Former Rothwell United Reformed Church

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 27 February 2024 to amend the name and to reformat the text to current standards

SP 88 SW 3/70

ROTHWELL FOX STREET (south side) Former Rothwell United Reformed Church

(Formerly listed as Rothwell United Reformed Church)

23/1/85

II* Congregational church, now United Reformed Church. 1735, with additions 1762. Further additions in Romanesque style, 1826 and 1852. Coursed and squared ironstone with stone dressings and hipped slate roof. Chamfered plinths throughout.

Main front has stepped dentillated cornice and moulded parapet and gable inscribed with dates. Round headed openings all have projecting architraves with keystones. Projecting 2 twonbay centre has two windows. Beyond, on either side, a doorway with fanlight. Above, four smaller double windows. Between the central pair, a datestone inscribed '1826'.

Each side of the church has three round headed windows and above, three C19 cross casements, all with keystoned heads. North side has a slightly projecting centre with, above, a re-set datestone inscribed '1676'. South end has a central gabled organ chamber with a single casement high up in each side. South west corner has an adjoining gabled lecture room, two bays, 1909. South east corner has an adjoining gabled vestry with, to south, a blocked door and above it a datestone inscribed '1762'.

Interior: the body of the church has on each side three patterned stained glass windows. To the front, a pilastered recess containing a platform and a Renaissance Revival style organ case, 1898. At the rear and on each side, a panelled gallery with dentillated frieze, on fluted iron piers. Panelled ceiling with moulded cornice and four rosette vents. Entrance lobbies each have cantilevered stone staircases with iron stick balusters. Sunday School room between lobbies has two C19 stained glass windows. Gallery above has a moulded cornice and a fitted cupboard at each end. Remodelled roof has softwood principal rafter and queen post trusses.

Fittings include round cornered mid C19 oak pulpit with stairs each side. Plain benches, 1852, in the body of the church, those at the sides angled. Early C19 box pews in the gallery. Memorials include an arch-topped bronze war memorial tablet, 1918, and four other C20 tablets.

Rothwell's Independent Church was established in 1655, holding its meetings in a barn said to have stood on the site of the present church. It was an important local centre of nonconformity, particularly during the ministry of Richard Davis, 1690 -1714.

Listing NGR: SP8137480930

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 October 2017.