Tabernacle Presbyterian Chapel

Tabernacle Presbyterian Chapel

A Gothic-style chapel positioned prominently on the main village road, distinguished by a corner tower and spire that serve as a village landmark. The building is constructed of rock-faced local limestone masonry laid in small courses with Bath stone dressings throughout. The original masonry is visible on the front elevation and extends considerably along each side, corresponding to the wider sections containing the gallery access staircases; beyond this point, the masonry has been rendered.

The front elevation is defined by a centre section between side towers, marked by buttresses with prominent quoins. The buttresses feature small offsets and are crossed at the corners. The centre displays a large Decorated-style window of five main lights with an ogee label mould carried up to a finial. Above this, the gable top is decorated with a panelled triangle surrounding a trefoil-headed roof ventilator. Below the window sill runs a band bearing the chapel name in raised lettering, with a projecting door archway of two orders beneath, the apex of which covers the band and carries the date. Double oak doors mark the main entrance, flanked by lancet windows. The left tower is slightly recessed with a segmentally-headed upper window, a moulded equilateral archway beneath, and a crenellated parapet with a large end-finial. The right tower is larger and projecting, featuring an additional belfry storey with two-light traceried louvred openings, a cornice on brackets with corner gargoyles, a crenellated parapet with corner finials, and an octagonal spire.

The side elevations each have a cinquefoil light at the head of the gallery stairs, with two storeys of two-light windows below. The rear elevation is of utilitarian design with projecting offices.

The interior is exceptional and integrally designed. A small vestibule with five-panel window and four-panel doors featuring art-nouveau coloured glass precedes the main space. Side doors at left and right provide access to stone stairs rising to the gallery, which are slightly asymmetrical.

The interior layout comprises seating arranged concentrically around the pulpit, with an all-round gallery featuring straight sides but pronounced curves at the corners; the outer walls are also curved at the corners. The pulpit is tall and wide with broad symmetrical stairs, a projecting front with canted sides, colonnettes at the angles, and carved panels above plain panels below. Pulpit flanks and stairs feature broad handrails, carved newels and balusters, with rear panelling. The set fawr (front bench) is semicircular with end newels, a carved back, and arm-rests for ten seats. The communion table is a quarter circle, integral to the design with matching chairs. The set fawr is positioned two steps above the general floor level. Decoratively glazed doors to the vestry flank the pulpit, with an additional door at the left.

Pew design in the main interior and gallery is comparatively plain with boarded backs. The gallery is supported on nine fluted cast-iron columns with Corinthian capitals, and features a panelled front with cast-iron pierced decoration above. The gallery drops slightly at the rear of the pulpit, where two rows of seats sit before the organ loft without any gap over the rear panelling of the pulpit. The organ, a two-manual instrument by Norman and Beard dating to 1912, stands within a broad groined ceiling recess with panelled casing extending to approximately the same width as the set fawr. A gallery dado extends horizontally to each side, not following the dip of the gallery and organ loft. Four-panel doors with decorative art-nouveau glazing in upper panels and overlights lead to the gallery stairs; similar doors without overlights access the vestry stairs and corner towers.

The ceiling is deeply coved and divided by large decorative ribs into squares and oblongs above a decorative cornice. Three decorative squares at the centre feature foliage at the corners with ventilators at centres. Elaborate plasterwork ornaments the panels from which the lights hang.