Wesleyan Chapel, Market Place, Rugby

It was during the time the Rev J E Cooke was in the circuit that the scheme for erecting the Market Place Wesleyan Church was carried through: Mr C. O. Ellison. of Liverpool, being the architect and Messrs J Parnell and Son. of Rugby, the builders. The cost of the church was £5,500 and at the time the building was pronounced one of the most beautiful in Methodism. [Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 20 April 1907 page 3]

On 29 May 1868 a procession of the Wesleyan Day and Sunday schools’ teachers and children paraded to the site of the new chapel in Market Place to witness the laying of the foundation stone by William M’Arthur, the Sheriff of London and Middlesex. The platform party in the evening included Rev. Frederick Temple (1821-1902) headmaster of Rugby School and future Archbishop of Canterbury. The new chapel was opened on Thursday 15 April 1869 and continued in use until its replacement by the Methodist Church Centre, Russelsheim Way, opened on 28 January 1984. [A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland]

NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AT RUGBY - Friday last was the occasion of laying the foundation stone a new Wesleyan chapel The old chapel being found too small for the congregation efforts have some years past been made to raise funds for the erection a place worship and these efforts have proved so far successful that the work been commenced. ....

The style of the chapel is Gothic, of the Early Pointed Period, carried out in red bricks, with black and dressings of white stone. The principal entrance faces Market Place, and will be entirely of stone, with enriched mouldings, carved caps, and polished marble shafts, the upper part above being finished as a tower, with lancet windows, and the roof carried well up, forming, with the lofty pinnacle on the roof, a very prominent feature. Next to the tower will be small gable, filled with a wheel window in plate tracery, the remainder of the side elevation being occupied with three-light windows under one pointed-arch which will show itself inside as well as out. The Chapel-street end of the building will be effective, though less elaborate than the above. The circular chancel, with its high pointed roof, and the vestries, organ chamber, etc., arranged in low buildings on either side, will doubt remarkably well. The interior will have somewhat the effect of nave and aisles, the roof being supported partially upon elegant iron columns with foliated capitals, the centre bay or nave being 25 feet wide, aisles, 9 feet 9 inches, the end finishing with semi-circular apse the full width and height, and the roof timbers, springing from shafts on stone corbels, radiating to the centre, the roof timbers being ornamented and the entire ceiling of nave boarded and finished in various shades of stain well varnished. The organ chamber adjoins the apse, and opens into it, with ornamented arches, pillars, and shafts. A large arch opens direct into the side arches, and, when decorated, will add much to the beauty of the interior. A gallery is to be fixed across one end only of the chapel; the front will be ornamental panelling stains of two shades. The whole of the pews will be of good width, and finished in the most modern style, with sloping backs, open ends, etc. The windows throughout are to be glazed with best cathedral glass of good warm tint, narrow margin of white or colourless glass running round, and those the apse a little more enriched. There will be accommodation for 500 persons on the ground floor and 200 the gallery, and as considerable care has been bestowed the proportions of the building, it is confidently expected that, not only will the general effect be very good, but the acoustic properties everything that can be desired. Arrangements have been made for utilising the entire basement floor when the funds will allow of it and, when done, a very fine schoolroom and suite of vestries will be added the chapel. [Coventry Times - Wednesday 3 June 1868 page 6]

OPENING OF THE CHAPEL, RUGBY -  Thursday last was a great day for the Wesleyan Methodist sat Rugby, being the day appointed for the opening of the new Chapel. ….. A suitable site was secured by the purchase of the old “Eagle” premises and the time speedily arrived when the Committee of Management felt justified in beginning active operations. Plans were obtained from a well-known architect, Mr. C. O. Ellison, of Adelphi Bank Chambers, Liverpool and a contract was entered into with Messrs Parnell and Son, of Rugby, to erect the building now opened.

The building is one of considerable architectural merit, although to secure so central a site the Committee have had to sacrifice, to a great extent outward appearance, buildings closely surrounding it on all sides. The principal entrance is from the Market Place where, at the top of a short flight of stairs, there is a very handsome Gothic doorway with marble pillars and carved capital. The front is red brick, enriched with mouldings of Bath stone and tastefully relieved by designs in different coloured bricks. Passing through the outer door a spacious vestibule is entered, with a separate entrance at the other end to Chapel Street. From this, two doorways give access to the interior of the Chapel. This consists of a nave and two side aisles. At the south end of the nave is an apse or recess in which stands the communion table; on one side is the font and on the other the pulpit. The roof of the nave is boarded and stained and is supported by rows of light iron pillars with foliated capitals, from which spring elegant arches of open woodwork. The side aisles are each lighted by four large three-light windows, pointed and filled with Cathedral glass with a band of slightly darker coloured glass around the edges. In the apse are five stained glass windows of a rich but chaste design, the centre one bearing the inscription, “If you love me keep my commandments.” At he opposite end is a “wheel” or circular window also filled with richly stained glass. At this end also is a gallery extending the whole width of the Chapel and lighted by a wheel window of nine lights on either side. Upon one side of the communion table is a door communicating with a well-appointed vestry; on the other side is an organ recess with ornamental stone arches, pillars and shafts. ….. The Chapel is seated uniformly throughout with low and convenient seats of Memel design, unpainted but well varnished. The arrangement of the seats is excellent. Instead of the usual straight back these are of the kind known as sloping back which by a very simple arrangement add much to the comfort of the occupants. The pulpit is of varnished pitch-pine, neatly carved in panels. The lighting of the chapel at night has been amply provided for and the architect has arranged the fittings so as to be a positive embellishment to the building. To the spring of each arch of the nave a bracket is fixed of ornamental wrought-iron work tastefully coloured. On each side of the communion table is a handsome wrought-iron standard bearing nine lights. The effect of all these lights is extremely good. The table is enclosed by an oak rail supported by wrought-iron standards. The floor of the apse and the steps leading to it are covered by a deep blue carpet relieved by fleur-de-lis while the aisles are covered with matting with a coloured boarder. The appearance of the Chapel is much improved by a tasteful use of colour on the pillars supporting the roof and in other suitable places. The arrangements for ventilation and heating appear to be perfect. [Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 17 April 1869 page 4]

Reference    Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 20 April 1907 page 3 – obit Thomas Hands
Reference    A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland
Reference    Coventry Times - Wednesday 3 June 1868 page 6 – foundation stone
Reference    Coventry Herald - Friday 5 June 1868 page 3
Reference    Northampton Mercury - Saturday 6 June 1868 page 7
Reference    Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 17 April 1869 page 4
Reference    Nuneaton Advertiser - Saturday 17 April 1869 page 4 - opening