Congregational Church And Hall, Dwarf Wall, Railings And Gate Abutting North Corner

The Congregational Church and hall, along with a dwarf wall, railings, and gate, were constructed in 1831 and 1897. The chapel is rendered to resemble ashlar, with areas of random rubble on the north front and slate hanging on the rear elevation. The hall has exposed rubble and brickwork with a slate roof and overhanging eaves. The chapel’s plan consists of a parallel range extended with schoolrooms over the hall and a single-storey vestry set at an angle to the east. The chapel front features three 3-light windows with tracery, a shorter centre window above a square-headed entrance with double panelled doors and a fluted architrave. A date stone marked “1831” is set into the gable end. To the right of the chapel is a two-storey hall with three bays of cruciform windows with segmental heads, a central semi-circular-headed doorway, a 6-panel door, and a datestone marked “1897” in the gable. The chapel’s interior features a panelled wooden gallery on three sides, supported by two cast iron columns with cavetto moulded capitals and plain cast iron columns. Late 19th-century fittings are also present. An early 19th-century stick stair rises in the south-west corner, featuring turned newels. An inscription, “Holiness becometh thy house O Lord”, is painted on the east end wall. The adjoining hall has five small schoolrooms on the first floor, with stained pine matchboard panelling at the dados and a hall containing four wood and cast iron benches combined with desks, and two plain benches made by George Hammer of London. The hall also features interesting examples of late 19th-century patent furniture. A boundary wall constructed of random rubble with cement coping runs along the north-west corner, incorporating spearhead railings and a gate. The wall extends approximately 10 meters and returns to Chapel Cottages (not included in the listing). Sir George Williams, the founder of the YMCA, who was born at Ashway Farmhouse, worshipped at this church as a boy.