Tabernacle Congregational Church

The Tabernacle Congregational Church is a chapel dating from 1774, with significant restoration work undertaken in 1874. It is constructed of painted stucco with triple hipped slate roofs and sits upon a painted stone plinth of squared blocks with tooled edges. The front elevation is ornate and two-storey, with the lower section acting as a podium. The central section is a large, curved projection three windows wide, carried on three open arches, flanked by single-bay wings. A full entablature with a dentilled cornice runs across the building, with a blocking course above the wings and a high parapet over the central bow, divided by piers. Blind roundels are incorporated into the outer bays of the parapet, while the central section features a large, segmental-headed feature with a triple keystone, framing a panel inscribed "Tabernacle built AD 1774. Restored AD 1874." A wrought iron cross sits above. Tall, slim Ionic columns frame the bays of the central bow, with a pair of columns on the exterior and two single columns standing on high pedestals from which spring the three arches of the entry. The first floor has three large windows within shouldered architraves featuring acanthus keystones, scrolls at the base of the jambs, and sills supported by small brackets. These windows have marginal glazing bars. Channelled rustication extends up to the level of the column pedestals on the outer bays, along with broad panelled pilasters to the outer angles and a stepped stucco band under a long arched window with a large triple keystone and scrolls at the base of the jambs. Three large doors, double in the centre and single on either side, lead into the chapel, featuring renewed heavy panelled doors and overlights. The plain rendered side elevations are characterised by cambered headed windows on the upper floor and nogged red brick eaves.

The fine interior is divided into a nave and aisle by tall cast-iron columns with florid leaf capitals, which support elliptical arches with decorative plaster roundels in the spandrels. These columns support galleries with a plain frieze and cornice, and very fine long panels of pierced, scrolled cast-ironwork depicting a vine pattern. The cornice breaks forward over the columns. The arcade terminates in large pilaster responds with ornate capitals. The aisles have flat ceilings and raked seating. The centre of the chapel features a fine, plastered segmental-arched vault, panelled with decorated plasterwork to the transverse ribs, corresponding with the bay divisions. The centre panels are highly ornate, with alternate acanthus leaf designs. The large end piers frame a round-arched apse with rope-moulded ribs radiating from an apex rose down to corbels between the heads of seven round-arched windows. Between these ribs are cross-shaped plaster decorative plaques. A broad band with seven plaster roundels sits below the windows, above a plain back wall to the pulpit. The pulpit is of a platform design, curved with a cast-iron balustrade, and a curved rail to the front great seat is supported by three ornate cast-iron scrolled uprights. The stained glass in the apse depicts lily, vine, and other motifs. In the entrance lobby, a stained glass war memorial window from 1920 is present.