Worthing Tabernacle
Worthing Tabernacle | ||
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Style Gothic/Romanesque Revival | | |
Completed | 1908 |
Worthing Tabernacle is an independent Evangelical Christian church in the town and borough of Worthing, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex. The present building, with its distinctive pale stone exterior and large rose window, dates from 1908, but the church was founded in 1895 in a chapel built much earlier in the 19th century during a period when the new seaside resort's population was growing rapidly. In its present form, the church is affiliated with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. English Heritage has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.
History
Many places of worship were founded in Worthing after its incorporation as a town in 1803: the following decades were a period of rapid growth as a prestigious
C. Douglas Crouch, originally from Bromley in Kent, was a pastor at Worthing Baptist Church, which was founded in Montague Hall in 1879 and moved to a new building two years later.[8] He left the church in 1895 and founded a new independent church—the Worthing Tabernacle—in Montague Hall.[4][9] This was the building's final religious use: in 1908, it was bought by two musician brothers who turned it into a shop and concert hall.[10] In that year, architect James Lund was commissioned to design a new chapel for the congregation. A site on Chapel Road, near St Paul's Church, was chosen. The new building was registered for worship in 1908 in accordance with the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855, and has been used since then. Its number on the Worship Register is 43179.[11] The chapel was registered for the solemnisation of marriages from 6 August 1908, and the Montague Street chapel's registration was simultaneously cancelled.[12]
Worthing Tabernacle was listed at Grade II by English Heritage on 2 December 1988.[13] As of February 2001, it was one of 198 Grade II-listed buildings, and 213 listed buildings of all grades, in the Borough of Worthing.[14] (These totals have since changed because of new listings and delistings.)
Sunday services, meetings and other social events take place in the chapel, and groups meet for worship in private houses in the Worthing area.[15] The Tabernacle is also associated with the Maybridge Christian Fellowship, an Evangelical church founded in 1954 in Worthing's Maybridge estate.[16]
Architecture
Worthing Tabernacle has a distinctive exterior and an imposing, elaborate interior laid out like an
Inside, the "remarkable roof structure" is supported by ornate iron pillars which pierce the wooden galleries on each side and hold up the main beams.[7][17] These are topped by intricately designed capitals.[13] A partly granite chancel arch divides the interior into two bays. In the front bay, an elaborate double-deck pulpit, carved wooden galleries and pews survive from when the church was built.[13] To the rear of the chapel, a modern organ and case have replaced the original equipment, which was apparently retrieved from Walmer Castle in Kent.[17]
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Elleray 1998, p. 95.
- ^ Elleray 1977, Introduction.
- ^ Elleray 1998, p. 102.
- ^ a b c d e Elleray 1998, p. 56.
- ^ a b Salzman, L. F. (ed) (1980). "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 1: Bramber Rape (Southern Part). Worthing: Protestant nonconformity". Victoria County History of Sussex. British History Online. pp. 122–125. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
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has generic name (help) - ^ a b c Elleray 1998, p. 49.
- ^ a b c Elleray 2004, p. 59.
- ^ Elleray 1998, p. 51.
- ^ Elleray 1977, §156.
- ^ Elleray 1998, p. 16.
- ^ Registered in accordance with the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 (Number in Worship Register: 43179; Name: Worthing Tabernacle; Address: Chapel Road, Worthing; Denomination: Independent Evangelical Free Church. (Archived version of list from April 2010; subsequent updates)
- ^ "No. 28166". The London Gazette. 11 August 1908. p. 5930.
- ^ a b c d e f g Historic England. "The Worthing Tabernacle, 64, Chapel Road, Worthing (Grade II) (1250845)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "Images of England – Statistics by County (West Sussex)". Images of England. English Heritage. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Church Profile". Worthing Tabernacle. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ Elleray 1998, p. 53.
- ^ a b Elleray 1985, §63.
Bibliography
- Elleray, D. Robert (1977). Worthing: a Pictorial History. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 0-85033-263-X.
- Elleray, D. Robert (1985). Worthing: Aspects of Change. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 0-85033-551-5.
- Elleray, D. Robert (1998). A Millennium Encyclopaedia of Worthing History. Worthing: Optimus Books. ISBN 0-9533132-0-4.
- Elleray, D. Robert (2004). Sussex Places of Worship. Worthing: Optimus Books. ISBN 0-9533132-7-1.