| Formation | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered Charity |
| Purpose | Save and protect non-Anglican places of worship no longer used by their congregations |
| Website | www |
TheHistoric Chapels Trust is a BritishRegistered Charity set up to care forredundant non-Anglican churches, chapels, and places of worship in England. To date, its holdings encompass variousnonconformist Christiandenominations andRoman Catholic sites.
Established in 1993, the Trust takes into ownership buildings of exceptional architectural and historic significance that are no longer used by their congregations. In practice this means buildingslisted Grade I or II* byEnglish Heritage. It was founded in response to the large number of places of worship that were being demolished or destroyed by insensitive conversion and it remains the only body with this mission in England.
Once acquired, the buildings are repaired and restored, and then available for new, mostly secular, community uses. The places of worship can be of anydenomination or faith, other than the Anglican Church. To date they have includedNonconformist chapels of theMethodist,Unitarian,Baptist,Lutheran denominations, twoCongregationalist chapels, twoQuaker meeting houses and fourRoman Catholic churches. The Trust has the power to take synagogues and non-Christian places of worship but in spite of negotiations has not yet done so.[1] The Trust arranges for the chapels to be open to the public at advertised times, and wherever possible it introduces disabled access. Its policy is that the chapels should be used for community activities, including concerts, lectures, conferences, exhibitions, and any other activity compatible with conservation of the building. The Trust also encourages the use of the buildings for services of worship.[2]
At about half of its sites the Trust has formed a volunteer local committee to organise events, arrange occasional services of worship. At others it engages volunteers as key-holders and to assist with the maintenance of sites. Whenever possible and appropriate, the Trust installs modern heating and lighting, kitchens and toilets.[2] In 2012 the Trust declared amoratorium on rescuing new sites unless they are donated together with endowment funds, a policy it will review if finances allow.
Directors of the Trust were Dr.Jenny Freeman 1993 – 2011. On her retirement Dr Freeman was awarded anOBE for her services to heritage. Roland Jeffery held the post of Director 2013–2018.
The Trust has no endowment and receives no direct government grant. Its resources are won fromEnglish Heritage, theHeritage Lottery Fund, money earned by events at the buildings, grants from trusts and foundations, legacies from Supporters and donations from individuals and Patrons. This is in contrast with the largerChurches Conservation Trust, which received 70 percent of its funding from theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Church of England but which can only take into care Anglican buildings.[2]
The Trust is a secular UK registered charity and operates only in England. Since 2015 the President of the Trust is theRt Hon Lord Beith.[3] In 2018 the charity announced that because of the uncertainty of future funding the Trust's office would close with immediate effect and its work managed on Trustees' behalf by theChurches Conservation Trust, anAnglican not for profit organisation.[4] This arrangement was terminated in 2023.
In spite of its meagre resources the Trust has to date rescued 20 properties.[1] Some have been semi-derelict buildings, such as theDissenters' Chapel inKensal Green Cemetery, andSalem Chapel inEast Budleigh, Devon. Some chapels are in remote locations, such asBiddlestone Chapel in Northumberland,Farfield Friends Meeting House in West Yorkshire, andPenrose Methodist Chapel in Cornwall. Others are in urban areas, such asWallasey Memorial Unitarian Church in Merseyside, andSt George's German Lutheran Church in London. Some are small and simple, large and elaborate buildings, such as theBethesda Methodist Chapel inHanley, Staffordshire,Todmorden Unitarian Church in West Yorkshire,Umberslade Baptist Church in theWest Midlands, and theShrine of Our Lady of Lourdes inBlackpool, Lancashire. During the first 13 years of its existence, the Trust won ten architectural awards, including aEuropa Nostra Award for the Dissenters' Chapel.[2]
| Name | Location | Photograph | Date[A] | Notes | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farfield Friends Meeting House | Addingham, West Yorkshire 53°57′44″N1°53′08″W / 53.9621°N 1.8855°W /53.9621; -1.8855 (Farfield Friends Meeting House) | %2c_Addingham_-_geograph.org.uk_-_675716.jpg) | 1689 | This is a small, simpleQuaker meeting house built immediately after theAct of Toleration, on land previously used as a burial ground. Outside the meeting house are five chest tombs of an unusual type for a Quaker burial ground.[5][6] | II* |
