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Chapels Trail

Chapels Trail

South CHAPELS HERITAGE TRAIL

Chapels Trail

Find out more about the area’s rich nonconformist heritage KEY TO SYMBOLS

Open for worship and other activities as advertised

Open as advertised

Access at other times limited to view from footpath or road

Access at all times limited to view from footpath or road, no access to the site

Bus service within walking distance

Railway station within walking distance

Public car park nearby

National Cycle Routes 41 and 410

ST NGR National Grid Reference number

CONTENTS Page Getting the most of this booklet 3 Introduction – what is nonconformity? 4 Why the chapels of are so important 5 Following the trail 6 Ride, drive or walk 7 Tour 1 – The Old Dissent 8 The Awakening 10 The Anatomy of a Chapel 12 Tour 2 - Chapels in the townscape – 14 Tour 3 - Chapels in the townscape – Thornbury 15 Tour 4 - Chapels in the townscape – Kingswood 16 Chapels in the community 19 Tour 5 – Chapels in the countryside 20 Tour 6 – Chapels of the coalfield – Area 22 Tour 7 – Chapels of the coalfield – Winterbourne Area 23 Tabernacles 24 The Future? 25 Index of places to see inside back cover, 26 Map of the trail inside back cover Further information fold-out back cover

2 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 3 GETTING THE MOST OF THIS BOOKLET Interior of the Friends’ Meeting House, (see page 8) Nonconformist churches anda substantial chapels have place in the built environment our of towns and our countryside, reflecting the contribution theirchurches made, and in many cases still make, to our social and economic This life. booklet of that is a flavour designed you heritagerich to give and Southexplain Gloucestershire why has a special such place in the history the of past four hundred years. Whether live you locally travelled many or miles have from the home to explore heard this have places of, booklet you is intended you to help findwhat is to be seen experiencedand and encourageyou to seek more. out All the places mentioned are numbered, indexed and located on the map fold-out at the the end of booklet. Some find special mention in been the places Most text. grouped have so that can and you pick like choose would what you to see on a occasion othersgiven and a future save for visit. placesMost are the by public roadside and best seen on foot Many are near bicycle. or public by bus routes so there are in can which you combine ways plenty of themes. If do you parkinguse your car, be may difficult or outsideimpossible many the of places mentioned so please be prepared to park nearby and make the final approachfoot. on theSome of sites are privately owned. Please respect the privacy people of living and working in these places and themview from a discreet distance, remaining on the public or footpath.highway Where there is access worship or for check timespublic viewing, opening of visit. before you South Gloucestershire Council can take no responsibility for injury or damage during visits. such Routes, themes andRoutes, properties Throughout South Gloucestershire are reminders of the people who over the course of the last four hundred years have upheld the principles of freedom of worship and freedom of conscience that have helped to shape our modern world. INTRODUCTION Tyndale Baptist Chapel, Chapel, Baptist End Tyndale What is nonconformity Nonconformity embraces all people in who conscience cannot conform to the Church . of This is either a matter choice or because of people their of persuasion were ejected the by Church England of after attempting to reform fromit within. centurythe By mid 17th there already were many groups like Baptists and Independents worshipping outside the Church England of although a wide spectrum beliefof and practice to was be found within A radical it. process begun reform of had even to institute a Presbyterian form governance of and abolish the hierarchy bishops. of In after 1660 the collapse the of Commonwealth and restoration Charles the II of monarchy, sought to end this state dissension of compelling by people to adhere to the beliefs and practices the of restored Church England of by a series draconian of called laws new the Clarendon Code. The hierarchy bishops restored of was and the the clergy of Church England of required were the Uniformity by of Act to conform. a fifth Over 1662 of not did wereand, as a result, ejected. Many took part or their the of whole congregations with them. All persisted who in worship that did not conform to the Common Book of new Prayer ‘nonconformist’, were barredwere from holding any meeting more of than five unrelated persons, from holding public office were and liable to persecution including imprisonment, the confiscation of their property and the destruction their of meeting houses. They also were compelled tithes to pay to support the clergy theof Church England. of ended the the of worst 1689 of The Toleration of Act persecution and permitted the licensing places worship of of not all, but conformists many, for an – but honourable name had been acquired and to was The survive. battle freedom for conscienceof not was finallywon until 1850s. the

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 4 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 5 .

