Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel, Hastings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel |
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The chapel from the northwest
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| 50°51′31″N 0°35′46″E / 50.8585°N 0.5961°E | |
| Location | Ebenezer Road, Old Town, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3BS |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Former chapel |
| Founded | 1817 |
| Founder(s) | David Fenner |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Residential conversion |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 19 January 1951 |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1817 |
| Closed | c. 1999 |
The Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel is an old church building in Hastings, East Sussex, England. It used to be a place of worship for a group called Strict Baptists. This chapel was started in 1817 by people who left an older Baptist church in the town.
Over the years, the chapel grew as more people moved to Hastings. This was especially true when Hastings became a popular seaside resort. The building was closed in the late 1990s and turned into a house. However, it still stands out in Hastings Old Town. The building is very important for its history and design. Because of this, it is a Grade II listed building.
History of the Chapel
Hastings is a very old town in Sussex. In the early 1800s, there were only two main churches in the Old Town. But around 1809, a different kind of Christian worship began to appear. This was called Protestant Nonconformism. Nonconformists were Protestants who did not follow the main Church of England.
The first Nonconformist church in Hastings was a small chapel called Cow Lodge Chapel. It was built for Strict Baptists. A man named David Fenner attended this chapel. In 1817, some members of the church had a disagreement. David Fenner and others decided to leave.
That same year, David Fenner built a new chapel. He built it on a steep hill behind the beach area called Tackleway. Later, the road where the chapel stood was named Ebenezer Road, after the chapel itself.
The number of people attending the chapel grew throughout the 1800s. This was because Hastings was becoming a very popular place to visit by the sea. In 1851, records showed the chapel had 280 seats. About 200 to 210 people usually came to the morning and afternoon services. The minister, David Fenner, said that about 300 people belonged to the church.
The chapel was made bigger several times. This happened in 1872, 1882, and 1886. The front of the building, with its special triangular top (called a pediment), was added around this time.
However, in the late 1900s, fewer people attended. Like many other Baptist chapels in Sussex, it was sold. The building was then changed into a house. The chapel stopped being registered for marriages in October 1999.
But the church group itself did not disappear. They found a new place to meet in the Silverhill area of Hastings. This new place is also called Ebenezer Chapel.
The original Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel was made a Grade II listed building on January 19, 1951. This means it is a "nationally important" building. It has "special interest" because of its history and design.
Chapel Design
The chapel is built in a Neoclassical style. This style is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The outside walls are covered in a smooth plaster-like material called stucco. This has now been painted over. Underneath the stucco, the walls are made of brick.
The building has two floors and three sections, called bays. Each section has a sash window. These are windows that slide up and down. A wide band, called a string course, separates the upper and lower floors.
The main entrance has a porch. This porch is framed by flat columns called pilasters. Above the porch is a decorative top part called a cornice. Above that is a low wall, or parapet, with a special carved panel (a tympanum).
Below the roof, there are three more sash windows. These windows have slightly curved tops that go above the cornice. The middle window is a bit taller. Above these windows is a triangular top part called a pediment. In the center of the pediment is a round shape with four special stones, called keystones, around it.
At the back of the building, facing Tackleway, you can still see some of the original red brick wall. It has been changed over time. There are also some yellow brick details and three arched windows. Another pediment is also at the back.
See also
Images for kids
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The new Ebenezer Baptist Chapel in Silverhill, Hastings.
