Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel (Known as 'The Chapel'). |
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| Billingshurst Unitarian and Free Christian Church | |
The chapel from the east
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 Location in West Sussex
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| 51°01′18″N 0°27′11″W / 51.0218°N 0.4530°W | |
| Location | High Street, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 9QS |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (British Unitarians) |
| Previous denomination | General Baptist |
| Website | www.thechapelatbillingshurst.com |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Billingshurst General Baptist Chapel |
| Status | Chapel |
| Founded | 1754 |
| Founder(s) | William Evershed and William Turner |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 22 September 1959 |
| Style | Georgian Vernacular |
| Groundbreaking | 1754 |
Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel is a church in Billingshurst, West Sussex, England. It looks like a small house and was built in 1754 for a group called General Baptists. Over time, the people who worshipped there started to follow Unitarian beliefs. They still do today. The chapel is part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, which is the main group for Unitarians in Britain.
This chapel is also known as the Billingshurst Unitarian and Free Christian Church. It is one of the oldest Nonconformist churches in the Horsham area. Nonconformists are Christians who are not part of the official Church of England. This area has a long history of such Christian groups. The chapel is so important that English Heritage has given it a special status called Grade II. This means it's a historically and architecturally important building.
Contents
History of the Chapel
Early Christian Groups in England
In England, people who worshipped outside the Church of England were once called Dissenters or Nonconformists. This became more common after 1662. At that time, many Church of England ministers left their jobs because they disagreed with new rules.
This led to many new Christian groups forming. These groups focused more on a person's direct connection with God. They were less about the formal ceremonies of the Church of England. This change happened a lot in Sussex. By the late 1600s, many new religious groups existed alongside the older churches.
The General Baptists Arrive
One of these new groups was the General Baptists. They became very popular around the town of Horsham in north Sussex. Other groups like the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and Presbyterians also grew there.
By 1676, about 100 Nonconformists lived in Horsham. A local leader named Matthew Caffyn helped the General Baptists grow. A General Baptist church was built in Horsham in 1719. It brought together Baptists who had met in smaller groups since the 1600s.
Building the Billingshurst Chapel
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Many people from the village of Billingshurst travelled to the Horsham church. Eventually, this group became large enough to start their own church in Billingshurst. They chose a raised, grassy spot on the west side of the High Street. In 1754, they built a simple, house-like chapel.
The chapel was founded by William Turner and William Evershed. Their initials and the date are on a stone tablet inside. William Evershed was a General Baptist preacher from Horsham. He moved to Billingshurst in 1742. He and Turner held small meetings and preached in the village.
The Evershed family had a connection to the chapel for 260 years. More than 120 Eversheds, including William himself, are buried in the graveyard. This graveyard is "surprisingly big" and surrounds the chapel. In 1753, Turner and Evershed bought the land for the chapel for three guineas. The chapel was officially registered for worship in October 1754. This makes it one of the oldest Nonconformist churches in the Horsham area and southeast England.
Over time, the people at the chapel, like those in Horsham, slowly changed their beliefs. By the early 1800s, they had moved from General Baptist ideas to Unitarianism. The chapel then became known as the Billingshurst Free Christian Church. Later, it was called the Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel or Billingshurst Unitarian and Free Christian Church.
William Evershed also had a house in Godalming, Surrey. Hundreds of people attended meetings there every week in the mid-1700s. In 1783, this group decided to build their own church. A General Baptist chapel was built there in 1789. It also soon became Unitarian and is still used today as Meadrow Unitarian Chapel.
Chapel Design and Features
Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel is a simple building from the Georgian period. It looks like a quiet, old cottage. It has one floor and two windows. A small porch with a pointed roof is between the windows. The front of the chapel has three wide sections. It looks similar to an old chapel in Lewes, East Sussex.
The walls are made of grey and red bricks laid in a special pattern. The roof is made of tiles. Experts have said that the building's design is "utterly self-effacing," meaning it doesn't try to stand out. This chapel shows the difference between a big, old parish church and a smaller, simpler Nonconformist chapel. For example, St Mary's Church on the east side of Billingshurst High Street is very noticeable. But the Unitarian Chapel is "quietly hidden" behind fences and hedges on the west side. The chapel site is about 40 square feet and sits 8 feet back from the High Street.
The inside of the chapel is about 16 feet by 28 feet. A simple wooden balcony is at the north end of the ceiling. It is supported by one pillar. Some of the original wooden beams are still on the ceiling.
Other old items inside include:
- An "impressive" clock made in 1756 by Inkpen of Horsham.
- Two coffin stools from 1787. These were used to hold a coffin before burial. They have the initials "IK 87" (James Knight, 1787).
- Original wooden benches, including two carved with "James Knight 1788."
- A brass chandelier with a dove shape.
- An original oak communion table.
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The chapel has been changed a few times over the years. In the late 1700s, the wooden balcony was added to make more space. In 1825, brick rooms were built on the west side. These rooms included a baptistery (for baptisms) and vestries (changing rooms for ministers). The baptistery was later changed in 1880 or 1886 to become a library and schoolroom. At the same time, the pulpit (where the minister preaches) was moved to its current spot on the south wall.
The chapel is still in its original graveyard. However, new houses have been built close to its edges. The old path to the chapel from the east still exists. It's a small, uneven path between other buildings that almost hide the chapel from the High Street.
The Chapel Today
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Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel was given a Grade II listing by English Heritage on 22 September 1959. This means it is a "nationally important" building with "special interest." As of 2001, there were 1,628 Grade II listed buildings in the Horsham area.
The chapel is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. This is the main group for Unitarians in Britain.
In 2012, the church started "Evershed Arts." They use the Old Library Room as an art space to support local artists. Between September 2014 and January 2015, the building was renovated. This was partly paid for by English Heritage Lottery funding. The church members also raised money. During this time, the church also changed its informal name to 'The Chapel.' Its website is www.thechapelatbillingshurst.com.
See also
Images for kids
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The chapel from the east
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The chapel has a large graveyard to the front and side.
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A baptistery and vestries were added to the rear (west) elevation in the 19th century.
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The interior seen from the gallery
