Chapel/hall

From BrethrenPedia

[edit] Chapel / Hall

A building that is built that is plain and of simple design. The building can be called a Hall or a Chapel. Among the Exclusive Brethren, the building is sometimes called the Meeting Room.

The idea of the building is to have a central location for the saints to come together. Many assemblies meet in homes but with growth a home can not hold the saints as they gather to remember the Lord. The Lord has blessed many assemblies with strong growth and a Hall to meet that growth.

Some might argue that the concept of an assembly building is not part of the New Testament pattern. In the book of Acts, the disciples went from house to house breaking bread. When they required a larger gathering place, they might rent a room. When an assembly grew too large to meet in a house, new gatherings in new neighbourhoods would crop up, ensuring the testimony was spread throughout the city. Gospel preaching was done in the open air and in the synagogue, wherever people were to be found.