Rye Particular Baptist Chapel

Rye Particular Baptist Chapel
Rye Particular Baptist Chapel
	The former chapel from the southeast in 2023
	50°56′59″N0°43′52″E / 50.9498°N 0.7312°E
Location	Mermaid Street, Rye, Rother, East Sussex TN31 7EU
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Baptist
History
Status	Former chapel
Founded	1753
Architecture
Functional status	Residential conversion
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	12 October 1951
Style	Vernacular/Georgian
Completed	1754
Closed	1910

Last updated December 30, 2023

Rye Particular Baptist Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in Rye, an ancient hilltop town in Rother, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex. Built in the 18th century on the site of a decaying Quaker meeting house, it served Baptists in the town for many years until a new chapel was constructed nearby. The chapel is a Grade II Listed building.

History

The medieval Cinque Port of Rye, on a sandstone hill in the middle of flat marshland,^[1] has (in common with the rest of Sussex) supported a great variety of Christian denominations over the centuries.^[2] The earliest post-Reformation community were the Quakers, who founded a chapel on the south side of Mermaid Street in 1700^[3] or 1704.^[4] They used this meeting house for the next half-century; but in 1753 it was reported as being "in a very dilapidated condition and past hope of repair". They sold the site to a congregation of Strict Baptists who had just formed in the town. They knocked down the decrepit building and erected a new chapel on the site; it was ready in 1754.^[2]^[3]^[5] An adjacent house was taken over and used as a schoolroom for Baptist children.^[4] The religious census of Sussex in 1851 recorded that the chapel had 280 sittings, 150 of which were free; and attendances at morning, afternoon and evening services were given as 80, 60 and 140 respectively. Fifty Sunday school children attended in the morning and afternoon as well.^[6]

By 1900, the chapel had been joined by an array of other places of worship. The Church of the Holy Spirit, an Anglican church at Rye Harbour, was established in 1849; a Roman Catholic church was built in 1900; a second Strict Baptist chapel was founded in 1835; Methodists built their chapel in 1814 and extended it in 1852; and in 1882 a Congregational church was founded.^[7] Meanwhile, some members of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel seceded from it in 1813 and founded a new independent Baptist church; they met in a house at first, but built their own chapel in 1817.^[3]^[8] The parish church, St Mary's, had existed since Norman times.^[9]

In 1909, a new church was built in nearby Cinque Ports Street. It replaced yet another Baptist chapel of 1844; but the congregation of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel moved to it as well. The 1754 building was closed in 1910 and sold.^[3]^[5] It became a men's club^[4] before being converted into a house, which took the name Quaker's House.^[3]

Rye Particular Baptist Chapel, under its new name of Quaker's House, was designated a Grade II Listed building on 12 October 1951.^[10]

Architecture

The chapel is a two-storey red-brick building in a Vernacular style. The roof, which has two dormer windows in the attic space above the first floor, is laid with tiles at the rear and slates at the front.^[3]^[5]^[10] The three-bay façade, 29.5 feet (9.0 m) wide, has a wide doorway with a straight canopy supported by ornate brackets. A twin staircase with metal railings leads to the door from the pavement.^[3] A thin string course of red bricks separates the ground and first floors, which have two and three shallow-arched sash windows respectively.^[3]^[10] There are two similar windows on the rear wall; originally the pulpit stood between them. A small gable-ended extension at the rear may have been a vestry.^[3] The interior has been opened out to form a single tall open-plan space, although the attic space has been retained.^[10]

Related Research Articles

Ebenezer Particular Baptist Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in Hastings, East Sussex, England. Founded in 1817 by members of the congregation of an older Baptist chapel in the ancient town, it was extended several times in the 19th century as attendances grew during Hastings' period of rapid growth as a seaside resort. It was closed and converted into a house in the late 20th century, but still stands in a prominent position in Hastings Old Town. English Heritage has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Rehoboth Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in the hamlet of Pell Green in East Sussex, England. Pell Green is in the parish of Wadhurst in Wealden, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex, and stands on the road between the market town of Wadhurst and the village of Lamberhurst in the county of Kent. Built in 1824 to replace an earlier meeting place for local Baptists, it continued in religious use until the late 20th century. The weatherboarded building—now a house—is of a similar design to another Baptist chapel at nearby Shover's Green. The building is Grade II listed.