| Walpole Old Chapel | Walpole, Suffolk 52°19′24″N1°28′54″E / 52.3232°N 1.4816°E /52.3232; 1.4816 (Walpole Old Chapel) | _Congregational_Chapel_-_geograph.org.uk_-_68604.jpg) | 1689 | Built as soon as allowed by theAct of Toleration, the chapel was converted from an existing farmhouse. Initially used by a group ofIndependent Christians, it later became aCongregational chapel. In the 1860s, it was taken over by thePrimitive Methodists.[7][8][9] | II* |
| Cote Baptist Chapel | Bampton, Oxfordshire 51°43′32″N1°29′35″W / 51.7255°N 1.4930°W /51.7255; -1.4930 (Cote Baptist Chapel) |  | 1703–04 | The chapel was built for a group ofBaptists originating on the other side of theRiver Thames. It was enlarged in the 1750s, and in the late 1850s underwent an extensive restoration. Following another restoration in the 1990s, it is now used for weddings, concerts, and other events.[10][11] | II* |
| Salem Chapel | East Budleigh, Devon 50°39′28″N3°19′00″W / 50.6577°N 3.3167°W /50.6577; -3.3167 (Salem Chapel, East Budleigh) |  | 1719 | Initially aPresbyterian chapel, it was later used byCongregationalists, and then by theAssemblies of God. Adjacent to it is a separate assembly room. It is now used for concerts and other events, weddings, and the occasional church service.[12][13] | II* |
| Coanwood Friends Meeting House | Haltwhistle, Northumberland 54°55′27″N2°27′15″W / 54.9243°N 2.4541°W /54.9243; -2.4541 (Coanwood Friends Meeting House) |  | 1720 | This meeting house stands in an isolated position and is unchanged since it was built, other than the replacement of itsthatched roof withslates. The interior retains its original layout, with rows of benches for the congregation andelders still in place. In the burial ground are typicalQuaker gravestones, some of which commemorate the Wigham family, who helped to found the meeting house.[14][15] | II* |
| Grittleton Strict Baptist Chapel | Grittleton, Wiltshire 51°31′09″N2°12′02″W / 51.5193°N 2.2006°W /51.5193; -2.2006 (Grittleton Baptist Chapel) | — | 1720 c. 1720 | The chapel opened in 1721. It has a rectangular plan with a tiled roof. Inside there are galleries at each end. Under the north gallery is avestry, in front of which is apulpit with a staircase and preacher's seat. In the body of the chapel arebox pews and a child's pew.[16][17] | II* |
| St George's German Lutheran Church | Alie Street, London 51°30′51″N0°04′14″W / 51.5142°N 0.0705°W /51.5142; -0.0705 (St George's German Lutheran Church) |  | 1762–63 | St George's was the fifthLutheran church to be built in London, and continued to be used by Lutherans until 1996. It now contains the offices of the Historic Chapels Trust and is also used for concerts, organ recitals, and other events.[18][19][20] | II* |
| St Benet's Chapel | Netherton, Merseyside 53°29′41″N2°58′04″W / 53.4946°N 2.9678°W /53.4946; -2.9678 (St Benet's Chapel, Netherton) |  | 1793 | Although it was built after theCatholic Relief Acts that allowedRoman Catholics to worship openly, the chapel is concealed behind thepresbytery that appears from the road to be a "standard two-bay house". It retains some of its original fittings, and as of 2010 it is being restored as it would have been before theSecond Vatican Council. The presbytery is used as a residence for retired priests.[21][22][23] | II* |
| Bethesda Methodist Chapel | Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 53°01′24″N2°10′37″W / 53.0233°N 2.1769°W /53.0233; -2.1769 (Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Hanley) |  | 1819 | Once known as the "Cathedral of thePotteries", it was built for theMethodist New Connexion. An elaborateportico was added to its frontage in 1859. During the 20th century its congregation declined and its fabric deteriorated, leading to its closure in 1985. Repairs costing £2.5 million are under way as of 2010.[24][25][26] | II* |
| Biddlestone Chapel | Biddlestone, Northumberland 55°22′08″N2°04′19″W / 55.3688°N 2.0720°W /55.3688; -2.0720 (Biddlestone Chapel) | | 1820 c. 1820 | The chapel stands in a remote location and was built as a private chapel for Biddlestone Hall by theRoman Catholic Selby family. The hall has been demolished, but the chapel has been retained. It was built on the remains of amedievalpele tower, incorporating some of its fabric.[27][28] | II* |
