Building record 3980/20 - Rothwell United Reform Church, Fox Street

Congregational chapel, now United Reformed Church. 1735, with additions 1762. Further additions in Romanesque style, 1826 and 1852. Coursed and squared ironstone with stone dressings and hipped slate roof. Chamfered plinths throughout. Main front has stepped dentillated cornice and moulded parapet and gable inscribed with dates. Round headed openings all have projecting architraves with keystones. Projecting 2-bay centre has 2 windows. Beyond, on either side, a doorway with fanlight. Built on the site of an earlier chapel

{1} Congregational church, now United Reformed Church. 1735, with additions 1762. Further additions in Romanesque style, 1826 and 1852. Coursed and squared ironstone with stone dressings and hipped slate roof. Chamfered plinths throughout. Main front has stepped dentillated cornice and moulded parapet and gable inscribed with dates. Round headed openings all have projecting architraves with keystones. Projecting 2-bay centre has 2 windows. Beyond, on either side, a doorway with fanlight. Above, 4 smaller double windows. Between the central pair a datestone inscribed "1826". Each side of the church has 3 round headed windows and above, 3 C19 cross casements, all with keystoned heads. North side has a slightly projecting centre with, above, a re-set datestone inscribed "1676". South end has a central gabled organ chamber with a single casement high up in each side. South west corner has an adjoining gabled lecture room, 2 bays, 1909. South east corner has an adjoining gabled vestry with, to south, a blocked door and above it a datestone inscribed "1762". Interior: the body of the church has on each side 3 patterned stained glass windows. To the front, a pilastered recess containing a platform and a Reinaissance Revival style organ case, 1898. At the rear and on each side, a panelled gallery with dentillated frieze, on fluted iron piers. Panelled ceiling with moulded cornice and 4 rosette vents. Entrance lobbies each have cantilevered stone staircases with iron stick balusters. Sunday School room between lobbies has 2 C19 stained glass windows. Gallery above has a moulded cornice and a fitted cupboard at each end. Remodelled roof has softwood principal rafter and queen post trusses. Fittings include round cornered mid C19 oak pulpit with stairs each side. Plain benches, 1852, in the body of the church, those at the sides angled. Early C19 box pews in the gallery. Memorials include an arch-topped bronze war memorial tablet, 1918, and 4 other C20 tablets. Rothwell's Independent Church was established in 1655, holding its meetings in a barn said to have stood on the site of the present church. It was an important local centre of noncomformity, particularly during the ministry of Richard Davis, 1690-1714.

{2} Congregational Church, now United Reformed Church. 1735, with additions 1762. Further additions in Romanesque style, 1826 and 1852.

{3} The Congregational Church in Rothwell was established in 1656? The church was established by Rev Thomas Browning who was formerly the Rector of Desborough church. The church was the first dissenting chapel to be established in Northamptonshire. A six bay barn attached to the ministers house was originally used as the place of worship. The present chapel was built on the site of the barn in 1735. A number of changes and restorations took place during the 19th century - 1826 an upper and a lower room were erected to form a new frontage to the chapel, 1839 a burial ground adjoining the chapel was established, 1850 an infants classroom was built over the old stable, 1852 the chapel was enlarged, re-roofed, re-pewed and re-floored, 1862 a new organ gallery was erected, 1870 interior renovations took place. The building bears various date stones for works conducted in 1826, 1852, 1893, 1909 and 1991. A date stone of 1676 has also been inserted into the structure on the ? side. The building is listed grade 2* and appears to be in a good state of repair.

{4} The Congregational church in Rothwell is on the site of the earliest recorded non-conformist chapel in Northamptonshire, although the present building is of somewhat later date. Founded in 1656, it was at first housed in a six bay barn belonging to John Fox, while his adjoining house was the manse. The barn was replaced in 1735 with the present building, though it has been substantially modified in the intervening period.

{6} Plan and photo of chapel;

{10} Independent Chapel built 1735. Entered congregational covenent 1656.

{11} First founded 1662, restored 1893 at a cost of £400.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/70 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H13 p.46 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100256.

<4> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<5> 1894, Kelly's Directory (1894), (checked) (Trade Directory). SNN39742.

<6> The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1986, Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-Houses: Northamptonshire & Oxfordshire, p. 147 (Report). SNN2902.

<7> , 1926, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN56016.

<8> , 1926, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN54448.

<9> , 1900, Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Map Series, (checked) (Map). SNN55968.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1880, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (24.08), (checked) (Map). SNN55941.

<11> WHELLAN, 1849, DIRECTORY, (checked) (Trade Directory). SNN39741.

<12> Glass, N, 1871, The early history of the Independent Church at Rothwell alias Rowell in Northamptonshire (Book). SNN111197.

<13> Coleman, T, 1853, Memorials of the Independent Churches of Northamptonshire, p. 46-79 (Book). SNN54569.

Record last edited

Jul 17 2023 4:17PM