Jenkin Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jenkin Chapel, Saltersford |
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Jenkin Chapel in 2003
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| OS grid reference | SJ 983 766 |
| Location | Saltersford, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1733 |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 14 April 1967 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 1733 |
| Completed | 1755 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone Kerridge stone-slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Rainow with Saltersford and Forest |
| Deanery | Macclesfield |
| Archdeaconry | Macclesfield |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
Jenkin Chapel is a historic church found in a quiet, isolated spot. It sits on the western slopes of the Pennines, a range of hills in England. The chapel is about 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) northeast of Macclesfield, in Cheshire, England.
This special building is recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historic site. The chapel is located where three old paths meet. These paths were once used by packhorses carrying salt, which is why they were called "salters' ways." Later, people used these paths to move cattle and sheep.
Jenkin Chapel is an Anglican church. It belongs to the diocese of Chester. Its services are linked with Holy Trinity, Rainow and Forest Chapel, Macclesfield Forest.
Contents
History of Jenkin Chapel
The chapel was built in 1733 by local people. They used materials found nearby. These community members also raised money to pay for a minister. A tower was added to the chapel in 1755, making it even taller.
Architecture and Design
Jenkin Chapel looks more like an old farmhouse with a chimney than a typical church. It has a two-story main hall, called a nave. There is also a smaller one-story chapel and a vestry, which is a room used by the clergy.
Chapel's Tower and Exterior
The chapel has a three-stage tower. This tower has a special roof shape called a saddleback roof, which looks like a saddle. There's an outside staircase on the tower. It also has a bell chamber and a porch with stone benches. A chimney rises from the middle of the south wall. The windows are in the Georgian style. They have sashes and many small panes of glass.
Inside the Chapel
Inside, you'll find box pews. These are enclosed seats that look like boxes. There is also an eight-sided pulpit where the minister preaches. A carved reading desk is also present. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, has wooden panels. It is separated from the nave by rails made of turned balusters (small posts).
At the entrance to the chancel, similar balusters form an arch hanging from a lintel (a horizontal support beam). In the chancel, there's a small stone font with an oak cover. A font is a basin used for baptisms.
At the west end of the chapel, there's a gallery. On this gallery, you can see the coat of arms of the Stopford family. They lived in Saltersford Hall, a nearby historic house, in the 1600s. On the floor, there are grave slabs for the Turner family. They lived in the hall later on. Records of the chapel, called registers, date back to 1770.
What's in a Name?
People disagree about where the name "Jenkin" came from. One idea is that a man named Jenkin, from Ruthin in North Wales, traded goods at this meeting point. A stone marking the path here was known as "Jenkin Cross."
Other ideas suggest that Jenkin was the name of a local farming family. Another theory is that it was the name of a "fiery Welsh preacher." This preacher might have given sermons at the horse fair held in this area.
The chapel is also mentioned in Alan Garner's 2003 novel Thursbitch.
Current Use and Activities
Jenkin Chapel is open to visitors all year round. Evensong is held at 3pm on the third Sunday of each month. This happens between Easter and Christmas. The chapel also hosts special services. These include Carols by Candlelight in December and the Big Sing in Summer.
The church was even featured on television! It appeared in an episode of Hunted. This show was broadcast on Channel 4 on January 4, 2018.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Listed buildings in Rainow
