Bethania Independent Chapel

This is an Independent Chapel constructed in the Victorian period, exhibiting a classical style. The exterior is painted stucco with a slate roof and crested ridge tiles. The front facade is a broad, three-bay gable, two stories high, and features a rock-faced stone plinth. It has stucco quoins, window dressings, and a first-floor sill course. A molded dentil cornice is positioned under the pedimental gable, which incorporates a date plaque and plain bargeboards. The first floor has arched windows, one on each side of a stepped triplet, all set within molded surrounds, small panes, and marginal glazing bars; the outer windows are the same size as the center window of the triplet. The ground floor has rusticated openings with keystones, and square-headed windows with stone sills are located either side of a large round-arched doorway. The doorway has half-glazed, grain-painted double doors and a radiating-bar fanlight. Iron railings are situated at the front, set upon a dwarf stone wall. The side walls are rendered and have four windows on each floor, mirroring the design of the facade. Two similar windows are present on each floor at the rear.

The interior is attractive, featuring painted, grained woodwork and a decorative ceiling. A three-sided gallery is supported by three by one by three simple, painted iron columns, with curved angles. The gallery front has alternating long and short horizontal molded panels and a painted cove. A clock face is incorporated within the pulpit. A brass handrail runs along the gallery front, curving to the start of the longer sides. An arched recess is situated on the end wall, featuring pilasters, a molded head, and subdivision by a central pilaster with two pointed arches above. A roundel is in the spandrel, with a cornice at impost level and painted, grained panelling between pilasters. A painted inscription is positioned over the main arch. The pulpit is accessed by twin stairways with turned balusters and newels with finials. A short balustrade is located on each side of the projecting canted pulpit front, which is panelled with a pair of arches and column shafts to the front and single arches on each canted side. A deep cove defines the recessed base, and a dentilled top rail completes the design. A three-sided great seat, with curved angles and molded horizontal panels, sits alongside pews arranged in three blocks with similar panelling and shaped bench ends. The center block is asymmetrically divided, with side blocks set square to the aisles and inward-facing pews flanking the pulpit. Raked gallery pews feature close-boarded horizontal panels, with space for an orchestra replacing the first two rows of pews opposite the pulpit. The ornate ceiling has a deep cove above a dentil cornice, then a molded border with floral bosses; the main ceiling is divided into three large, inset rectangular panels with dentil cornices. The main central panel has an ornate plaster rose, while the outer panels each have two pierced vents with circular moldings and molded panels in the corners, quadrant curved on the inner side.

The wall to the lobby has extensive glazing, including two half-glazed doors and a very large rectangular window between them, alongside similarly large square windows on either side. All windows feature acid-etched glass and marginal glazing bars.