Former Rothwell United Reformed Church

This is a former United Reformed Church, originally a Congregational church, built in 1735 with subsequent additions in 1762. Further alterations followed in a Romanesque style in 1826 and 1852. The building is constructed of coursed and squared ironstone with stone dressings, and has a hipped slate roof. It is listed at Grade II* for its group value.

The main front features a stepped dentillated cornice and moulded parapet, with inscribed dates. Round-headed openings have projecting architraves with keystones. A projecting two-bay central section has two windows, flanked by doorways with fanlights. Above the doorways are four smaller double windows. A datestone inscribed '1826' sits between the central pair.

The north side has three round-headed windows, with three 19th-century cross casements above. A re-set datestone inscribed '1676' is positioned centrally. The south end features a projecting gabled organ chamber with a casement window in each side. A gabled lecture room was added in 1909 to the southwest corner and a gabled vestry in 1909 to the southeast corner; a blocked door and datestone inscribed '1762' are located to the south of the vestry.

The interior of the church has three patterned stained glass windows on each side. A pilastered recess at the front contains a platform and a Renaissance Revival style organ case from 1898. Behind the main space and on either side are panelled galleries with a dentillated frieze, supported by fluted iron piers. The ceiling has a moulded cornice and four rosette vents. Entrance lobbies contain cantilevered stone staircases with iron stick balusters. A Sunday School room between the lobbies has two 19th-century stained glass windows, and the gallery above features a moulded cornice and fitted cupboards at each end. The roof has been remodelled with softwood principal rafter and queen post trusses.

Original fittings include a mid-19th-century oak pulpit with stairs on each side, plain benches from 1852 (angled on the sides), and early 19th-century box pews in the gallery. Memorials include a bronze war memorial tablet from 1918 and four other 20th-century tablets.

Rothwell’s Independent Church was established in 1655, initially meeting in a barn on the site of the present church. This was an important local centre of nonconformity, particularly during the ministry of Richard Davis (1690-1714).