Restoration hopes for city base of 'people's preacher' evangelist

Now the site of alleged supernatural happenings is set to be restored to its former glory – and turned into a centre of healing, a museum and coffee shop.

Bowland Street Mission, squeezed between a taxi firm and a takeaway in Manningham, Bradford, is where the extraordinary "people's preacher" Wigglesworth had his base.

News that the building is to be restored and used to continue his ministry has already had believers from around the world booking flights for Bradford.

Brian Holland, of Idle, with his wife Kathryn, and international preacher and broadcaster Terry Quinn are founding members of the Smith Wigglesworth Foundation, which has agreed a long-term lease on the building.

The plan is to restore the building back to its original 1889-1919 design, the heyday of Smith and his wife Polly's ministry in Bradford.

Mr Holland said: "I have been studying Wigglesworth for nearly two decades and while only a select number of Bradfordians know about this guy, he is big news around the world.

"Wigglesworth was a catalyst for the charismatic revival of the church and one of the fathers of the Pentecostal church. So, we have had inquiries from everywhere wondering if the rumours are true and wanting to know when they can come."

Yesterday a dedication service was held in Manningham to herald the official start of the project.

Underneath the building is the baptistry, where local people were immersed under the water to signify a fresh beginning as they chose to follow Christ.

All the building work will be funded by public donations, gathered from around the world – especially the USA where Wigglesworth's fiery meetings have become the stuff of legend.

Medical doctors in Sweden and clergy of the Lutheran state church were so incensed at his practice of laying hands on anyone for prayer that he was banned from doing so.

The group plans to open at the end of April with the purpose of showing God's love through a healing touch alongside preaching from the Bible.

They will hold ministry weekends, conduct heritage tours and hold one-day lectures.

Mr Quinn said: "We aim to hold Saturday night meetings enabling people to attend their own churches as well as visit the mission. We are not a church and don't intend to become one.

"Wigglesworth belonged to the wider church, taking Holy Communion in the Church of England, serving alongside the Salvation Army and of course ministering with the revivalists.

"Smith was a poor lad from Menston who moved to Bradford with his family to work in a mill and later established himself as a plumber. He really was a straight-talking lad, very much one of the people and, like him, we will welcome everyone in who wants to see what goes on. We are preparing to see visitors from across the globe."

Mr Holland, who met Mr Quinn when he moved to the Bradford district from Scotland, said: "The enormity of this is awesome, especially for Bradford.

"This is a vision I have carried for many years."

Smith Wigglesworth is sometimes referred to as the Apostle of Faith, and was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago.

Thousands came to the Christian faith in his meetings, and there were claims that hundreds were healed of serious illnesses and diseases.

Wigglesworth himself believed that God had cured him of appendicitis and much of his ministry was focused on faith healing. Miracles were attributed to him.