Fulwood Old Chapel
Encyclopedia
Fulwood Old Chapel is a Unitarian
place of worship in the Fulwood district of western Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians.
The chapel was built from 1728 to 1729 as a meeting house
for English Dissenters
, who had previously met under John Fox at Fullwood Hall. William Ronksley left £400 in his will for the construction of a "large and handsome" chapel, although the construction itself cost only £75. The chapel is the second oldest religious building in south or west Sheffield, after Beauchief Abbey
.
The single-storey building is constructed of coursed stone and dressed with ashlar
, and has stone slate roofs. The walls are around two feet thick. The street frontage has four mullion
ed windows, doors being placed between the first and second, and third and fourth, windows. A tablet above the two central windows reads "Built 1729 in pursuance of the last Will of Mr W Roncksley".
In 1754, a school room was added; this was extended in 1968 to include a kitchen and toilets, and was again modernised in 2009. It is currently used for a Sunday school
and social events. Other changes were made in 1959, when a small storm porch was added inside the main entrance.
The chapel is now Grade II listed. A garden formerly laid outside the chapel, but this was removed in 1929, when the road was widened. At the same time, the early nineteenth century village stocks
were then moved to lie in front of the building, and these are now also Grade II listed.
Samuel Plimsoll
is believed to have worshipped at the chapel in the 1860s, and his first daughter may be buried under its floor.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
place of worship in the Fulwood district of western Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians.
The chapel was built from 1728 to 1729 as a meeting house
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
for English Dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
, who had previously met under John Fox at Fullwood Hall. William Ronksley left £400 in his will for the construction of a "large and handsome" chapel, although the construction itself cost only £75. The chapel is the second oldest religious building in south or west Sheffield, after Beauchief Abbey
Beauchief Abbey
Beauchief Abbey is a former abbey in Sheffield, England. Beauchief is prounounced bee-chiff.-History:The abbey was founded by Robert FitzRanulf de Alfreton. Thomas Tanner, writing in 1695, stated that it was founded in 1183...
.
The single-storey building is constructed of coursed stone and dressed with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
, and has stone slate roofs. The walls are around two feet thick. The street frontage has four mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed windows, doors being placed between the first and second, and third and fourth, windows. A tablet above the two central windows reads "Built 1729 in pursuance of the last Will of Mr W Roncksley".
In 1754, a school room was added; this was extended in 1968 to include a kitchen and toilets, and was again modernised in 2009. It is currently used for a Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
and social events. Other changes were made in 1959, when a small storm porch was added inside the main entrance.
The chapel is now Grade II listed. A garden formerly laid outside the chapel, but this was removed in 1929, when the road was widened. At the same time, the early nineteenth century village stocks
Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
were then moved to lie in front of the building, and these are now also Grade II listed.
Samuel Plimsoll
Samuel Plimsoll
Samuel Plimsoll was a British politician and social reformer, now best remembered for having devised the Plimsoll line .-Early life:Plimsoll was born in Bristol and soon moved to Whiteley Wood...
is believed to have worshipped at the chapel in the 1860s, and his first daughter may be buried under its floor.