Moravian Church And Attached Manse

LEOMINSTER

SO4958 SOUTH STREET 808-1/2/317 (East side) Moravian Church and attached Manse

GV II

Church and manse. Dated 1759, church altered 1875 and manse c1900. Red brick with Welsh slate roof and brick ridge and end stacks. Single long range with single-storey church to left and 2-storey manse to right. EXTERIOR: church a 3-window range of C19 stone 2-light windows probably in the original openings under brick segmental arches and corniced keystones. Octagonal open lantern on roof ridge. Stone plinth and moulded stone eaves which continue to right to the manse. To left a 6-panel door, the upper panels glazed, with 2/2 sash over, then a 2-storey canted bay with 2/2 sashes, then a similar bay in a c1900 extension and a door with overlight. Brick inscribed 1759 at extreme right immediately before extension. On left end the church entrance with 6-panel door. Church has similar windows to rear and manse has further 2/2 sashes and lean-tos. INTERIOR: the orientation of the church was changed in 1875 from a central cross axis entrance (blocking visible below central windows) and the fittings date from this period, but the panelled-front gallery may be a reworking of the original. The roof now has open trusses, but there was originally an attic because there is a blocked doorway leading from the attic of the manse. Manse retains 6-panel doors, upper flights of stick baluster stair and roof with 2 tiers of collars and purlins. HISTORY: Leominster's Moravian congregation was established c1750 and the church consecrated in 1761 by Bishop Gambold. (Stell C: Inventory of Nonconformist Chapels & Meeting-Houses in C.England: London: 1986-: 112).

Listing NGR: SO4961458666