Baptist Chapel, Bank Street, Salford

NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL – On Thursday afternoon last, the foundation stone of a new Baptist chapel was laid at the junction of Bank Street with Great George Street, Salford. The chapel is to be in the Tudor style of architecture, and will, when completed, afford accommodation for from 800 to 900 persons, besides school accommodation for a large number of children in a room beneath it. …. (ceremony) … The erection of the new chapel is estimated to cost about £1,700, towards which about £1,000 have been collected or promised. There are now three Baptist chapels in course of erection, not far distant from each other – two near the Catholic cathedral, in Salford, and the other in Great Ducie Street, Strangeways.

The following is the description of the building by Mr Thomas Risley, the architect: The style of architecture adopted is Tudor, which is to be executed in red bricks, with quoins, mullions and all masonry in white stone; the surface of the brickwork to be relieved with figures wrought in blue brick. The main entrance to the chapel is from Bank Street, by an ascent of twelve steps to an arcade, or open porch, which communicates with a vestibule to the aisles, and to the staircases to the end gallery. The interior is to be lighted by five four-light windows on each side, and by a centre window of seven lights in the gable of the Bank Street front. The whole of the seats to the chapel and galleries will be kept low, and will be open, or without doors; the roof also will be open, which with the seats and all the carpentry, will be finished in dark oak colour. The baptistry, which is to be open, is at the north end of the chapel, in a recess formed by the tree sides of an octagon, lighted by three windows on both sides. On each side of the baptistry are rooms for vestries, lectures and other purposes, and on the sides of the figure forming the recess will be the singers’ and organ gallery, well lighted from above. Accommodation is provided for 800 seats. The schools are below the chapel with entrances from Great George Street, and are arranged for the separate entrance and accommodation of both sexes, with hat and cloak rooms, class rooms etc. They are designed to receive 500 children. [Manchester Guardian 31 May 1851 page 6]