Mill Hill Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mill Hill Chapel |
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| Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel | |
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 Mill Hill Chapel
Location in Leeds
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| 53°47′48.15″N 1°32′47.93″W / 53.7967083°N 1.5466472°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 29960 33473 |
| Location | Leeds City Square, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Unitarianism |
| Previous denomination | Presbyterianism |
| Membership | 27 (2017) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | II* |
| Designated | 26 September 1963 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Bowman and J. S. Crowther |
| Architectural type | Church (building) |
| Style | Dissenting Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 120 |
| Administration | |
| District | The Yorkshire Union Of Unitarian And Free Christian Churches |
Mill Hill Chapel is a special Unitarian church located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, which is the main group for Unitarians in Britain. The church building stands right in the middle of City Square. In 1963, it was given a Grade II* listed status, meaning it's a very important historic building.
Contents
Chapel History
As early as 1674, a group called the Dissenters built a chapel in Leeds. This was just a few years after the Great Ejection, when many religious leaders were forced to leave their churches. One of the founders was the father of historian Ralph Thoresby. He helped guide the chapel towards the Dissenter movement, which later became Unitarianism at Mill Hill Chapel.
The 18th Century Chapel
During the late 1700s, Mill Hill Chapel had a close connection with Call Lane Chapel in Leeds. Many important families in Leeds, like the Oates and Dixon families, were involved with both churches. Some wealthy local people even had their own private Unitarian chaplains.
From the late 18th century, Mill Hill Chapel became more and more important in the community. Well-known politicians, business owners, and merchants, such as the Lupton family, were strong supporters.
The 19th and Early 20th Centuries
The Kitson family also played a big part in the chapel's history. The famous artist William Morris designed a window for Ann Kitson, who passed away in 1865. Her son, James Kitson, 1st Baron Airedale, paid for the chapel's vestry to be made larger in 1897. After James died, a window was created in his honor by Archibald Keightley Nicholson.
The Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society had many members from the chapel. The people at Mill Hill Chapel were very interested in science and useful inventions. The chapel became known as "the mayors' nest" because so many mayors and later lord mayors were members. There are memorials inside the chapel for people like Francis Garbutt (1847) and John Darnton Luccock (1864).
In the early 1900s, the chapel had a small but very active and important group of people. This group was led by Revd Charles Hargrove and Sir James Kitson. Before World War I, a notable member was Jogendra Nath Sen. He came to study engineering at the University of Leeds. He bravely volunteered to fight in September 1914 and joined the Leeds Pals.
The 21st Century Chapel
A special plaque outside the church tells us something important. It says that Mill Hill Chapel was the first place of worship in Leeds city center to hold a same-sex wedding.
Chapel Architecture
Mill Hill Chapel is located on the east side of Leeds City Square. It sits in the heart of Leeds, which was a very busy and rich city when the chapel was built. The architects, Henry Bowman and J. S. Crowther, designed it in 1848. They used a style called Dissenting Gothic. The main part of the church, called the nave, still has its original Victorian pews. The beautiful stone carvings were made by Robert Mawer.
The Leeds Civic Trust recognized the chapel's importance. They placed a Blue Plaque on the building.
Important Ministers
Many important ministers have served at Mill Hill Chapel over the centuries.
- Richard Stretton MA (oxon) started his ministry at Mill Hill in 1672.
- In 1694, Timothy Manlove was invited to be the minister. He also worked as a doctor.
The chapel was part of the English Dissent tradition. The people kept ties with English Presbyterianism until the early 1700s. Then, things changed a lot with the arrival of Thomas Walker in 1748. He was the uncle and guardian of George Walker, a famous mathematician and activist.
- Joseph Priestley** was the minister from 1767 to 1773. He helped guide the chapel towards Unitarianism. Priestley suggested **William Wood as his replacement. William Wood worked to help people who were not part of the official church. He also became a skilled botanist (someone who studies plants). His son, George William Wood, was born there.
- Rev Charles Wicksteed was the minister for many years, from 1835 to 1854. He even wrote a history of the chapel after he retired. In Leeds, he was the president of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. He also helped start the Leeds Education Society. This group was an early version of the National Education League. He also helped shape the design of new chapels, encouraging the use of the "neo-Gothic" style, now called Dissenting Gothic.
- From 1855, the minister was Thomas Hincks. He was a naturalist known for his studies of small sea animals called zoophytes and bryozoa. He had to leave his role in 1869 because he lost his voice. He then spent his retirement on his scientific work. In 1872, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Images for kids
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Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds – 18th century
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Leeds' Mill Hill Chapel Blue Plaque
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Leeds
- Listed buildings in Leeds (City and Hunslet Ward - northern area)