| Dissenters' Chapel | Kensal Green Cemetery, London 51°31′37″N0°12′57″W / 51.5269°N 0.2159°W /51.5269; -0.2159 (Dissenters' Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery) |  | 1832 | The first purpose-builtNonconformist chapel to be built in a public cemetery, its condition had deteriorated so much that its wings were demolished in the 1970s. Later that decade, the chapel underwent a major restoration, including rebuilding the wings, and restoring the original painting scheme.[29][30] | II* |
| Thorndon Park Chapel | Thorndon Park, Essex 51°35′55″N0°19′48″E / 51.5987°N 0.3301°E /51.5987; 0.3301 (Thorndon Park Chapel) |  | 1850 c. 1850 | This was built as the privateRoman Catholicchantry chapel andmausoleum for thePetre family in the grounds ofThorndon Hall. It was designed byWilliam Wardell, and is inDecorated style. The interior has an elaborately decorated roof, including depictions of angels, and a richly carvedreredos.[31][32] | II* |
| Wainsgate Baptist Church | Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire 53°45′20″N2°00′15″W / 53.7555°N 2.0041°W /53.7555; -2.0041 (Wainsgate Baptist Church) |  | 1859–60 | The chapel stands in an elevated position overlooking Hebden Bridge. Attached to the rear of the chapel is the formermanse, converted into a school in 1890. The chapel closed in 2001, and is now a venue for concerts and other events.[33][34][35] | II* |
| Todmorden Unitarian Church | Todmorden, West Yorkshire 53°42′40″N2°05′56″W / 53.7111°N 2.0990°W /53.7111; -2.0990 (Todmorden Unitarian Church) |  | 1865–69 | The church was built by the Fielden family, local mill owners, and it is constructed using the best quality materials. It was designed byJohn Gibson inGothic style with a large spire 196 feet (60 m) high. Following a £1 million programme of repairs, which included restoration of the surrounding landscape and burial ground, it is now used for occasional services, weddings and other events.[36][37][38] | I |
| Westgate Methodist Chapel | Bishop Auckland, County Durham 54°44′14″N2°08′54″W / 54.7372°N 2.1482°W /54.7372; -2.1482 (Westgate Methodist Chapel) |  | 1871 | Built for thePrimitive Methodists, the chapel closed in 2007. It retains itsVictorian layout, complete with the original pews, gallery, windows, a "magnificent organ", and much detailed decoration.[39][40] | II* |
| Umberslade Baptist Church | Hockley Heath, West Midlands 52°20′48″N1°47′09″W / 52.3467°N 1.7859°W /52.3467; -1.7859 (Umberslade Baptist Chapel) |  | 1877 | George Ingall designed the church for theBaptist George Frederick Muntz, junior, ofUmberslade Hall. It is constructed inblue lias stone inDecorated style with a spire, and has much elaborate detail. Repairs costing about £500,000 were completed in 2008.[41][42] | II |
| Penrose Methodist Chapel | St Ervan, Cornwall 50°29′53″N4°59′50″W / 50.4980°N 4.9971°W /50.4980; -4.9971 (Penrose Methodist Chapel) | — | 1861 | The chapel's plan is a simple rectangle with a single storey. Its interior retains its original layout, withbox pews, and benches in the area once occupied by the musicians and choir.[43][44] | II* |
| Longworth Roman Catholic Chapel | Bartestree, Herefordshire 52°03′43″N2°37′51″W / 52.0620°N 2.6308°W /52.0620; -2.6308 (Longworth RC Chapel) | — | 1869–70 | Originally themedieval chapel to themanor house at Old Longworth, it was used for agricultural purposes after theReformation. The chapel was restored in 1851, then moved to a site adjacent toconvent at Bartestree in 1869–70. It is probable that the move and rebuilding were supervised byE. W. Pugin.[45][46] | II* |
| Wallasey Memorial Unitarian Church | Wallasey, Merseyside 53°25′18″N3°02′28″W / 53.4216°N 3.0410°W /53.4216; -3.0410 (Wallasey Memorial Unitarian Church) | — | 1899 | Designed by Edmund Waring and Edmund Rathbone inArts and Crafts style, the church is constructed in brick with stone dressings. Many of the internal fittings were designed byArt Nouveau craftsmen from theBromsgrove Guild. The hall is in use for dance classes and the church for concerts and meetings.[47][48][49] | II* |
| Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes | Blackpool, Lancashire 53°49′22″N3°00′59″W / 53.8229°N 3.0165°W /53.8229; -3.0165 (Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes) |  | 1955–57 | Theshrine was built as a thanksgiving for the relatively small amount of damage sustained by theRoman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster during the Second World War. It was designed byFrancis Xavier Velarde and is constructed inPortland stone with copper cladding to its roof andflèche.[50][51][52] | II* |
| Grade | Criteria[53] |
|---|---|
| I | Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important |
| II* | Particularly important buildings of more than special interest |
| II | Buildings of national importance and special interest |
A This is the date of first construction of the existing building.