York Unitarian Chapel
Encyclopedia
York Unitarian Chapel is a building on St. Saviourgate, York
, England
. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians.
It is in the form of a Greek Cross, and was built in 1692 or earlier. It is a Grade II listed building. It is thought to be the first brick building of any size in York with load bearing brick walls.
A major benefactor was Lady Sarah Hewley, a Protestant dissenter
and wife of Sir John Hewley
, MP
for York
in 1678 - 1681. Lady Hewley also founded almshouse
s in Tanner Row in York, which were succeeded by the present Lady Hewley Almshouses in St Saviourgate and by the twelve almshouses known as Colton’s Hospital in Shipton Street.
The most famous minister of the Chapel was Charles Wellbeloved
, who was at first assistant to the Rev. Newcome Cappe
and then minister until his death in 1858. He was involved in saving the York city walls
from being used to provide building materials, ended malpractice
s at York County Lunatic Asylum
, founded the York Mechanics' Institute, wrote a guide to York Minster
and initiated an appeal after a fire destroyed a Minster screen. He was Principal of Manchester College
, one of the dissenting academies
for training ministers and the higher education of lay students.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. 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.
It is in the form of a Greek Cross, and was built in 1692 or earlier. It is a Grade II listed building. It is thought to be the first brick building of any size in York with load bearing brick walls.
A major benefactor was Lady Sarah Hewley, a Protestant dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
and wife of Sir John Hewley
John Hewley
Sir John Hewley was an English magistrate and Member of Parliament, an early Whig.-Life:He was son of John Hewley of Wistow, near Selby. He was admitted to Gray's Inn, 4 February 1638, and became recorder of Doncaster....
, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for York
City of York (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of York was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1678 - 1681. Lady Hewley also founded almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s in Tanner Row in York, which were succeeded by the present Lady Hewley Almshouses in St Saviourgate and by the twelve almshouses known as Colton’s Hospital in Shipton Street.
The most famous minister of the Chapel was Charles Wellbeloved
Charles Wellbeloved
Charles Wellbeloved was a unitarian divine and archaeologist.-Life:Charles Wellbeloved, only child of John Wellbeloved , by his wife Elizabeth , was born in Denmark Street, St Giles, London, on 6 April 1769, and baptised on 25 April at St. Giles-in-the-Fields...
, who was at first assistant to the Rev. Newcome Cappe
Newcome Cappe
Newcome Cappe , was an English unitarian divine.-Life:Cappe was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Cappe, minister of the nonconformist congregation at Millhill Chapel, Leeds, who married the daughter and coheiress of Mr. Newcome of Waddington, Lincolnshire, and was born at Leeds 21 February 1733....
and then minister until his death in 1858. He was involved in saving the York city walls
York city walls
The English city of York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England...
from being used to provide building materials, ended malpractice
Malpractice
In law, malpractice is a type of negligence in, which the professional under a duty to act, fails to follow generally accepted professional standards, and that breach of duty is the proximate cause of injury to a plaintiff who suffers harm...
s at York County Lunatic Asylum
Bootham Park Hospital
Bootham Park Hospital is a psychiatric hospital, part of NHS North Yorkshire and York. It is located in the Bootham district of York and is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
, founded the York Mechanics' Institute, wrote a guide to York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
and initiated an appeal after a fire destroyed a Minster screen. He was Principal of Manchester College
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
, one of the dissenting academies
Dissenting academies
The dissenting academies were schools, colleges and nonconformist seminaries run by dissenters. They formed a significant part of England’s educational systems from the mid-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries....
for training ministers and the higher education of lay students.