The Old Congregational Church

The Old Congregational Church, dated 1845, is constructed of sandstone “brick” with ashlar dressings. It was built as a Church Commissioners building, unusually in a Tudor-Gothic style. The front has a battlemented gable end with a central gable flanked by octagonal turrets. The turrets are ashlar faced and crenellated, with a vertical porch. Pierced balustraded coping tops the gable, with a clock face in the apex and the date “1845” inscribed. A coved string runs over the turrets from the side bays. A high set weathered sill string is present. The flanking bays contain four-centred arch single lights in chamfered surrounds with drip moulds. A large three-light mullioned transomed lancet group is situated in the centrepiece, under a four-centred arch with a drip mould. A four-centred arch doorway is reused for two orders. Four bays are articulated by shallow buttresses and have a plain parapet. Two-light mullioned full-height windows with diamond-headed glazing are set under Tudor drip mould arches. A reset date stone in the rear gable end confirms an early 18th century foundation of 1705, with repairs made in 1805 before the rebuild. A large three-light “east” window features similar Perpendicular detailing.

Inside, the building retains a good “Perpendicular” cast iron staircase rising behind the central doorway, designed as an imperial split flight to serve a gallery with a mahogany handrail and cantilevered ashlar stops. The gallery remains in place with quatrefoil panelling. Cusped roof trusses are visible. The church occupies a crucial village centre site at a T-junction.