Chapel
UNITED REFORM CHAPEL
MAIDEN BRADLEY CHURCH STREET ST 83 NW (east side) . United Reform Chapel. Grade 2. Date first listed: 09-Sep-1987. Congregational chapel, now United Reform. Dated 1820. Rendered, Welsh slate roof. Gable end to road. Double half-glazed doors with plain stone Tuscan portico, late C19 margin pane plate glass sash over, datestone inscribed 1820 to gable, coped verge with urn finial. Right and left returns have two margin-pane segmental- headed sashes with keystones to ground floor and gallery. Schoolroom attached to east end with 4-pane sashes and brick stack, C20 lean-to extension. Interior has vestibule with wooden stairs to gallery. Gallery on wooden columns, with original seating on three sides, organ loft to east end, probably late C19, pulpit and reading desk on dais at east end.
The Congregational Chapel (now United Reform Church) serves a third group. A house was first licensed for Congregational worship in 1672 but later licensed for Independent worship. A chapel was built in 1820 and licensed for Independent worship in 1822. It became Congregational and remained so until 1972 when, in common with many other Congregational chapels it became a United Reform church. The chapel is rendered with a Welsh slate roof, and a plain stone Tuscan portico. A schoolroom was added to the eastern end and there is a 20th-century lean-to extension. Inside there is a late 19th-century gallery on wooden columns and an organ loft.
The house of Matthew Morris was licensed for Congregational worship in 1672 but later licenses were for Independent worship. A chapel was built in 1820 and licensed for Independent worship in 1822. It became Congregational and remained so until 1972 when, in common with many other Congregational chapels it became a United Reform church. The chapel is rendered with a Welsh slate roof, and a plain stone Tuscan portico. A schoolroom was added to the eastern end and there is a 20th century lean-to extension. Inside there is a gallery on wooden columns and an organ loft, probably of the late 19th century. The chapel was built to accommodate 150 people.
NOTE: Although the United Reformed Church denomination (1972 - Wikipedia) is normally referred to as United ReformED, this Maiden Bradley place of worship has, officially and locally, been known as simply; 'United Reform Chapel'. whilst the sign in the Geograph image reads 'United Reformed Church', this indicates the specific user group, and is distinct from the actual official title of the building itself - the latter being traditionally known as a chapel (whatever its prefixes) since construction in 1820. It seems that, in the naming of this Grade 2, English Heritage Listed Building (1987), a sort of semantic compromise was reached: "It became Congregational and remained so until 1972 when, in common with many other Congregational chapels, it became a United Reform church." - Wiltshire Community History. In other words; traditionally a Chapel, this building became a United Reform church IN a Chapel. Hence the official name compromise: United Reform Chapel. The 'ed' suffix being left out to avoid confusing alternative meanings and a possible contradiction of terms.
Maps
Surrounds & Interior
Price Guide: £75,000
Kingston Lane View (south face)
Rear of Building (east face)
Main Hall
School Room
Lean-To Kitchen Area
Images of England (1999)