Holy Trinity Chapel, Capesthorne facts for kids

Holy Trinity Chapel is a special private church next to Capesthorne Hall. It's located near the village of Siddington in Cheshire, England. This chapel is very important, so it's listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a building of special interest.

It's an Anglican church, which is part of the Church of England. It belongs to the Diocese of Chester.

History of the Chapel

The chapel was first built in 1722. A person named John Ward designed it. 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 became much more fancy and decorated.

Chapel's Design

Outside Look

The chapel is made of red bricks with 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's a decorative stone border called a moulded cornice. Above this, there's a low wall with small pillars, known as a balustrade. Square stone posts, called piers, are placed among these pillars. These posts hold up decorative ball shapes called finials.

Inside Look

At the west end of the chapel, there's a special raised area for the family who owns the hall. This area is called the manorial pew. You can get to it through a private door from the park.

During the updates in the 1880s, some changes were made inside. The old box pews (like small enclosed seating areas) were taken out. The pulpit, where the preacher stands, was moved. The wooden panels on the walls were made taller, and a new paneled ceiling was added.

A beautiful picture made of tiny pieces of glass, called a mosaic reredos, was placed in the rounded end of the chapel. This mosaic was made by a company called Salviati. Its design is based on an old painting by an artist named Giotto.

The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, dates back to 1772. It's made of different colored marble. It has a bowl that sits on three legs, and each leg has a clawed foot design.

Underneath the chapel, there are vaults. These are special underground rooms where people are buried. The builder, John Ward, and members of the Bromley Davenport family are buried here.

Outside Features

The gateposts and gates leading to the chapel are also important. They are listed as Grade II buildings. The gates are made of wrought iron and were created around 1750. They are designed in a fancy style called Rococo, which came from Milan, Italy. The gates even have statues of Saint Andrew.

The square gateposts themselves were built in the 20th century. They are made of brick on a stone base, called a plinth. On top of the posts are stone caps with decorative ball finials.

See also

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