THEIMPORTANCE OFCHAPELS The name George Whitefield is spelt with an ‘e’ which is correct. However, Whitfield’s George Whitefield* depicted in the Whitfield Tabernacle Sunday School destroyed). (now banner * Tabernacle should be spelt without an ‘e’ Why the chapels of South Gloucestershire South of chapels the Why are so important theBy eighteenth century Baptists, Independents, Presbyterians and Quakers Religious Society (the of building were Friends) meeting houses and chapels with increasing confidence and some individual people had acquired wealth and substance through their industry. The area South of Gloucestershire rich was in resources, particularly minerals like coal and metal and ores, just was outside the jurisdiction the of City and County , of then the second city and port in England. the Over next hundredtwo years, nonconformists took full advantage of these circumstances in to invest industrial and commercial expansion and the of much recycled wealth created back into the community particularly into education and chapel building. William Champion with his brass and works Handel Cossham and the the of deep exploitation coalfield are many of two examples. but surprisinglyNot nonconformists passionate were leaders in thefor political fight You willand social find reform. many people mentioned in this booklet, like Elizabeth Fry and John Frederick Denison Maurice. Their energy and influence had a national and international impact and have earned them an entry in the Oxford Dictionary National of Biography. the with was It the remarkable Awakening, collaboration and subsequent quarrels between George Whitefield,John and John CennickWesley in out that their played mission to the colliers, that South Gloucestershire took centre stage.

- to Methodist history Methodist to Church Road, BS37 5BJ for current opening times. opening current for FOLLOWING THE TRAIL THE FOLLOWING The New Room, Bristol conjunction with the trail on page 22 Frenchay Village Museum Village Frenchay galleries/museum-and-heritage-sites-to-visit/ junction with the trails on pages and 15 21 Kingswood Heritage Museum Heritage Kingswood viewed in conjunction with the trail on page 9 Thornbury and District Museum District Thornbury and , BS1 3JE – preserves John Wesley’s andYate District Heritage Centre Chapel Street, BS35 2BJ – can be viewed in con Entrance B, , BS16 – can 1SZ be Tower Lane, Warmley, BS30 8XT – can be viewed in See www.southglos.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-See chapel with a museum and extensive library devoted Name stone of United Reformed Church Reformed United Cheyney Upton of stone Name Some of theSome of chapels mentioned open public viewing on for special occasions as such Heritage Open and Days local Detailsfestivities. these, of times worship of and other activities can be found either individual on the of website churches or the appropriate community or advertised website in the local press. A choice of 7 themedA choice of tours is offered covering some 37 locations. They are designedeither in to be sequence enjoyed or to stand There alone. are frequent bus services to places from canwhich you comfortably walk six the of tours. One tour is more extended and demands In or car. the use a bicycle of addition there are a further to the 9 sites key themes the of trail. theFor real enthusiast, at the this end of booklet there is an 60 sites selectedindex over of from four hundred or more to be found in the area. From this can places you pick to extend theone of tours in the booklet or create tours new your own. of The sites are listed in alphabetical order and each numbered entry cross-refers to the map and those pages where the is site referred to in the Unfortunately text. there is not space a to give description each of entry will you but be to able find more out from the local museum or library.

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 6 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 7 RIDE, DRIVE OR WALK OR DRIVE RIDE, Name stone of the former Ebenezer Chapel, . The text is 1 Samuel 7.12 Check times and stopping places buses of planning when your route – contact telephone numbers and addresses web are on the given back fold-out. will find OrdnanceYou Survey maps helpfulfor finding more obscure locations and an invaluable aid in planning the detail Landranger your tour. of Bristol and map 172, the areaBath, covers whole or prefer if a larger you scale Allthree willyou need provide and Explorer 167. maps 155 instructions to use the on how National Grid to Reference find our sites. NationalThe Gridfor Referenceeachsite listed in this bookletexample inform,for is six-figure given Mount Pleasant at is found to be ST682926. at Postcodes are also they but are given only approximate indicators location. of is to all possible It visit the places mentioned car by but, because local a is advisableit roads to have are so busy, companion to All do the navigating you. parts for the of urban tours are within easy reach a publiccar of park. If areyou to able do so the to around get easiest way is by bicycle. . The – by the – by bus THE OLD DISSENT OLD THE The former Unitarian Chapel, Marshfield (the Old Meeting) stop at the north Beckspool end of east Walk to up Road. the junction with Riverwood and Road pass substantial you houses either originally built wealthy or owned by for dissenters; on the the home of right, House, Fromeshawe prominent Unitarian, Onesiphorus and Riverwood, Tyndall, cousin the thehome of of prison Quaker, J.S.Fry, reformer, Elizabeth and principal Fry, the of chocolate and cocoa manufacturers, J.S.Fry Returning & Sons. along the opposite the of side road is to be found the Manor built House, c.1736 thefor wealthy Quaker merchant, Joseph Beck, and bought in another by 1800 prominent Quaker and zealous supporter of the Philip Malmains, anti-slavery movement, Debell Tuckett. demolished in the was the the home of 1930s, Harford family, Quaker bankers entertained who William Wilberforce and Hannah More Lodge Frenchay here. the owned was by Callowhills to the whom infant state Pennsylvania of was once mortgaged. The tulip trees to that native part the of USA are said to be reminders this of connection. Further south is the [17] main part the of present building completed was but in 1809 the by addition room the a new for of extendedwas in 1814 Meeting the entry over into the burialWomen’s ground. The interior reflects simplicitythe of the Friends approach to worship – plain lime-washed walls, benches round three sides standthe of elders’ and gallerya fitted withsliding shutters to create a larger meeting room required. when The Friends had started meeting locally and opened in 1654 their first meeting They enduredhouse persecution violent nearby in but 1673. in the eighteenth century became increasingly respected for their reformist views. Bear right toward up the common and on the right is Frenchay Unitarian standing Chapel [18] back in its own burial ground. The congregation, then Presbyterian by persuasion, dates The from chapel the seems 1620s. to have been built around and the 1690 added bell-tower The later. with the inscription recast was in stolen) bell 1752 (sadly ‘When hear you me ringing come and praise the Lord’. It is appropriateIt to start ourtour in Frenchay TOUR 1

