Building Name

Unitarian Chapel Blackwater Street Rochdale

Date
1856 - 1857
Street
Blackwater Street
District/Town
Rochdale
County/Country
GMCA, England
Architect
Work
New build
Status
Demolished 1972
Contractor
J and J Cheetham, Rochdale

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW UNITARIAN CHAPEL - Yesterday the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new Unitarian chapel, on the site of the old Presbyterian chapel, Blackwater Street, was performed by George Holt Esq, of Liverpool. ......  The new chapel will be pointed or Gothic in the style current in the 13th century, when the early English was being fully developed, and was about to merge into the Decorative. It will be very simple in character, consisting of a nave and south aisle under separate roofs; that of the nave being terminated at each end by a gable, with small bell canopy and metal cross on the apex of the west, and a stone ornamental cross on that of the east gable. In length the chapel, externally, will be 66 feet and the width 34 feet. The principal entrance will be at the west end, in Blackwater Street, and over it there will be a large four-light window, with geometric tracery in the head, a feature which will characterise all the windows. The east end will have a four-light window, but differing in design from that at the west side. On the north side there will be four windows - the most westerly being of three lights and the other of two lights. The south windows of the aisle will correspond to those on the north side, except in the eastern bay, which will contain the minister’s private door tp the vestry and a couplet of small trefoil-headed windows. The east and west ends of the aisle will also have two light windows.

 Externally, decoration will be but sparingly used, being confined chiefly to the entrance doorway, and the large window above it, the former having a richly moulded arch of the ordinary pointed character, the aperture of the doorway, however, being formed with a trefoiled head. All the windows will stand upon a moulded string-course. The set-offs of the buttresses will be of the simplest form; but on the main buttresses to the nave, the upper weatherings will be enriched with a trefoil canopy and finial. Internally the nave will be divided from the aisle by four clustered columns and moulded arches of Bath stone, and over these a low clerestory, with a small window over each arch, formed alternately as a quatrefoil and a trefoil. The eastern bay will be raised one step, and set apart as a chancel to contain the singers= seats and the communion table, which latter will stand on a platform one step above the chancel floor. The adjoining bay of the aisle will be enclosed by a carved oak screen, the eastern portion being used as a vestry, and the remainder to contain the organ. On the north and east sides, the internal jambs and arched heads of the windows will be enriched with moulded shafts, capitals and bases. Those on the west and south sides will have simple moulded splays. Under the north, east and west windows will run a moulded string course, similar to the one outside. The roof will be entirely open to the interior: the timbers will be wrought and stained. Over each pillar, and against the east wall, there will be a main principal; and between these, subordinate principals. All will have cross struts and curved braces, forming a complete pointed arch. The main principals will rest on moulded stone corbels. The principals of the aisle roof will also be supported on stone corbels, and strengthened by curved struts, resting on the wall over the columns. The seats will be open, very much like those at St Alban=s church, with moulded standards and backs; those in the chancel being of a somewhat more ornamental character than the others. The pulpit is intended to stand against the north wall, at the point of junction between the nave and chancel. The cost of the chapel is expected to be about £2,000 and it is expected to be finished by September next. The architect is Mr Henry Bowman. of Manchester; the builders Messrs J and J Cheetham, Rochdale; and the clerk of the works, Mr Robert Gill, Rochdale. [Manchester Guardian 24 April 1856 page 4]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 February 1856 page 7 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 1 March 1856 page 7 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 24 April 1856 page 4 - foundation stone
Reference    Builder 3 May 1856 page 243
Reference    Manchester Guardian 12 June 1857 page 4 - opening