Lancaster Cemetery Chapels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Western Mortuary Chapel at Lancaster Cemetery
Religion
Affiliation	Anglican
Location
Location	Quernmore Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Location in Lancaster
Architecture
Architect(s)	E. G. Paley
Architectural type	Chapel
Architectural style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1855
Materials	Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings and slate roofs
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated	13 March 1995
Reference no.	1298305

The Lancaster Cemetery Chapels are three special buildings in the main cemetery of Lancaster, England. They were built a long time ago, in 1854–55. Each chapel was made for a different Christian group.

These chapels stand close together at the highest point in the cemetery. A local architect named E. G. Paley designed them. The chapel on the west side was for Anglicans. The one on the east was for Non-conformists. And the chapel to the north was for Roman Catholics.

What are the Lancaster Cemetery Chapels?

The Lancaster Cemetery Chapels are a group of three historic buildings. They were built in the mid-1800s. Each chapel served a different Christian faith. This was common in cemeteries back then. It allowed people of various beliefs to have their own space.

Who Designed Them?

The chapels were designed by E. G. Paley. He was a well-known architect from the Lancaster area. He designed many buildings in the region. These chapels show his skill in the popular style of the time.

Why Three Chapels?

In the 1800s, different Christian groups often had their own places of worship. This was true even in cemeteries. Having three separate chapels meant that Anglicans, Non-conformists, and Roman Catholics each had a dedicated space for funeral services.

How the Chapels Look

All three chapels are built from strong, squared sandstone. They have smooth stone decorations called ashlar dressings. Their roofs are made of slate. They are all built in the Gothic Revival style. This style tries to look like old medieval churches.

The Western Chapel

The western chapel has a shape like a cross, which is called a cruciform plan. Its entrance porch faces east. It has strong supports called buttresses at the corners. The sloped parts of the roof (the gables) have stone caps. A continuous stone line runs around the chapel at the height of the window sills. The windows on the north and south sides are triple lancets. These are tall, narrow windows. On the west end, there is a round window called a wheel window.

The porch of this chapel is long. It has open arches along its sides. These arches are held up by shiny granite columns. At the top of the porch's gable, there is a special carving called a poppyhead. A cross decoration, called a finial, sits at the very top.

The Eastern Chapel

The eastern chapel looks almost exactly like the western chapel. It is like a mirror image of it. This means it has similar features and design.

The Northern Chapel

The northern chapel is a bit simpler than the other two. It has a rectangular shape. There's a small part that sticks out to the north. Its porch faces south. All the windows in this chapel are simple lancets. There are cross decorations on the east and west gables of this chapel too.

Protected Buildings

Each of these chapels is very important. They are all listed as Grade II buildings on the National Heritage List for England. This means they are protected because of their special historical and architectural value.

See also

• Listed buildings in Lancaster, Lancashire
• List of works by Sharpe and Paley