Bethesda Free Church

SUNDERLAND

NZ4056 TATHAM STREET 920-1/14/217 (West side) 10/11/78 Bethesda Free Church (Formerly Listed as: TATHAM STREET (West side) Bethesda Chapel)

GV II

Bethesda Free Chapel, now known as Bethesda Free Church. 1844-5; side galleries 1852. For AA Rees. Dated 1844 in pediment. Garden wall bond brick (5 and one) and limestone rubble returns, rendered rear, with ashlar sandstone plinth and painted ashlar dressings; Welsh slate roof. EXTERIOR: ritual west to street has 2 stories; 3 windows and set-back sides. Pedimented centre has recessed central bay with steps up to 6-panelled double door and 2-pane overlight recessed under cornice on scroll brackets; renewed window above has shallow segmental head in wedge stone lintel, and projecting stone sill. Similar windows in flanking bays which project slightly, all 3 bays under pediment and a bracketed top panel with low relief BETHESDA/FREE CHAPEL filling the centre; panel in pediment has 1844 in low relief letters. Flanking set back section blank with prominent eaves cornice and blocking course. INTERIOR shows fluted iron columns, mostly now cased-in, supporting gallery round 3 sides. Baptismal pool. Memorial to AA Rees d.1884. Pews renewed. Building paid for by the minister who established it, Arthur Augustus Rees, on land bought from a local Quaker family, Cable Wilson. (Brockie W: Memoirs of Arthur Augustus Rees(Information from Mr. E Turner): 1884-).

Listing NGR: NZ4008456778