Unitarian Chapel

MORETONHAMPSTEAD CROSS STREET (south side), SX 7586 Moretonhampstead 9/121 Unitarian Chapel - GV II

Unitarian, formerly Presbyterian chapel. Dated 1802. Rendered rubble probably granite. Slate hipped roof with lead rolls to hips and slight overhang at eaves. Rectangular single cell plan with entrance on north front under the gallery. The north front has plain corner pilasters with round-headed panels. Central doorway with blind boarded segmental fanlight with segmentally arched canopy and C20 nail- studded door with cover moulds and wrought iron hinges. Flanked by segmental- headed windows each with original cross mullion-transom frames and leaded panes. Above the door a small recessed tablet inscribed "G.W./ERECTED/1802", with hood mould over. Above the tablet a large round-headed window with original frame with radial bars in tympanum. 2 similar, but taller, windows on either east and west side and on the opposite south side where the cills are at lower level. The south windows have had frames replaced later in C19 with stained glass. Interior not inspected but according to Stell: "The interior has a flat plaster ceiling with a moulded cornice. The north gallery has a panelled front with concave central section, supported by 3 turned-wood columns perhaps reused from the earlier building; the centre of the front is painted with the name Yaweh in Hebrew characters". Plain high-backed pews in gallery. Fittings: pair of brass early C19 6-branch chandeliers. Parliament clock from Bowden Hill Chapel, Crediton. East and west windows have red glass borders and sunburst above centre light, early C19. In north window on west side a small panel depicting Christ at the Last Supper. Monument in chapel to Rev. John Smethurst, 1859, 42 years minister, "who for nearly the same space of time was also minister of the Unitarian Baptists in this town". The Presbyterian congregation possibly originated in 1662 when Robert Woolcombe became the first minister. In 1687 a house was converted for use of the meeting. About 1692 a new meetinghouse was built on this site and enlarged in 1718. But it became unsafe and was replaced by the existing chapel in 1802. A fragment of the former building survives as part of the boundary wall (q.v.) to the north-west of the burial ground. Since 1818 the Presbyterians have shared their pastor with the Baptists and support a Unitarian ministry. Source: C Stell's draft for RCHM book on non-conformist chapels.

Listing NGR: SX7552685992