Albemarle Baptist Church, Scarborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albemarle Baptist Church |
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The church from Albemarle Crescent
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| 54°16′57″N 0°24′17″W / 54.2824°N 0.4048°W | |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Website | Church website |
| History | |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 12 January 1990 |
| Reference #: | 1272776 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Francis Lockwood |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 23 July 1867 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone ashlar and white brick |
Albemarle Baptist Church is a beautiful old church in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It is a special building because it is a Grade II listed church. This means it is important for its history and architecture. The church is located on Albemarle Crescent in the center of Scarborough. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival by an architect named Henry Francis Lockwood. The church first opened its doors in 1867.
Contents
History of Albemarle Baptist Church
How the Church Started
The story of Albemarle Baptist Church began in 1863. At that time, 41 people decided to form their own group for worship. Under the guidance of their leader, Reverend James Lewitt, the church building was constructed. It officially opened on July 23, 1867.
The architect who designed the church was Henry Francis Lockwood. He was from Bradford. Lockwood also worked on many projects for a rich supporter of the church, Titus Salt. Interestingly, Lockwood's former student, Cuthbert Brodrick, opened the famous Grand Hotel in Scarborough in the same year, 1867.
Early Years and Growth
After the church opened, people realized they needed more space. So, a school building and a small house for the caretaker were built next to the church by 1868.
The church got a new organ in September 1870. It was built by Booth of Wakefield and cost £360. This organ had 20 stops and 1,186 pipes! People noted that the sound of the organ was a bit muffled. This was because the organ filled its space completely, and the sound had to come out through low arches.
When Reverend Lewitt retired, the church had grown a lot. The number of members increased from 47 to 183. Other ministers, like Reverend W. H. Tetley and Reverend Robert Wood, followed him. By 1892, the church had 343 members. New groups were started, the school was made bigger, and they stopped charging people to sit in the pews.
Special Events and Recognition
In 1914, something unusual happened. The church was hit by lightning! This caused a lead gas pipe to burst, and the gas caught fire.
Albemarle Baptist Church, along with its attached schoolroom, is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. It was given this special status on January 12, 1990. Grade II is the most common type of listing. It means the building is important to the country and has special historical or architectural value.
The church and the area around it, Albemarle Crescent, are part of a special Conservation area in Scarborough. This means the area's historic character is protected. The church also received help with repairs between 2006 and 2011. This included rebuilding the top five meters of its spire and fixing the decorative stone patterns called tracery.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is a great example of a small church built in the Gothic Revival style. It is made from carefully cut stone and white bricks. The front of the church, facing the street, has three arched entrances. These arches have round pillars and decorative tops with leaf designs. The arches also use different colored stones, which is called polychromatic.
The three double doors have stained glass in them. On either side of the entrance, there are single, shallow supports called buttresses. To the left of the entrance, there is one tall, narrow window, called a lancet window. To the right, there are three of these windows.
The side parts of the church, called aisles, each have four windows. These windows have two lights (sections) and simple stone patterns. The arms of the church, called transepts, have large windows with four lights. The main altar area, called the chancel, has three windows with two lights each. On the north-east side, there is an attached schoolroom. It has a sloped front with three two-light windows.
Above the main entrance, there is a large window with six lights and a pointed arch. It has geometric stone patterns. To its right, there are three lancet windows, with two fake ones on either side. Above these, there is a decorative wall with quatrefoil (four-leaf) shapes cut into it. To the left of the main window, there is a small, rounded section called an apse with seven small windows above it.
Above all of this, the square tower rises. It has two lancet windows, then a decorative stone band. The bell section has one lancet window on each side. These are topped by tall, pointed decorations called crocketed gables. Finally, a tall, eight-sided stone spire rises many more meters into the sky.
Inside the church, thin iron columns hold up the wooden roof. These columns separate the main seating area, called the nave, from the side aisles. The church still has its original wooden pews (benches), pulpit (where the minister speaks), and choir stalls from the 1800s. There is also a special font for total immersion baptism, which is lined with tin. In 1890, the church could seat 800 people.
Next to the church is a separate house for the minister. This cottage is also a listed building and was designed by Lockwood. It is made of white brick and stone, matching the church's Gothic style. It even has a projecting porch with a pointed roof.
