Southover General Baptist Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southover General Baptist Chapel |
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The former chapel from the northeast
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| 50°52′12″N 0°00′30″E / 50.8700°N 0.0082°E | |
| Location | Eastport Lane, Southover, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1TL |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Former chapel |
| Founded | 1741 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Residential conversion |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 29 October 1985 |
| Style | Vernacular |
| Completed | 1741 |
| Closed | 1972 |
The Southover General Baptist Chapel was once a church for Baptists in the old village of Southover. This village is now part of the town of Lewes in East Sussex, England.
It was built in 1741 and was the first Baptist church in the area. The people who worshipped there were General Baptists. Over time, their beliefs changed and became more like Unitarianism.
Because of this, they joined with another church nearby called Westgate Chapel. After that, the building was used by other groups. It was even used by non-religious groups for a while. Today, this old building, made of flint and brick, has been turned into a house. It is protected as a Grade II listed building by English Heritage. This means it's an important historical building.
History of the Chapel
Lewes is an old town with a market, located by the River Ouse. Southover village, now part of Lewes, has a long history. In the 11th century, William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey built a large monastery there.
In the 1700s and 1800s, many different Protestant groups, called Nonconformists, became popular in the area. These included Methodism, Quakers, and Baptists. The Southover General Baptist Chapel was built in 1741. It was the first Baptist church in Lewes.
During the 1800s, many General Baptist churches in Sussex started to follow Unitarianism. This was influenced by a person named Matthew Caffyn. The Southover chapel members also started to change their beliefs.
In 1825, they decided to join with the Westgate Chapel. This was a Unitarian church that had been in Lewes since 1695. After this, the Southover chapel was used by other religious groups, like The Salvation Army. Non-religious groups also used it.
In 1972, the building was sold and changed into a home. The inside was updated, and the old burial ground behind the chapel was covered with concrete. Some of the old gravestones were saved. The Southover General Baptist Chapel, now called The Old Meeting, became a Grade II listed building on October 29, 1985.
What the Chapel Looks Like
This chapel has one floor and faces north. It is built in a simple, traditional style using knapped flint. This is a type of stone that has been carefully shaped. It also has red brick details around the corners, called quoins.
The roof is hipped, meaning it slopes down on all sides, and is covered with tiles. A newer porch, made of wood panels, covers the main entrance. Above the door, there is a stone that says "The First Stone Laid May Ye 14 1741".
On either side of the porch, there are two sash windows with a slight arch at the top. These windows used to have wooden shutters, but they are gone now. There is also a small casement window (a window that opens like a door) on the top right.
The back wall of the chapel has two similar arched windows and a doorway that was added later. There are chimneys on the west and east walls, which were also added after the chapel was built. On the east wall, you can still see the outlines of two original windows next to the chimney.
Inside, the chapel was about 27 feet long and 17 feet wide. All the original features from the 1700s, like a balcony, have been removed. However, two old fireplaces, possibly from the early 1800s, are still there. You can also see some bricks in the south wall with initials and the date 1741 carved into them.
See also
