Trinity Congregational Church, Arundel
Trinity Congregational Church | |
---|---|
Groundbreaking | 1836 |
Completed | 1838 |
Closed | 1980s |
Trinity Congregational Church, later known as Union Chapel, is a former place of worship for
History
A period of decline for Nonconformist worship was reversed in the late 18th century, and a group of
The congregation thrived in the early 19th century: a Sunday school and a choir were established in the 1810s, and the building was extended in 1822. Membership was recorded as 150 in 1829.[2] In 1836, a site adjacent to the chapel was acquired for a new chapel. The contract to design and built it was issued on 18 July 1836.[4] London-based architect Robert Abraham won the commission, and building work lasted from 1836 until 1838, when the new chapel was consecrated.[2][4][5] The new building was larger and had a hall underneath,[3] originally used as a schoolroom.[5] Abraham was working on Arundel Town Hall at the same time, and the buildings have some similarities of design.[2]
The church founded several other congregations and chapels in the area during the 19th century, starting at Yapton in the 1840s:[2] the present building, a Grade II-listed flint structure with an attached Sunday school, was put up in 1861 and now houses an Evangelical congregation with the name Yapton Free Church.[7] Providence Congregational Chapel was founded at Marehill,[2] near Pulborough, in 1845; its successor, built in the 1950s in Pulborough town centre, is now known as Pulborough United Reformed Church.[8] Amberley Congregational Chapel in Amberley[2] was founded in 1867 and was used for worship until 1978.[9] At Trinity Church, attendance at the time of the 1851 Census was over 100, and more than 100 children went to the Sunday school in the hall under the church. Ministers were housed in a manse further along Tarrant Street.[2]
The church became known as Arundel Union Church[2] (or simply Union Church)[4] in 1966 when the congregation of the Arundel Baptist chapel joined; this allowed their building in Arun Street to be closed and sold.[2] The Congregational denomination merged with the Presbyterian Church of England and some smaller denominations in 1972 to form the United Reformed Church, which prompted the Baptist members of the congregation to split from the church in 1973 and join Angmering Baptist Church until they built a new church of their own in Arundel in 1980.[2] Meanwhile, United Reformed services were held at Union Church until 1981, but the building was sold during the 1980s. Since 1990[2] it has housed the Arundel Arts, Crafts and Antiques Market,[3][5] which has 16 stalls and is open daily. The name Nineveh House has been adopted since the building was converted to commercial use.[10] It was designated a Grade II Listed building on 7 October 1974.[4]
The chapel was registered for the solemnisation of marriages from April 1840 until its certification was formally revoked in August 1982.[11]
Architecture
Robert Abraham's design represents a "brief appearance" of the Romanesque Revival style in the architectural history of Nonconformist chapels in Sussex.[1] There are also elements of Neo-Norman architecture.[2] Ian Nairn dismissed the building as "not good",[12] and notes its similarity to the "gloomy" town hall and council offices of 1836 by Abrahams.[13]
The façade is of
There was originally a garden at the front. Its surrounding walls and gate piers are included in the English Heritage listing. They are of brick with inlaid flints and stone dressings and coping. The piers are also of stone from Pulborough, and have string-courses and decorative panelling.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Stell 2002, p. 329.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Hudson, T. P., ed. (1997). "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 5 Part 1 – Arundel Rape (South-Western Part) including Arundel. Arundel". Victoria County History of Sussex. British History Online. pp. 10–101. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d Elleray 2004, p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Historic England (2011). "The Union Church, garden walls and piers to north of Union Church, Tarrant Street (south side), Arundel, Arun, West Sussex (1277924)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stell 2002, p. 330.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34701. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Stell 2002, p. 359.
- ^ Elleray 2004, p. 40.
- ^ Elleray 2004, p. 1.
- ^ "Arundel Arts, Crafts and Antiques Market: Welcome". Arundel Arts, Crafts and Antiques Market. 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "No. 49079". The London Gazette. 11 August 1982. p. 10493.
- ^ Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 91.
- ^ Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 95.
- ^ Nairn & Pevsner 1965, p. 652.
Bibliography
- Elleray, D. Robert (2004). Sussex Places of Worship. Worthing: Optimus Books. ISBN 0-9533132-7-1.
- ISBN 0-14-071028-0.
- Stell, Christopher (2002). Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-houses in Eastern England. Swindon: ISBN 1-873592-50-7.