Methodist Chapel

This is a Methodist chapel, built in 1862. It is located on Cowick Road in Snaith, near Cowick. The chapel is constructed of red brick with red mortar joints, and features sandstone ashlar dressings. The roof is covered in Welsh slate. Designed in a Classical style, the chapel is rectangular in shape and has rear extensions.

The front of the building, facing south, has a prominent pedimented design with a Roman Ionic blind portico consisting of six free-standing columns and pilasters with decorative capitals. A flight of three stone steps leads to the central three bays, where there are panelled doors topped with wooden cornices and radial fanlights set within ashlar arches. The outer bays on this front are flanked by unequal six-pane sash windows within cambered brick arches. The first floor mirrors the ground floor, with round-headed six-pane windows, those in the central bays having recessed aprons and keyed archivolts. The pediment is highly decorated with carved acroteria and a relief carving within a circular date plaque. A small gabled louvre sits atop the roof. The side elevations continue the portico onto the southern bay, with pilasters supporting an entablature and decorative acroteria. Brick pilasters mark the corners of the building.

The ground floor of the side elevations has a sill band and incorporates stained-glass sash windows with segmental arches and ashlar keystones. The first floor has a moulded string course and a round-headed window set within a pedimented surround. Other bays on the first floor feature taller stained-glass windows with recessed apron panels, a brick frieze, and rubbed-brick arches with bracketed keystones. A moulded wooden eaves cornice runs along the top of the chapel.

The interior includes a gallery on all four sides, supported by cast-iron columns with decorative capitals. The gallery’s underside is panelled and features painted floral designs on the front. The plasterwork incorporates angle pilasters to the organ chamber and a coffered, segmental-arched vaulted ceiling. The chapel retains a full set of panelled box pews, along with a pair of internal wooden porches at the entrance. The sanctuary has cast-iron rails and an ornate panelled pulpit supported on square columns with carved acanthus brackets. A panelled screen with pilasters and a cornice completes the space.