Loughwood Meeting House, Protestant church building in Dalwood, England
Loughwood Meeting House is a stone building with a thatched roof and buttressed walls that sits into a hillside, framed by Devon countryside views through simple windows. The structure remains largely unchanged from its original form.
Built in 1653 during a period of religious persecution, this Baptist meeting house operated in secret with access only through narrow woodland paths. The location and design reflect how the community needed to worship discreetly.
The interior layout with wooden bench seating, central pulpit, and musicians' gallery reflects how the congregation worshipped and valued music in their services. The simple, unadorned design shows the Protestant values of this community.
The National Trust manages this property with a small gravel parking area for about three cars. No modern facilities such as restrooms are available on site.
Two chambers beneath the west gallery served as cooking rooms for all-day Sunday services, showing how long these gatherings lasted. This setup reveals the community's commitment to extended worship and shared meals.
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