Holy Trinity Chapel, Capesthorne facts for kids

The Holy Trinity Chapel is a special private church next to Capesthorne Hall. It is located near the village of Siddington in Cheshire, England. This chapel is very important, so it is listed as a Grade II* historic building. It is part of the Anglican Church, which is a Christian church. It belongs to the diocese of Chester, which is like a church district. Its services are connected with other nearby churches. These include St James and St Paul, Marton, Christ Church, Eaton, and All Saints, Siddington.

History of the Chapel

The Holy Trinity Chapel was built in 1722. It was designed by an architect named John Ward. He used a style called Neoclassical, which was popular at the time. This style often uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

Later, between 1886 and 1888, the chapel was updated. This update was done by Mrs Augusta Bromley Davenport. During this time, the inside of the chapel was made much more fancy and decorative.

Chapel Design and Structure

Outside Appearance

The chapel is built with red bricks and has special stone decorations. Its roof is made of slate. The building has a main area called a nave and a rounded end part called an apsidal chancel.

Around the top of the chapel, there is a decorative stone border called a moulded cornice. Above this, there is a railing with small posts, known as a balustrade. These small posts, or balusters, are placed between square stone supports called piers. These piers hold up decorative ball shapes called finials.

Inside the Chapel

At the west end of the chapel, there is a special seating area called the manorial pew. This area is on a raised platform. It has a private door that leads directly from the park grounds.

During the chapel's update, some changes were made inside. The old box pews, which were like individual boxes for families, were taken out. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, was moved to a new spot. The wooden panels on the walls were made taller. A new ceiling with panels was also added.

A beautiful mosaic artwork was put in the rounded end of the chapel. This artwork is called a reredos and is behind the altar. It was made by a company called Salviati. The design is inspired by a famous painting called Dormition by an artist named Giotto.

The font, which is used for baptisms, dates back to 1772. It is made of colorful marble. The font has a bowl that sits on three legs, and each leg has a clawed foot design. Below the chapel, there are underground rooms called vaults. These vaults are where John Ward, who built the chapel, and members of the Bromley Davenport family are buried.

Outside Features and Gates

The large gateposts and gates that lead to the chapel are also important historic features. They are listed as Grade II. The gates themselves are made of wrought iron, which is a type of strong metal. They were made around 1750.

These gates are designed in a fancy style called Rococo, which came from Milan, Italy. They even include statues of Saint Andrew. The square gateposts were built in the 20th century. They are made of brick and stand on a stone base called a plinth. On top of the gateposts are stepped stone caps with decorative ball finials.

More Information

• Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire East
• Listed buildings in Siddington, Cheshire