Strict Baptist Chapel. 1824 with later C19 additions and alterations. Pale red brick in English bond on rubblestone plinth; porch addition of dark red brick; lean-to additions with some rubblestone and timber studwork. Welsh slate roofs. One storey 2-bay chapel with mid C19 lean-to vestry at west end and late C19 porch at east end. East end: gabled porch has double door below 5-pane fanlight, blue brick coping and stopped logged, eaves to returns. Above porch a 3-light window, 2 of the lights leaded, below segmental header-brick arch; ends of iron tie-rods. Return elevations; south side is blind; north side has two 3-light small-pane windows with segmental header-brick arches; both sides have stepped dentilled eaves. Vestry has door on north side. 3-light leaded iron casement window on next side; and truncated stack. Above it, west end of chapel has replacement small-pane window. Interior – upper part of walls pilastered; pews removed; late C19 pulpit remained at time of inspection; at west end, monument to John King. The origins of the church in Nash go back to the C18; a chapel was built by John King 1800; and the present building is probably that recorded as being opened in 1824.
English Heritage
We are the first occupiers of the house, but the site has been a place of worship for the Strict and Particular Baptists since the late 1700s. We have very quiet neighbours, since the property is surrounded on three sides by the chapel’s graveyard. The last service was held in the chapel in 1985, and the roof was blown off in the hurricanes of 1987. It was sold to Richard Gudgeon, the builder, who set about razing the ruin to the ground, reclaiming the old bricks and constructing the present building. There’s a foundation plaque in the porch that talks about Mr King leaving part of his estate for the furtherance of the scriptures. Many of the older people in the village attended Sunday school and church services at the chapel, including the Weatherheads, Unwins and Varneys.
Millennium Chronicle, 1999
As a chapel – 1981
Demolition 1991 –
Building 1993 –
1999
2011