Unitarian Chapel

The Unitarian Chapel, located at 1260 Friars Street, is a remarkable example of a 17th-century Meeting House. A congregation of Dissenters was first established in 1672, and the current building was opened in 1700. It retains much of its original work and interior fittings, which are almost intact. The chapel has a square plan with plastered walls and stands two storeys high. The upper storey windows illuminate a gallery that encircles three sides of the interior.

All sides of the building feature impressive fronts, with the main entrances located on the north and east sides. The north front has a range of three windows, which are mullioned and transomed casements with leaded lattice lights, along with two eight-panel double doors that have stucco moulded and shouldered architraves, panelled pilasters, and modillioned pediments on enriched console brackets. Above the doorways on the first storey, there are oval windows with spiders web leaded lights. The east side has a central doorway similar to those on the north side and four mullioned and transomed windows like those on the north front. Originally, the chapel faced a courtyard that was accessed by a passageway from St Nicholas Street.

The south side features a range of six windows, four of which have semi-circular arched heads with oval windows above, mirroring the design of the north front. The west front includes a range of four mullioned and transomed windows with leaded lattice lights. The roof is double pitched and tiled. Inside, the chapel boasts a panelled gallery on three sides, original box pews, a finely carved three-decker pulpit (believed to be carved by Grinling Gibbons), and a brass chandelier.