Fulneck Moravian Chapel And Attached Ranges To Either Side Including The Boys' School And Girls' School

Fulneck Moravian Chapel and attached ranges to either side, including the Boys' School and Girls' School

This is a chapel with attached Brethrens' and Sisters' Houses, now functioning as boys' and girls' schools. The chapel was built 1746-48, with the Brethrens' and Sisters' Houses constructed 1749-52. These three separate buildings originally formed a balanced composition, thought to be designed by Edward Graves of Newark. Rear wings were added in 1758 and 1763. A link block to the girls' school on the right was added 1768-70 (with a cupola added to the chapel in 1770), followed by a link block to the boys' school on the left in 1784-85. Further additions date to 1818 and 1879. The buildings form a very long range facing south onto a terrace.

The structures are mainly three storeys with attics, constructed in ashlar and hammer-dressed stone with red-brown brick in Flemish bond. Roofs are covered in stone slate and Welsh blue-slate.

The chapel at the centre is a fine composition of nine bays. It has a plinth, band, deeply-moulded cornice and balustraded parapet. The symmetrical facade features outer bays flanked by channelled quoin pilaster strips. Ground-floor windows are sashed with stressed keystones; the outer bays have windows with raised surrounds on the first and second floors. The central doorway has raised quoined jambs and a keystone, with an aedicule set above connected by an apron. The two bays on either side have tall arched windows with imposts and triple keystones. Three roof dormers are present; the hipped roof carries two large stacks.

To either side are school additions in two separate builds: each measures six and four bays, with pilaster strips, raised quoins and a band above the ground-floor windows. Windows are single light or two-light with raised plain surrounds. Six ridge stacks serve these ranges.

The brick Brethrens' and Sisters' Houses display seven-bay symmetrical facades with ashlar bands and cornices, parapets with triangular pediments containing Venetian windows set in the tympana. Pedimented doorways have architraves and consoles. All bays have flat-arched sash windows, smaller on the second floor and attic which pierces the parapet. Coped gables with end stacks are present, along with two further ridge stacks.

Later additions are attached to either end, consisting of six bays of windows of lesser architectural interest. The left end terminates in a tall 18th-century pavilion in partly-rendered brick. The right end has been replaced by a five-storey 20th-century dormitory designed in keeping with the historic fabric.

The rear of the chapel is E-shaped with three first-floor doorways approached from higher ground and three-bay projections. The central wing has a pedimented gable surmounted by a cupola with clock and weathervane. The end gables of the Brethrens' and Sisters' Houses feature Venetian windows set in central circular recesses.

Interior

The chapel interior is a long rectangular room with three doorways on the long sides and two on the short sides. The central doorway is semicircular arched with a moulded impost and stressed keystone. The other doorways have earned architraves, pulvinated friezes and modillion casement-moulded cornices, all fitted with six-panel doors.

Set between the centre window is a tall pedestal pulpit dating to around 1750, panelled with a dentil cornice and featuring an open-string staircase with paired turned balusters. A gallery of similar date extends to three sides, supported by wooden Tuscan columns surmounted by fluted pilasters that separate large raised-and-fielded panels; a dentil cornice runs around. A Binns organ in a decorative fretted case, dating to around 1748 and housing an original organ by John Snetzler of Switzerland, is centrally placed on the gallery. A rich modillion cornice runs to the ceiling. The flat ceiling is decorated with plaster foliage bosses.

The chapel was re-pewed around 1889 by Edmund Hutton, with gallery seats provided by Joseph Richardson.

This is an impressive group of buildings. Dates are taken from vestry archives.