Chester College Chapel

CHESTER CITY (EM)

SJ46NW CHENEY ROAD 1932-1/2/43 (North side) 10/01/72 Chester College Chapel (Formerly listed as: PARKGATE ROAD Chester College Chapel)

GV II*

College chapel. 1844-7. By JE Gregan of Manchester. Coursed red sandstone; graded Westmorland green slate roof. Geometrical style. A hall-chapel with south-west bell-turret and north and south porches. EXTERIOR: the west end has side of north porch with shoulder-arched occasional door; chapel has a 4-light window with tracery of 2 quatrefoils supporting a sexfoil; a trefoil in gable; cross finial; slender octagonal turret with loops to spiral stair and arched bell-opening in each face beneath a heavily crocketed spire. The south side of chapel has gabled porch in west bay with oak double doors on ornate hinges; shafts with stiff-leaf capitals; hoodmould to archway on head-corbels; diagonal buttresses; apex cross. The 5 bays to east have 2-light windows. The east end has a 5-light geometrical window; gable corss. The 2 east bays of the north side are detailed as south side; the college building adjoins the other bays, with the linking north porch to the west bay. INTERIOR: Chester was the earliest Church of England College for training schoolteachers; the students played an active part in making the chapel furnishings which are well designed and executed, including the east window. The stalls face each other; oak dado of traceried panelling with rail inscribed: "Cleanse me from my sin: Sing ye praises with understanding: Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit: At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore: I am the Bread: I will wash my hands in innocency O LORD and so will I go to thine Altar: I am the Vine: there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness: Lord Jesus receive my spirit: Have mercy upon me Lord for I am weak: strengthen me with Thy free spirit: Make me a clean heart O GOD." A tiered west gallery reached by the turret stair has a carved open-work front. The chapel has an encaustic tile floor; a traceried 3-gabled organ-case 1856 by Rev. TN Hutchinson; memorial head in circlet of Rev. Arthur Rigg, Principal for 30 years since inception of the College in 1839, by JS Westmacott; similar head of Dean Bellers 1854-1925, Diocesan Chancellor, plaque to Rev. JM Critchley, Vice Principal 1864-9 and Principal 1869-85; memorial to students killed in action 1914-19. On south side of gallery an oil painting after Reni of Michael casting out Satan and, north, after Rubens of the Deposition, given by the first Duke of Westminster 1883.