Eaton Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eaton Chapel |
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Chapel of Eaton Hall seen from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 413 607 |
| Location | Eaton Hall near Eccleston, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Eaton Hall Chapel |
| History | |
| Status | Private chapel |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 2 November 1983 |
| Architect(s) | Alfred Waterhouse |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 175 feet (53 m) |
| Materials | Buff sandstone Grey slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Chester |
Eaton Chapel is a special private church located near Eaton Hall in Eaton Park. This area is close to the village of Eccleston in Cheshire, England. It is a very important building and is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it has great historical and architectural value.
Contents
History of Eaton Chapel
The building of Eaton Chapel started in 1869. This was soon after Hugh Grosvenor became the owner of the Eaton estate. He was the 3rd Marquess of Westminster at the time. He also began a big project to rebuild Eaton Hall itself.
Hugh Grosvenor later became the 1st Duke of Westminster in 1874. He chose Alfred Waterhouse to be the architect for the chapel. The chapel was finished in 1884. Even when the main Eaton Hall building was taken down in 1963, the beautiful chapel was kept.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Chapel
The chapel is built from light brown sandstone and has a grey slate roof. Inside, the stone walls have bands of pink and light brown colors. The chapel has a long main area called a nave with five sections. This leads into a three-section chancel, which is where the altar is.
The chancel ends in a three-sided area called an apse, where the altar is placed. What's interesting is that the altar is at the west end of the chapel, which is unusual. At the east end, there's an entrance area called a narthex with a balcony.
On the south side of the chapel, there is a tall tower. It is connected to the chapel on its lower two floors. A bridge also connects it higher up. At the southeast corner, there's a small staircase turret.
The south side of the nave and the apse have windows with two lights. The east end, behind the balcony, has a large window with four lights. The tower has six levels. It has tall, narrow windows called lancet bell-openings for the bells.
Above these windows is the clock section. It sticks out from the tower and has pointed decorations called pinnacles at each corner. Each side has a clock face made of shiny enamel. Each clock face is about 9 feet 8 inches (2.95 meters) wide. On top of the clock section is a tall, pointed roof called a spire. This spire is decorated with small pointed roofs called gables and more pinnacles. The staircase turret also has its own small spire.
Inside the Chapel
The entrance area (narthex) at the east end has a curved oak ceiling that looks like a series of arches. The floor is made of black marble and colorful encaustic tiles. A stone screen separates this area from the main part of the chapel.
The main part of the chapel (nave) also has a curved ceiling, but this one is made of stone. A low screen made of white alabaster separates the nave from the chancel. This screen continues to the pulpit, which is also made of alabaster with marble columns.
The decorative screen behind the altar (called a reredos) and the font (used for baptisms) are also made of alabaster. The wooden benches in the nave and chancel are made of walnut wood and have carved designs on their ends.
In the chancel, there is a statue of Constance, the 1st Duchess of Westminster. She is shown lying down. This statue, called an effigy, was made by Joseph Boehm. He used plaster molds of her face and hands taken after she passed away to create it.
The colorful stained glass windows on the south side of the nave and in the apse were designed by Frederic Shields. He also designed the mosaic pictures on the north side of the nave. These artworks were ordered in 1876 and made by a company called Heaton, Butler & Bayne.
The chapel has a two-manual organ, which means it has two keyboards. It is located in a special area on the south side of the chancel. This organ was built in 1870–71 by Charles Whiteley from Chester. It is still in good working order today.
The clock tower holds a set of 28 bells called a carillon. These bells were made by Chavalier Severian Van Aerschodt in Louvain. The carillon can play 31 different tunes. The clock itself was made by Gillet's of Croydon.
Eaton Chapel Today
Eaton Chapel is still the private chapel for the Grosvenor family. They use it for important family events like christenings (when babies are welcomed into the church), confirmations, and memorial services.
Every December, the chapel is opened for up to eight different charities. They can use it to hold Christmas carol concerts. The chapel is also open to the public on three special days each year, so everyone can visit and see its beauty.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
- Listed buildings in Eaton, Cheshire West and Chester
- List of ecclesiastical works by Alfred Waterhouse
