Zion Baptist Chapel

Zion Baptist Chapel, built in the 18th century, is located set back from the road behind a graveyard. The original building is constructed of local rubble sandstone, with slate hanging at the front laid in slightly graduated courses. The roof is covered in small slates with a moderate overhang at the eaves and verges, a tile ridge, and a wooden cross at the apex of the left gable. Later extensions to the left side of the chapel have been added at a lower level, creating a vestry and kitchen.

The front of the chapel features a central entrance with a modern porch. There are windows to the left and right of the porch, and one centrally above, as well as windows in the side elevations, all of modern construction, though likely placed within earlier openings. These windows are fixed lights with a top ventilator. The main entrance has a pair of folding doors, each with three sunk and fielded panels.

The rear elevation has two sash windows with 24 panes, each with a brick flat arch.

The small, internal porch is framed with timber and paved with red quarry tiles. There are six-panel doors to each side, finished on the porch side only.

The interior is the building’s principal feature. The layout is compact, and a tall, wide pulpit is flanked by large sash windows, unusually glazed in clear glass. The pulpit and downstairs pews have been re-installed from Bethesda; the painted deal pulpit has hollow corners and reeded details, and is accessed by three steps. The area around the pulpit is carpeted, and the surrounding rails are supported on modern steel standards. The pews are constructed of stained pine and stand on a floor of wood blocks.

A particularly good original gallery is present, featuring original pews. It is supported on five turned timber posts. The front of the gallery has beadwork panels below and thin balusters above. The gallery pews are of a utilitarian design, constructed of grey-painted deal, and are open-backed with gates to the front rows on each side. Symmetrical stairways lead to the gallery on both the right and left, featuring half-landings, shaped handrails, turned newels with ball finials, inch-square balusters, and close strings.

Monuments above the pulpit commemorate John and Phoebe Brown of Good Hook who died in 1862 and 1844 respectively; these are constructed of figured white marble with an urn in low relief. A further monument is dedicated to Benjamin Brown, a surgeon, who died in 1847 and is fashioned from white marble with a sandstone surround.