Wainsgate Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wainsgate Baptist Church |
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Wainsgate Baptist Church
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| OS grid reference | SD 998 288 |
| Location | Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Website | Wainsgate Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 29 April 1982 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 1859 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Closed | 2001 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone with slate roof |
Wainsgate Chapel is an old Baptist church located high up above the town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, England. It is no longer used for regular church services. The chapel and a school building attached to it are very important. They are listed as a Grade II* building on the National Heritage List for England. This means they are special and protected. The Historic Chapels Trust now looks after the chapel.
Contents
History of Wainsgate Chapel
The church was started for a group called the Particular Baptists in 1750. This happened because of a big religious movement in the 1700s called the Evangelical Revival. A Reverend named William Grimshaw from Haworth Parish Church inspired its creation.
The first minister was Richard Smith. Then, in 1764, John Fawcett became the minister. In 1772, John Fawcett wrote the words for the famous hymn "Blessed Be the Tie that Binds".
The chapel building you see today was built later, between 1859 and 1860. Its inside decorations and furniture were made even better in the 1890s. The building connected to the back of the chapel was first a home for the minister. In 1890, it was changed into a school. The church stopped holding regular services in 2001. In 2004, the Historic Chapels Trust took over its care to preserve it.
Chapel Design and Structure
The church is built from strong, rough-cut stone. It has smooth stone details and rough-cut corner stones. The roof is made of slate. The building has two floors.
Outside Look
The front of the church has three sections. The main door is in the middle of the bottom floor. It has decorative pillars on each side. Above the door is a special window shaped like a fan. Above that is a stone plaque showing the year 1859. On each side of the door, there is a round-topped window. There are three similar windows on the top floor. Above these windows, the roof forms a triangular shape called a pediment.
The chapel extends backward for four sections, with windows similar to those at the front. The school building continues from the back of the chapel. At the very end of the school, there are doorways and windows with three parts. The end wall of the school has a large, fancy window with three sections, known as a Venetian window.
Inside the Chapel
Inside the church, the first three sections have a curved balcony with curved seats. In the very back section, you'll find the organ, the pulpit (where the minister speaks), and a raised area with a wooden fence around the communion table. Above these, the ceiling is curved like a barrel and painted with stars on a blue background.
The pulpit was added to the church in 1891. It has eight sides and is made from alabaster and different colored marble. It has beautiful, shallow carvings. Anthony Welsh designed it. The communion table is from 1896. The wooden fence around the table has twisted posts and was made by J. W. Mitchell of Halifax. The windows have colorful stained glass made by the Powell Brothers of Leeds. In the middle of the ceiling, there is a decorative vent with a pierced design. You can also find memorials inside the church for Richard Smith and John Fawcett.
Graveyard Features
In the churchyard, you can find the tomb of John Fawcett, who passed away in 1817. It is made of smooth stone and looks like a stone chest on a base. On top, there is a flat stone with writing on it. A low stone wall with cast iron railings and pointed tops surrounds the tomb. This tomb is also a protected Grade II listed building. There are also graves from the First World War in the graveyard.
Wainsgate Chapel Today
Repairs have been made to both the church and the school building. Today, the chapel is used for concerts and other special events.
More Places to Explore
- List of chapels preserved by the Historic Chapels Trust
- Birchcliffe Baptist Church
