Zion Chapel, Newick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zion Chapel |
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The chapel from the southeast
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| 50°58′29″N 0°00′33″E / 50.9746°N 0.0091°E | |
| Location | Western Road, Newick, East Sussex BN8 4LF |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Former chapel |
| Founded | 14 October 1833 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Residential conversion |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 27 September 1979 |
| Style | Classical |
| Completed | 1834 |
| Closed | 2001 |
Zion Chapel is an old church building in a village called Newick, in East Sussex, England. It used to be a place where a group called Strict Baptists worshipped. They are a type of Christian who follow the Bible very closely. The building opened in 1834. For many years, it was one of three churches in Newick. But in 2001, it was sold and changed into homes.
The chapel is now a special building because it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
What is the History of Zion Chapel?
Newick is a village in East Sussex, near the River Ouse. It's in an area called the Weald. Even though Newick isn't in the old Domesday Book from 1086, it was likely part of a nearby place called Allington. In the Middle Ages, Newick was connected to villages like Barcombe and Hamsey. A church was already in Newick by 1147.
Why Were Nonconformist Churches Important?
Starting in the 1600s, many people in Sussex, especially in the middle and east, became Protestant Nonconformists. This means they were Protestants who did not agree with the official Church of England. They built small chapels for their groups, like General Baptists, Strict Baptists, Quakers, and Methodists. These chapels were often in small villages.
When Was Zion Chapel Built?
Zion Chapel was one of these chapels. It was built in 1834 on the main road from Haywards Heath to Uckfield, just west of Newick village. We don't know who designed it or who started it. The land for the chapel was given on October 14, 1833. It was a piece of land about 0.25 acres big. It was given to "certain dissenters from the Church of England called Calvinistic Baptists" to build their chapel. They had to pay a small fee for this right. The year 1834 is written on the entrance porch of the building.
In 1834, about 724 people lived in Newick. By 1851, the number had dropped to 483. The village didn't reach 1,000 people until 1931. By then, Newick had a third place of worship, an Evangelical mission hall that opened in 1892.
How Many People Attended Zion Chapel?
In 1851, a survey of churches in Sussex showed that Zion Chapel had 300 seats. 250 of these seats were free for anyone to use. About 130 people came to the morning service, and 50 came in the afternoon. The building was also used for Sunday school, but the number of children attending wasn't recorded. The minister, John Poynder, said that attendance could change a lot because of "the weather and other things."
What Happened to Zion Chapel?
Zion Chapel was used by the Strict Baptist group throughout the 1900s. Other similar chapels were in nearby places like Wivelsfield, Lewes, and Uckfield. Over time, fewer and fewer people attended Zion Chapel. So, in 2001, the decision was made to sell the building.
Because it was a Grade II listed building (which happened on September 27, 1979), it was protected. This meant it couldn't be knocked down or changed too much. The local council allowed the building to be extended and turned into three homes. These homes are now called Chapel Grove.
What Does Zion Chapel Look Like?
Zion Chapel is a small and simple building, but it looks "striking." It is made of red and grey bricks. The front of the building, which faces the street, has two windows with rounded tops. It also has an entrance porch with a pointed roof, where the year 1834 is carved.
Above the porch is a triangular part called a pediment. It has a round hole or recess, like an oculus. A cool thing about the pediment is that it uses red and grey bricks in a special pattern called Flemish bond. The long sides of the bricks are red, and the short ends are grey, making a neat pattern. The other walls of the building are only made of red bricks.
Behind the chapel, there is still a cemetery. However, this cemetery is not part of the protected area around the chapel.
See also
- List of places of worship in Lewes (district)
