Chorleywood Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hertfordshire

David Noble
David Noble
David Noble
Damage to chapel name
David Noble
Damage to stone inscriptions
David Noble

The chapel at Chorleywood was built in 1893, just off the Common, reputedly replacing an earlier meeting-place in Solesbridge Lane that was formerly a dwellinghouse.

The chapel was designed in what was the closest approach in Hertfordshire to the Gothic style. Constructed from red brick with yellow brick dressings, it has a gabled east front with a central doorway between two tall pointed-arched lancet windows. There are three pairs of similar lancets in the side walls of the chapel. Formerly the interior had a large two-centred arch behind a rostrum pulpit, to the rear of which was a small vestry. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the original interior or its fixtures and fittings.

The chapel was closed in 1969 and sold in 1970. The following year the building was converted to an arts centre. Unfortunately, as part of this conversion, all the inscriptions on the foundation stones and even the name of the chapel itself were crudely excised. However, it is not clear whether this was as a result of a decision by the Methodist Church when selling the building or by the new owners seeking to distance the sacred past of the building from its new secular use.

 

Reference

Stell, C., An Inventory of Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-houses in Eastern England (Swindon: English Heritage, 2002), p.132.

Comments about this page

  • The Primitive Methodist magazine of January 1894 (page 77) reports that the opening has taken place. It was “quite an ornament architecturally to the place”.

    The chapel was in the Chalfont St Giles station.

    By Christopher Hill (27/06/2021)
  • The Primitive Methodist magazine of October 1893 (page 637) contains a report of the laying of memorial stones for Chorleywood Primitive Methodist chapel in the Chalfont St Giles station on August Bank Holiday. They had raised nearly the whole cost.

    “Chorley-wood is a favourite resort of Londoners on Bank and other holidays and will probably grow into a pleasant country retreat for those who want change from the stress and strain of Metropolitan life. “

    By Christopher Hill (25/06/2021)

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