Fallaize, George Harpur, Charles Frederick Hogg, George Cecil Douglas Howley, Henry Pickering, Ebenezer William Rogers, Dr. Stephen S. Short, Harold St. John, William Edwy Vine, and others.
Missions
Fruits born by early missionary study groups resulted in many called to the Lord's work in Africa, India, South America and Portugal. Missionary study classes were continuing at least into the 1960's. Regular open air meetings were held in Lower O'Connell St., and the assembly engaged in neighborhood pastoral visiting, tract distibution, summer Gospel Caravan outreach, Scripture text poster displays, and a recorded telephone ministry. Further, in the 1960's, there was an evangelistic outreach entitled "Look and Live", chronicled in a local newsletter "Opportunity and Responsibility in Ireland".
Military
In 1923, the Hall was occupied by the military for a short time. The sound fabric of the building even resisted the blast of a mine explosion nearby at some point, sustaining reparable but superficial damage. World War One and World War Two reduced attendances. Meetings for the army and police forces were meeting at least into the early 1960's.
Guinness
Benjamin Lee Guinness, Anglican
Benjamin Lee Guinness was son of Arthur Guinness the founder of the brewery by the same name. Benjamin inherited the brewery at the death of his father in 1855, which made him "the richest man in Ireland", his estate was valued at $1.1 million, the largest will to date. He is also credited with investing $135 million in the 1840's railways, and undertaking the restoral of St. Patrick's Cathedral 1860-1865 at $2.3 million at his own expense. Values listed in 2018 terms.
Henry Grattan Guinness, Brethren
First cousin of Benjamin's was Henry Grattan Guinness, early Brethren missiologist that served as an elder at Merrion Hall, while simultaneously founding his "Training Home for Evangelists and Missionaries" in a large, rented Georgian house at 31 Upper Baggot St. Henry's daughter Minnie later became one of Hudson Taylor's most well-known biographers, and comfort in trial.
Eight men gathered in Henry's home to study Paley's "Evidences of Christianity" four evenings a week, including:
- Charles Fishe and his brother Edward Fishe, sons of a retired colonel of the East India Company's Horse Artillery.
- John McCarthy, who Michele Guinness in her volume, "Genius of Guinness", described as a "thoughtful, older man, married with three children, all of whom would make pioneer missionary explorers one day".
- Tom Barnardo, who was the Guinness childrens' favorite Sunday School teacher at Merrion.
Closing
The brethren assembly occupied the building until 1988 when it was sold by the trustees to the Eastview Property Co., a developer with intent to convert it into office space, when a point came where size of membership no longer justified the cost of upkeep. The proceeds from the sales were distributed in thirds, with one third going to the remaining assembly at what is now Irishtown Gospel Hall, Dublin in a school they had purchased, another third was given to the Dublin Young Men's Christian Association, and the remaining third was given to Dublin Christian Mission. The Irishtown Gospel Hall later closed in 2006.
May 2, 1991, a fire destroyed much of the original building with the exception of the Italian facade. The building was subsequently rebuilt as the Davenport Hotel, which was remodeled in 2005, and is currently branded as the 5-star Merrion Hotel.
Merrion Hall in Popular Culture
- The building was used as a film location for the 1991 film Hear My Song portraying a London night club.
- One of the few religious buildings mentioned in James Joyce's "Ulysses" is Merrion Hall.
Website
Also See
- 1865 Merrion Hall J. Denham Smith lecture notes published by S.W. Partridge, London, and distributed by "J. Robertson and Co." in Dublin. Printed by "Porteous and Gibbs" in Dublin.
- Guggi, Bono and the Brethren