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 8 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 9 . It is tucked. It . Go Hill Frenchay down turning left at THE OLD DISSENT OLD THE Unitarian Chapel Chapel Unitarian Frenchay Chapel Frenchay Marshfield former former Marshfield High Street ST777737, 8LT SN14 Friends Meeting House Meeting Friends Salisbury Road ST651765, BS16 5RA DownendBaptist Church Beckspool Road ST641779, BS16 1NT Beckspool Road ST640776, BS16 1ND On toppresumed is the weather-vane to commemorate the The interior modernised was comet in 1759. Halley’s of visit in theretains but 1980s the and clock pulpit, some the of panellingbox-pew from the reorderingthe is of It 1800s. dominated pillars the by Tuscan two supporting theroof – a common feature nonconformist of meeting houses this of datesymbolising stability and strength, Jachin and Boaz, the pillarstwo in Jerusalem. before the Temple Nearby Clarendon House the was Michael home of Maurice, minister hereand father John of Frederick Denison Maurice, a leading theologian his of time and founder the of Christian Socialistmovement. ride is a walkIt about of a mile or cycle to Downend Baptist Church [13] the bottom Straight onto Road. Frenchay on into Croomes Hill, left into right Downend Road, into Carpenters Shop and dismount) Lane across (cyclists into Salisbury Road. The gabled building at the heart the of present complex a congregation erectedwas for that hadin been 1786 worshipping in The the enterprise area since 1725. led was Drby Caleb from Evans the older Baptistmuch church of Broadmead in Bristol, whose turbulent early history from its founding in recorded so was well 1640 Edward by Terrell from . The one was of John essayist, Foster, the early pastors The Downend. of Sunday School building The addedwas church on hard fell in 1862. times in the late 19th century reformed was but andrefitted. It has been refurbished and redeveloped againfor it the needs to fit a of flourishing century. 21st church of the The a chapel last this of example of date is bus two rides – The Old Meeting,away Marshfield[39] away behindaway the main frontage on the south High of side a congregation for of Street. completed was It in 1752 Presbyterian persuasion which had been meeting nearby later who but since inclined 1680 to Unitarianism. The dedication inscription lengthy was proclaiming that the chapel built promoting was ‘for pure religion, the Glory of God, and the happiness mankind, of and alsoas a worth effect that of glorious national constitution which we by our Christianenjoy freedom and liberty The conscience.’ of A smallchapel closed burial in 1886. ground lies behind. THE AWAKENING THE ST647728, BS15 8FX The New Room MountHanham Mount Hill Road, public open space Horsefair, Bristol ST589734, BS1 3JE The wild remote wastes Kingswood of Forest had attracted open air meetings persecuted of nonconformists from early Scattereddays. squatter settlements much had grown over up theof area between , and Bristol, particularly as the demand coal for grew from the century 16th and with them a thin scatter meeting of houses the of Dissent. Old By the Churchthe England 1730s of organisationally was unable to do anything to serve the growing population not was (it that the parish new until George St 1756 of established was before resourcesand 1820-50 could be created churches for Mile Hanham at Kingswood, , and Frenchay, Two Hill). BristolUsing as his the was it base, charismatic evangelist, George Whitefield, who held the whatfirst of became frequent open air meetings throughout the area at Green Rose Anxious February thaton 17th the impetus 1739. should not beand lost determined to continue his planned mission to Georgia, Whitefield invitedWesley a fromreluctant John London arriving to Bristol to continue the ministry. Wesley, scarce March, ‘could reconcileon 31st at first myself to this strange preaching of way on 2ndApril but in the fields’ took theup departure task upon Whitefield’s for America. Hanham a particularly was Mount [20] for site favoured these open air gatherings. Although in swallowed now suburban the housing, is site preserved to commemorate the WhitefieldWesley stilland of work and occasionally used openfor air services. A railed stand a preacher for has been installed where commands it the hillside right and views Valley. across the Avon toA visit and the Room its New museum in Bristol is highly the for recommended. in 1739 founded was It Wesley by Whitefield of followers andsurvives largely as rebuilt in 1748. Gathering on Hanham Mount on 23rd June 2003 to mark the tercentenary of John Wesley’s birth