Shover's Green Baptist Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in the hamlet of Shover's Green in East Sussex, England. Shover's Green is in Wealden, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex, and stands on the road between the market town of Wadhurst and the village of Ticehurst in the neighbouring district of Rother. Founded by Strict Baptists from nearby Burwash in 1816, the chapel—one of three Baptist places of worship in Wadhurst parish—continued to serve the community until the 1970s, when it was sold for conversion to a house. Its design is similar to that of the nearby Rehoboth Chapel at Pell Green. The chapel is protected as a Grade II Listed building.

Providence Chapel is a former independent Calvinistic place of worship in the village of Hadlow Down in Wealden, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex. Although built in 1849, the chapel can trace its origins to the founding in 1824 of an Independent place of worship in the village. The new building was in religious use for nearly 150 years, but storm damage led to its closure and conversion into a private dwelling in 1993—although its former graveyard survives. The chapel is a Grade II Listed building.

Southover General Baptist Chapel is a former Baptist place of worship in the ancient village of Southover, now part of the town and district of Lewes, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex. Founded in 1741 as the first Baptist place of worship in the area, it attracted a congregation of General Baptists whose theological views gradually moved towards Unitarianism. This led to their union with the members of the nearby Westgate Chapel, after which the flint and brick building housed other congregations and secular groups before its conversion to a house. The building is protected as a Grade II by English Heritage.

Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel is a place of worship in Billingshurst in the English county of West Sussex. The cottage-like building was erected in 1754 for General Baptists, hence its original name of the Billingshurst General Baptist Chapel, but the congregation moved towards Unitarian beliefs in the 19th century, and still maintain these. It is a member of General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella body for British Unitarians.

St Leonard's Baptist Church is the Baptist place of worship serving St Leonards-on-Sea, a town and seaside resort which is part of the Borough of Hastings in East Sussex, England. The elaborate building was designed by the architectural firm of Thomas Elworthy, responsible for many churches in late-Victorian era Sussex, and serves the residential hinterland of St Leonards-on-Sea—an area which grew rapidly after its early 19th-century founding by James Burton. English Heritage has listed the church at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Trinity Congregational Church, later known as Union Chapel, is a former place of worship for Congregationalists and Independent Christians in Arundel, an ancient town in the Arun district of West Sussex, England. Protestant Nonconformism has always been strong in the town, and the chapel's founding congregation emerged in the 1780s. After worshipping elsewhere in the town, they founded the present building in the 1830s and remained for many years. Former pastors included the poet George MacDonald. Robert Abraham's distinctive neo-Norman/Romanesque Revival building was converted into a market in the 1980s and has been renamed Nineveh House. The church is a Grade II Listed building.

Horsham Unitarian Church is a Unitarian chapel in Horsham in the English county of West Sussex. It was founded in 1719 to serve the large Baptist population of the ancient market town of Horsham—home of radical preacher Matthew Caffyn—and the surrounding area. The chapel's congregation moved towards Unitarian beliefs in the 19th century, but the simple brick building continued to serve worshippers drawn from a wide area of Sussex. It is one of several places of worship which continue to represent Horsham's centuries-old tradition of Protestant Nonconformism, and is the town's second oldest surviving religious building—only St Mary's, the parish church, predates it. English Heritage has listed the chapel at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Robertsbridge United Reformed Church is a former United Reformed Church place of worship in Robertsbridge, a village in the district of Rother in the English county of East Sussex. Built for Congregational worshippers in 1881 following their secession from a long-established Wesleyan Methodist chapel, it was the third Nonconformist place of worship in the village, whose nearest parish church was in the neighbouring settlement of Salehurst. Like the former Strict Baptist and Methodist chapels in the village, which have both closed, it no longer serves Robertsbridge as a place of worship. Local architect Thomas Elworthy's distinctive design—a "rich" and highly decorated blend of several styles—has divided opinion amongst architectural historians. English Heritage has listed the church at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel is a former place of worship for Strict Baptists in Robertsbridge, a village in the district of Rother in the English county of East Sussex. Partly hidden behind ancient buildings on the village High Street, the simple brick chapel was erected in 1842 on the initiative of James Weller, a "somewhat remarkable man" whose preaching had attracted large audiences across Kent and East Sussex in the previous decade. The Strict Baptist cause was historically strong in East Sussex, and Protestant Nonconformism thrived in Robertsbridge, which was distant from the nearest Anglican parish church. The chapel closed in about 1999, and permission was granted for its conversion into a house. English Heritage has designated it a Grade II Listed building.

