Capernwray Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capernwray Chapel |
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Capernwray Chapel from the northwest
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| OS grid reference | SD 542,722 |
| Location | Capernwray, Over Kellet, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Independent |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Chapel |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Founder(s) | George Marton |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Sharpe E. G. Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1835 |
| Completed | 1857 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone rubble Slate roofs |
Capernwray Chapel is a historic building in the small village of Capernwray, located near Over Kellet in Lancashire, England. It used to be the private chapel for a large house called Capernwray Hall. Today, it is an independent Evangelical chapel. This special building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is an important historical site that should be protected.
Contents
The Story of Capernwray Chapel
Building a Private Chapel
The chapel was built a long time ago, between 1835 and 1840. It was created by Mr. and Mrs. George Marton to be their own private chapel for Capernwray Hall. George Marton was a very important person in Lancashire. He was the Lord Lieutenant, which was like a representative of the King or Queen in the county. He owned many properties, including another large house called Borwick Hall and a railway station.
Original Design and Later Additions
The first design for the chapel was made by Edmund Sharpe, an architect from Lancaster. At first, it was a simple rectangular building. It was big enough to seat about 100 people. The family's special seating area was in a gallery, which is like a balcony inside the chapel.
Later, in 1856, another architect named E. G. Paley made some changes. He was Edmund Sharpe's successor. Paley added the tall tower, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar), and a large window at the west end.
Wartime Use and New Purpose
During the Second World War, students from Ripley St Thomas School in Lancaster were moved to Capernwray Hall for safety. They used the chapel for their worship services.
After the war, in 1946, a man named Major W. Ian Thomas and his wife bought the hall and the chapel. They wanted to use it for the Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers.
Changes Over Time
By 1962, the chapel became too small for all the people who wanted to use it. So, it was changed into a dormitory, which is a large room with many beds. They added a false ceiling and dormer windows to create an upper floor.
After being unused for some time, the Evangelical Fellowship was allowed to use the chapel by Mrs. Thomas. This shows how the building has changed its purpose many times over the years.
Exploring the Chapel's Design
Materials and Layout
Capernwray Chapel is built from sandstone rubble, which means it uses rough, uneven pieces of stone. The roofs are made of slate. The chapel's layout includes a nave with four sections. The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. There is also a chancel with two sections, which is a bit lower than the nave. A tower stands over the porch on the southwest side.
Windows and Doors
The windows on the north and south walls are all lancets. These are tall, narrow windows with pointed tops. At the east end, there is a three-light lancet window, meaning it has three narrow sections. At the west end, there is a large window with five lights. You can find a doorway in the north wall of the chancel.
The Tower and Decorations
The tower has five levels and strong buttresses (supports) on its corners. On the lowest level of the tower, there is a doorway on the west side, with a lancet window above it. The openings for the bells have louvred three-light lancets. Louvres are slanted slats that let air and sound through but keep rain out.
At the very top of the tower, there is a pointed, pyramid-shaped roof with a weather vane. You can also see Gargoyles sticking out from the gutters. These are carved stone figures, often shaped like animals or monsters, that help drain water away. On the gables (the triangular parts of the walls at the ends of the roof), there are cross finials, which are decorative ornaments.
See also
- Listed buildings in Over Kellet
- List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
- List of ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
