Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum facts for kids
The Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum is located in the small village of Englesea-Brook, in Cheshire, England. This special building was first built in 1828 as a chapel. It was one of the very first chapels for a group called the Primitive Methodist movement. Later, a Sunday school was added in 1914.
Since 1986, the building has been a museum. It tells the story of the Primitive Methodist movement. The chapel is a very important historical building. It is officially listed as a Grade II listed building in England. Inside the chapel, you can find an old pipe organ. The museum also has many interesting items from the movement's past. They often have new exhibitions and events for visitors. Nearby, in the graveyard, there is a monument for Hugh Bourne. He was one of the people who started the Primitive Methodist movement.
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History of the Chapel
The Englesea Brook Chapel was built in 1828. Many people believe it is the oldest chapel built specifically for the Primitive Methodism movement that is still standing today. This movement began with an outdoor meeting in 1807. It was held at a place called Mow Cop and was organized by Hugh Bourne. For several years after that, the group met outside or in people's homes. Because they were so enthusiastic, people sometimes called them "ranters."
The chapel was changed a bit in 1832. This is when its front entrance was added. A west gallery, which is like a balcony inside, was also put in at this time. In 1914, a Sunday school building was added next to the chapel. The whole building was carefully fixed up in 1986. That's when it became the museum we know today, showing the history of Primitive Methodism.
Chapel Architecture and Features
The old chapel and the school building are made from red brick. They have special stone decorations called ashlar dressings. Both buildings have stones that show the year they were built. The chapel's front entrance is symmetrical, meaning it's the same on both sides. It has a main doorway with fancy carvings and a fan-shaped window above it.
On each side of the door, there is a sash window. There are similar windows above these too. These windows have small square panes of glass. They also have stone sills and special flat stone tops called lintels. The stone showing the building date is in the triangular part of the roof, called the gable. The school building is attached to the right side of the chapel. It has only one floor and a small porch at its entrance. To get to the chapel, you walk up some stone steps. In front of the chapel, there is a wall with cast iron railings on top. On January 29, 1979, the chapel and school were officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means they are important historical buildings.
Inside the Chapel
Inside the chapel, you can see special box pews from 1832. These are like enclosed seating areas. Other furniture, mostly from 1892, includes a pulpit (where the speaker stands) and a raised platform called a dais.
The chapel also has the very first organ ever used in a Primitive Methodist chapel. This organ was first used in a chapel in Silsden. Then, in 1850, it was moved to a chapel in Bradley. Later, the organ moved to a private house in Burnley. Its owner then gave it to the Englesea Brook Chapel. It was put in the museum in 1987 and fixed up again in 2007. It's a small pipe organ with one keyboard, called a manual, and three stops to change the sound. You operate it by pumping a foot pedal. In 2004, this organ received a Grade II Historic Organ Certificate. This shows how important it is.
Hugh Bourne's Monument
Across the road from the chapel, you'll find its graveyard. In this graveyard, there is a monument dedicated to Hugh Bourne. He was one of the founders of the Primitive Methodist movement and passed away in 1852. The monument was designed by John Walford. It is made from smooth stone called ashlar and has an inscription written in lead letters.
The monument has a square base, called a plinth. At each corner of the base, there are stepped supports called buttresses. On top of these supports are small decorative points shaped like obelisks. Standing on the main base is a larger obelisk. The base also has writing that tells about Hugh Bourne's life and what he achieved. This monument is also a Grade II listed building, just like the chapel.
Visiting the Museum Today
The Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum is looked after by the Methodist Heritage Committee. This committee is part of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The museum is currently open to visitors four days a week. Groups visiting the museum might have to pay a small fee, but individual visitors can enter for free.
Inside the museum, you can find a tea room and a shop. They also have a changing program of exhibitions, so there's always something new to see. The museum displays a pulpit that was used by Hugh Bourne himself. It was also used by William Clowes, who helped Bourne start the movement. This pulpit originally came from a private house in Tunstall. You can also see a printing press that Bourne used. There's even the sea chest he took with him when he visited Canada in 1844, along with a list of everything he packed inside!
See also
- Listed buildings in Weston, Cheshire East