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 10 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 11 site only ST643734 only site site only ST642733 only site THE AWAKENING THE Colliers’ School School Colliers’ School Kingswood former Reformatoryformer Kingswood Foundation Kingswood Foundation Britannia Road ST641735, BS15 8DB The Colliers’ School and Chapel before remodelling in 1895 in remodelling before Chapel and School Colliers’ The Whitefield’s last task before Whitefield’s his departure to Americawas theto lay foundation stone a free of colliers’ school for not was satisfiedchildren. with the Wesley colliers’choice last pitched upon one ‘at 1739 May and site of on 14th between the London and Bath roads, not far from that called Mile Here he Hill.’ purchased theTwo land and built the Colliers’ School consisting [24] a large of schoolroom with four smaller rooms at either end partly to serve as lodgings and partly set an aside for adult John school. Cennick was recommended as its first headmasterby It is Whitefield. had fitted thatpossible Wesley the main schoolroom with galleries and a pulpit because Whitefield when returned in ‘perverting of he accused his Wesley design’ March 1741, thefor also He school. arrived in the midst a fundamental of disagreement between on the Cennick doctrine and Wesley predestination.of Whitefield concededWesley. the school to Cennick with ejected were his followers from the Kingswood splittingSociety, Methodism into Calvinists and Wesleyans at about the same time that Methodists firmly were refused communion the by Church England. of traceNo survives the of on site continued school/chapel. It in was It use as a free or school 1803. until either 1793 proceeded Wesley with his plans to demolished in 1919. establish a fee-paying school – Kingswood School – [28] on adjacent land. This building four-storey opened in 1748 the when to its present school moved in sold was but 1851 location in Lansdown near The Bath. purchaser, Russell Scott, invited Mary Carpenter, theUnitarian philanthropist, to join him in setting a reformatory up school on the lines pioneered in This Germany. served offenders young until which by 1984 buildings left. The were school now time Wesley’s none of houses the Kingswood Foundation. THEANATOMY OF CHAPEL A Upton CheyneyUpton United built was Reformed in Church [53] an for Independent1834 congregationthat had been meeting locally some years, for originally inspired the by preaching Johnof Cennick. Its exterior is designed in a restrained Classical in style dressed Bath stone with an roofed ogival porch and so necessary offset door, on this exposed hillside. An extra leaf has been added to the door to allow room to swing coffins into thechurch. Inside is a typical it 19th-century chapel this of two size: grained pitch-pineblocks of pews, and varnished, on either the of side single a raised aisle, area or rostrum across most theof end facing the entrance door with its white painted turned balustrade and in the centre, the preaching pulpit for Behindthe is an Word. arched panel bearing the painted text, the Worship Lord‘O in the There Beauty Holiness.’ is of also a harmonium, a piano and a hymn board. The only modern comforts are the electric lighting and portable gas heaters. common was It large for galleries chapels tohave on three sides and a rostrum large enough to take Baptist a choir. churches are also equipped with a large tank adult for baptism total by immersion. This is normally boarded kept to provide space theover for communion table. Upton Cheyney United Reformed Church Reformed United Cheyney Upton

