King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield
Encyclopedia
King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield is in the town of Macclesfield
, Cheshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building.
. Initially an independent chapel in the Trinitarian
tradition it became Unitarian
during the ministry of John Palmer
between 1764 and 1780. Around 1800 the internal south gallery was removed. In the early 19th century a number of Gothic
features were introduced to the interior. In 1825 it acquired its current name, changed from Back Street Chapel.
The old box pew
s were replaced with bench pews in 1930. It is still in use as a Unitarian
chapel.
and has a pair of external staircases leading to the east and west galleries. A lead downspout bears the date 1690. The chapel is 60 feet (18 m) long and 20 feet (6 m) wide.
is in the middle of the north side. Galleries are at the east and west ends. In the vestry are oil
portraits of Thomas Culcheth, minister from 1717 to 1751, and his wife. There is an elaborately carved chair by William Leicester made in 1688. The communion table which was presented to the chapel in 1894 is also elaborately carved. The alabaster
christening
bowl and its cover are dated 1842. In the east gallery is a two-manual
organ dated 1846, made by John Bellamy. There are no memorials or gravestones. The registers date from 1713 and the treasurers' cash books from 1708.
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building.
History
The chapel was built in 1690, soon after the passing of the Act of Toleration 1689Act of Toleration 1689
The Act of Toleration was an act of the English Parliament , the long title of which is "An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes".The Act allowed freedom of worship to Nonconformists who had pledged to the...
. Initially an independent chapel in the Trinitarian
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
tradition it became Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
during the ministry of John Palmer
John Palmer (Unitarian, 1742–1786)
John Palmer was an English Unitarian minister.-Life:The son of John Palmer, wig-maker, he was born at Norwich. He was a protégé of John Taylor, who began his education, and, on becoming divinity tutor at Warrington Academy, placed Palmer at school in Congleton, Cheshire, under Edward Harwood...
between 1764 and 1780. Around 1800 the internal south gallery was removed. In the early 19th century a number of Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
features were introduced to the interior. In 1825 it acquired its current name, changed from Back Street Chapel.
The old box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s were replaced with bench pews in 1930. It is still in use as a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
chapel.
Exterior
The chapel lies behind other buildings and is approached by a narrow passageway from King Edward Street. It is built from local red sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and has a pair of external staircases leading to the east and west galleries. A lead downspout bears the date 1690. The chapel is 60 feet (18 m) long and 20 feet (6 m) wide.
Interior
A high two-decker pulpitPulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is in the middle of the north side. Galleries are at the east and west ends. In the vestry are oil
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
portraits of Thomas Culcheth, minister from 1717 to 1751, and his wife. There is an elaborately carved chair by William Leicester made in 1688. The communion table which was presented to the chapel in 1894 is also elaborately carved. The alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
christening
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
bowl and its cover are dated 1842. In the east gallery is a two-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ dated 1846, made by John Bellamy. There are no memorials or gravestones. The registers date from 1713 and the treasurers' cash books from 1708.