Fulwood Old Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fulwood Old Chapel |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Unitarian |
| Location | |
| Location | Fulwood, South Yorkshire, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Completed | 1729 |
| Construction cost | £75 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Website | |
| https://fulwoodoldchapel.uk | |
Fulwood Old Chapel is a special church building in the Fulwood area of western Sheffield, South Yorkshire. It's a Unitarian place of worship. Unitarians are a type of Christian faith. This chapel is part of the main group for Unitarian churches in Britain.
Contents
A Look Back: The Chapel's Story
How It Began
Fulwood Old Chapel was built a long time ago, between 1728 and 1729. It was made as a meeting house for a group called English Dissenters. These were people who didn't follow the main Church of England. Before the chapel, they met at a place called Fulwood Hall.
A man named William Ronksley left £400 in his will to build a "large and handsome" chapel. Even though he left a lot, the building itself only cost £75 to build! This chapel is one of the oldest religious buildings in its part of Sheffield. Only Beauchief Abbey is older.
What the Chapel Looks Like
The chapel is a single-story building. It's made from strong stone with smooth stone details. The roof is made of stone slates. The walls are very thick, about two feet wide!
The front of the chapel, facing the street, has four windows. The doors are placed between the first and second windows, and between the third and fourth. Above the two middle windows, there's a stone tablet. It says, "Built 1729 in pursuance of the last Will of Mr W Roncksley." This means it was built because of Mr. Ronksley's wishes.
Changes Over Time
Adding a School Room
In 1754, a school room was added to the chapel. This room was made bigger in 1968 to include a kitchen and toilets. It was updated again in 2009. Today, this room is used for a Sunday school and for social events.
Other Updates
More changes happened in 1959. A small storm porch was added inside the main entrance. This helps keep the wind and rain out.
Special Features and History
Listed Building Status
Today, Fulwood Old Chapel is a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
The Village Stocks
There used to be a garden outside the chapel. But in 1929, the road was made wider, so the garden was removed. At the same time, the old village stocks were moved to sit in front of the chapel. These stocks are from the early 1800s and are also a Grade II listed item. Stocks were used a long time ago to hold people as a form of public punishment.
Famous Visitors
It's thought that Samuel Plimsoll may have attended services at the chapel in the 1860s. Samuel Plimsoll was a famous person who worked to make ships safer. His first daughter might even be buried under the chapel's floor.
