Building Name

Independent Chapel Lodge Lane Elswick near Preston

Date
1873
Street
Lodge Lane
District/Town
E lswick, Preston
County/Country
Lancashire, England
Work
New Build

ELSWICK NEW INDEPENDENT CHAPEL-This new edifice, in connection with the Independent body of worshippers of Elswick is now making rapid and satisfactory progress. The workmen engaged at the building are, we believe, just about to commence with the roofing, so that, ere long, we may expect to hear that the interior has been covered in. The sacred edifice is built, so far as masonry is concerned in its erection, wholly of stone, and there is to be a noble-looking steeple and spire attached to it of the same material. The building will, we have been led to understand, when completed, cost nearly £4,000. [Preston Chronicle 12 April 1873 page 6]

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL ELSWICK – The Memorial stone of the New Congregational Chapel at Elswick will be laid on Wednesday afternoon 30 July 1873, at two o’clock by Sir James Watt of Manchester, Knt. [Preston Chronicle 26 July 1873 page 1]

NEW INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR ELSWICK - Some time ago a movement was set on foot for the purpose of erecting a new chapel; land was procured adjoining the old chapel; and steps were taken for the erection of the building. Not very long ago the foundation stone was laid, and the work was commenced.  The new Church stands well on an open plot of land which was demised a few years ago as a site for the new building, and as an extension of the old burial ground. The positions of the roads which bound this land on two sides, and branch off in several directions near, afford capital opportunities for viewing the edifice, and the design has been prepared so that it may produce a pleasing outline from whatever quarter it is seen. When the boundary fences are erected, and the land laid out as a cemetery, the new church and its surroundings will present a tout assemble which will be unique in modern congregationalism. Its chief structural feature - the tower and spire - is erected at the sole cost of R. C. Richards, Esq., as a  memento of his relatives, whose ashes lie in the burial ground of the old chapel. The ground floor chamber of the tower is arranged for use on funeral occasions. An archway connects it with the adjoining entrance porch. Beneath the windows, on three sides of the chamber, arcaded recesses have been formed, each containing a slab of white marble with memorial inscriptions on four of them. The arcades are constructed of stone very richly moulded, and the shafts are of polished serpentine and other costly marble, with carved stone capitals. The ceiling of the chamber is groined in stone with moulded ribs and there will be wrought iron gates of handsome design to the archway. The plan of the church consists of a nave and transepts, and recess for a choir gallery. The dimensions are 56 feet in length exclusive of the choir recess; 23 feet width across the nave, and 46 feet width across the transepts. The recess is 19 feet by 15 feet. The transepts are 19 feet wide. The height from the floor to the wall-plate of the roof is 16 feet, and 33 feet from floor to ridge. The roofs are open-timbered to the ridge; all the constructive timbers being exposed to view stained and varnished. Tile spaces between the timbers are plastered. Underneath the choir gallery is a large vestry or meeting room, and a convenient vestry for the minister in the angle formed by the south transept and the recess. The style of the building is English gothic of the geometrical period, very simply treated. The walls are faced with stone parpoints from Burnley, and the dressings are, of Longridge stone. The roof is covered with Welsh slates, and the ridge is laid with red Staffordshire tiles. The whole of the joiners' work to the inside of the building will be of pitch pine varnished. The accommodation is the church is for 250 adults in pews, and 50 more in free benches exclusive of the choir. The tower is 12 feet square externally, and the spire will rise to a height of nearly 90 feet. The contractors for the masonry and brickwork are Messrs Wilkinson and Kirby, of Longridge. The works in all the other trades are contracted for by Mr James Terras of Manchester. Mr. Parkinson, of Elswick, one of the members of the Building Committee, has efficiently and gratuitously over-looked the erection of the structure. The architect is H. J. Paull Esq. of Manchester, who has secured considerable renown in his profession, and who has received hearty and frequent congratulation for the excellence and beauty of his design. Mr. Paull is also now architect for the new church now being erected in perpetuation of Surrey Chapel, in London, for the Rev. Newman Hall. It is intended to complete the Works so that the church may be opened in the early part of 1874. The estimated cost of the building is £3,600. [Preston Chronicle 2 August 1873 page 3]

 OPENING OF THE ELSWICK MEMORIAL CHAPEL. The Elswick Memorial Chapel was opened for Divine worship on Thursday.  … The positions of the roads which bound this land on two sides and branch off in several directions near, afford capital opportunities for viewing the edifice. The tower and spire is erected at the sole cost of R. C. Richards, Esq., as a living memento of his relatives, whose ashes lie in the burial ground of the old chapel. The ground floor chamber of the tower is arranged for use on funeral occasions. An archway connects it with the adjoining entrance porch. Beneath the windows on three sides of the chamber arcade recesses have been formed, each containing a slab of white marble, with memorial inscriptions on four of them. The arcades are constructed of stone very richly moulded, and the shafts are of polished serpentine and other costly marble with carved stone capitals. The ceiling of the chamber is groined in stone with moulded ribs, and there are wrought-iron gates of handsome design to the archway. The plan of the church consists of a nave and transepts, and recess for a choir gallery. The dimensions are 56 feet in length, exclusive of the choir recess, 26 feet width across the nave, and 46 feet width across the transepts. The recess is 19 feet by 15 feet. The transepts are 19 feet wide. The height from the floor to the wall-plate of the roof is 16 feet, and 33 feet from floor to ridge. The roofs are open-timbered to the ridge; all the constructive timbers being exposed to view are stained and varnished. Underneath the choir gallery is a large vestry, and there is also a convenient vestry for the minister. The style of the building is English-Gothic of the geometrical period, very simply treated. The walls are faced with stone parpoints from Burnley, and the dressings are of Longridge stone. The roof is covered with Welsh slates, and the ridge is laid with red Staffordshire tiles. The whole of the work to the inside of the building is of pitch pine varnished. The accommodation in the church is for 250 adults in pews and 50 more in free benches, exclusive of the choir. H. J. Paull, Esq., of Manchester, is the architect, and he has succeeded most admirably in his undertaking. The church is a magnificent architectural adornment to the locality; in fact, it is the prettiest rural Nonconformist chapel in the county. The cost of the building has been over £3,000. [Preston Chronicle 30 May 1874 page 6]

Reference    Preston Chronicle 12 April 1873 page 6
Reference    Preston Chronicle 26 July 1873 page 1
Reference    Preston Chronicle 2 August 1873 page 3 – memorial stone
Reference    Preston Chronicle 30 May 1874 page 6 - opening