King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield

King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield is in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=391021 |title=Images of England: Unitarian Chapel, Macclesfield |accessdate=2007-10-22 |publisher=English Heritage]

History

The chapel was built in 1690, soon after the passing of the Act of Toleration 1689. 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. The old box pews were replaced with bench pews in 1930. cite book | last =Richards | first =Raymond | title =Old Cheshire Churches | publisher =Batsford | date =1947 | location =London | pages =376–378] It is still in use as a Unitarian chapel. [cite web |url=http://www.unitarian.org.uk/local_manchester.htm |title=The Unitarian Movement: Manchester District Association |accessdate=2007-10-23 |publisher=The Unitarian and Free Christian Churches ]

tructure

The chapel lies behind other buildings and is approached by a narrow passageway from King Edward Street. It is built from local red sandstone and has a pair of external staircases leading to the east and west galleries. A lead downspout bears the date 1690. The chapel is convert|60|ft|m|0 long and convert|20|ft|m|0 wide.

Fittings and furniture

A high two-decker pulpit 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 an organ dated 1846. There are no memorials or gravestones. The registers date from 1713 and the treasurers' cash books from 1708. The chapel plate includes two silver cups dated 1728, three patens dated 1841 and a late 17th century pewter baptismal bowl.

Notes

External links

*cite web |url=http://www.thornber.net/cheshire/htmlfiles/macclechap.html |title=Cheshire Antiquities: Macclesfield Chapels |accessdate= |last=Thornber |first=Craig |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages=