Unitarian Chapel

The Unitarian Chapel in Macclesfield, dated 1690 with 19th-century alterations, is constructed from coursed and squared rubble and features a stone-flagged roof. The building has a galleried interior that is expressed over two storeys and includes a six-window range.

Externally, there are staircases on each side that provide access to the galleries, with lower doorways located beneath the stairways. The upper doorway is ogee arched, while the lower openings have shallow segmental arches. The windows are designed with two- and three-light mullions and traceried glazing, which was renewed in 1929, except for the central windows on each floor that were blocked on the inside and retain their 19th-century glazing featuring interlace tracery with coloured glass margin lights.

Inside, the chapel is accessed through a lobby passage on the west side. The interior fittings primarily date from an early re-ordering in 1846 and are designed cohesively. Galleries are present on the east and west sides, with a former south gallery removed in the 19th century. The blind trefoiled panelling of the gallery is reflected in the panels between the queen posts of the roof structure and in the wall panelling on the north and south sides. A two-decker pulpit is located in the centre of the north wall, complete with a suspended sounding board. The pulpit is plain panelled and features turned balusters on the stairs. Most of the pews are from the 19th century. There is gilded cusped tracery on the wall panels flanking the pulpit, which also display painted prayers. The panelling was extended across the windows on either side of the pulpit in 1929. An organ from 1846 is situated on the east gallery. The chapel shares an identical design with other late 17th-century Unitarian chapels located in Knutsford and Wilmslow.