Ditchling Unitarian Chapel is a Unitarian chapel in Ditchling, a village in the English county of East Sussex. A congregation of General Baptists began to meet in the 17th century in the village, which was a local centre for Protestant Nonconformist worship, and by the time the present simple Vernacular-style chapel was constructed in 1740 a large proportion of the population held Baptist beliefs. Along with other General Baptist chapels in Sussex, the congregation moved towards Unitarian views in the mid-18th century; this caused a schism which resulted in a new chapel being formed at nearby Wivelsfield. The character of the Ditchling chapel was wholly Unitarian by 1800, and it has continued under various names since then. People associated with the chapel include William Hale White, Henry Acton, Adrian Boult—who was married there—and G. K. Chesterton. The chapel is set back from Ditchling's main street and has an adjoining house and graveyard, all of which contribute to the character of the conservation area which covers the centre of Ditchling village. English Heritage has listed the chapel at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Uckfield Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation based in the town of Uckfield in East Sussex, England. Although services now take place in a school, the cause—founded in 1785 by seceders from the nearby Five Ash Down Independent Chapel—had its own chapel from 1789 until 2005, when the building closed and was sold for residential conversion. The "simple brick chapel" was rebuilt in 1874 and has been listed at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Northiam Unitarian Chapel is a former place of worship for Unitarians in Northiam, a village in the district of Rother in the English county of East Sussex. Originally General Baptist in character when opened in a wooden building in 1795, its congregation came under the influence of William Vidler from nearby Battle—a former Baptist who had moved towards Universalism and Unitarianism—and adopted his views. The present building, which was converted into a house in the early 21st century, was erected in 1810 and was at various times served by ministers from both Battle and Hastings Unitarian Churches. Historic England has designated it a Grade II listed building for its architectural and historical importance.

References

Notes

↑ Nairn & Pevsner 1965 , p. 594.
1 2 Stell 2002 , p. 329.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Stell 2002 , p. 354.
1 2 3 Burke, John (16 September 2013). "The Jeake Family and their Rye Residences". Rye Castle Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
1 2 3 Elleray 2004 , p. 47.
↑ Vickers 1989 , p. 5.
↑ Elleray 2004 , pp. 47–48.
↑ Elleray 2004 , p. 48.
↑ Nairn & Pevsner 1965 , p. 596.
1 2 3 4 Historic England (2011). "Quaker's House, Mermaid Street (south side), Rye, Rother, East Sussex (1251942)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 1 May 2011.

Bibliography

Elleray, D. Robert (2004). Sussex Places of Worship. Worthing: Optimus Books. ISBN 0-9533132-7-1.
Nairn, Ian; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1965). The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-071028-0.
Stell, Christopher (2002). Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-houses in Eastern England. Swindon: English Heritage. ISBN 1-873592-50-7.
Vickers, John A., ed. (1989). The Religious Census of Sussex 1851. Lewes: Sussex Record Society. ISBN 085445-036-X.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Pevsner594-1] Nairn & Pevsner 1965 , p. 594.

[Stell329-2] 1 2 Stell 2002 , p. 329.

[Stell354-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Stell 2002 , p. 354.

[Streets-4] 1 2 3 Burke, John (16 September 2013). "The Jeake Family and their Rye Residences". Rye Castle Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2014.

[PoW47-5] 1 2 3 Elleray 2004 , p. 47.

[Vickers5-6] Vickers 1989 , p. 5.

[PoW47–48-7] Elleray 2004 , pp. 47–48.

[PoW48-8] Elleray 2004 , p. 48.

[Pevsner596-9] Nairn & Pevsner 1965 , p. 596.

[NHLE-1251942-10] 1 2 3 4 Historic England (2011). "Quaker's House, Mermaid Street (south side), Rye, Rother, East Sussex (1251942)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 1 May 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]