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 12 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 13 This room also served for other social functions and meetings. Behind the chapel is the burial ground where can be found the of grave William Clark was who instrumental in building the chapel in this place. The collieries in the long have Golden Valley this but gone peaceful now pastoral spot is still used burials.for Reformed Church Wick Lane ST693701, BS30 6NL Upton Cheyney United THEANATOMY OF CHAPEL A The interior of the school room The School still Room lectern, has its teacher’s its desks, each fitted with a bench andto hole take the ceramic inkwells,its easel and all its clock, dating from the late 19th century. The rooflineextends back to a school include room on the ground floor lodgingand a room above. , a rather . It should. It be no House Church CHIPPING SODBURY CHIPPING CHAPELS INTHE TOWNSCAPE Brook Street ST726824 Street Brook Broad Street ST728822 Street Broad ST728822 Street Broad High Street ST727821, BS37 6AH Former Baptist Church Former Baptist Church Former Hounds Lane ST727821, BS37 6AH Former Friends Meeting Meeting Friends Former St Lawrence RC Church Chipping Sodbury Baptist Sodbury Baptist Chipping grand building of 1819 set ingrand burial its own building ground. 1819 of Down an alley on the north Broad of side Street is St Lawrence Roman Catholic Church [8] surprise that Roman Catholics caught were in the same legislation that defined nonconformists. Althoughfounded this churchhere is in in 1838, just the situation that many early urban nonconformist churches occupied – accessed through an entry on the main street frontage and located in an outbuilding running back from the main block. Start at the east High end of Street, walk and west turn right on the the of brow hill away into Brook Street. is the Tucked Friendsformer Meeting converted now House into [9] a private The dwelling. shell the hood door over bears the date and is likely1692 to be the date this of charming building. Is this the earliest surviving nonconformist meeting house in South Gloucestershire? The been Baptists established have in the since town 1656, almost as as the long Friends. On the south High of side Streetis their church hall which served as the main church the when Baptist new Church andbetween [7] 1991 1965 openedwas on the behind. site roundJust the corner in Hounds Lane is the former Baptist Church [6] Chipping Sodbury former Friends Meeting House Meeting Friends Sodbury former Chipping TOUR 2

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 14 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 15 . Thisis a Start in the High Street at the Methodist Church [49] good the of example spikey Gothic revival architecture of style for a late 19th-century church. The present building replaced Chapel [48] Wesley (turn south High down Street and left into Chapel Street to what is Cosshamnow Hall). Thisbuilt was in 1789. himselfJohn Wesley preached here in 1789 The chapel and 1790. extendedwas in 1835 eventuallybut still to beproved too small. Handel In 1888 Cossham purchased the building and presented to theit for town community use. . The chapel building stands 1828 of Church Church THORNBURY CHAPELS INTHE TOWNSCAPE Cossham Hall Cossham Thornbury Methodist High Street ST635902, BS35 2AQ Gillingstool ST640900, BS35 2EG Chapel Street ST636897, BS35 2BJ Chapel Street ST637899, BS35 2AT , which stands further Chapel down Street. Cossham made Thornbury Baptist Church Baptist Thornbury Thornbury United Reformed Thornbury Reformed United In Gillingstool, across Street Rock and the Bath car Road park, is the Baptist Church [47] his fortune predicting by and the exploiting deep coal seams in the Kingswood coalfield and used wealthhis liberally to found chapels and other community of works benefit in the area Southof Gloucestershire, Cossham Hospital. eg. The present United Reformed Church is fine a building for a opened 1826 in congregation that had been worshipping in the area since 1662. in burial its own ground with buildings a suite new of attached to the rear to provide modern facilities the for church. Handel Cossham born was in Thornbury and became in 1830 a member the of Congregational, United now Reformed Church [50] Thornbury Methodist Church Thornbury Methodist , was commissioned, was in Early English KINGSWOOD CHAPELS INTHE TOWNSCAPE . The original building still stands though Whitfield Tabernacle inthe 1980s A relatively short MileA relatively walk Street along Regent and Two Hill encompasses the history the of after Awakening the Start breach between WhitefieldParkin Wesley. Road. and George Whitefield wroteJohn to CennickOn 9th June 1741, instructing him to build a room their ‘not for followers too large The or too result handsome.’ the was Whitfield [30] Tabernacle terribly vandalised. altered was It and extended in 1802 The northand 1830. front this, of the last chapel the of inAwakening this area, a good gives idea the of appearance theseof buildings. Although stripped long its furnishings, of ranksit with the in Room Bristol New in its significance. the societyAfter 1770, deathfrom moved in Whitefield’s Calvinism to Congregationalism, and, as grew found the it it premises too small and so built church. The a new Tabernacle remained in use as both a Sunday School and until a 1905 the schoolday of British School movement. WhitfieldThe Tabernacle, Congregational New later United Reformed Church [31] style fromstyle Henry Masters on opened Bristol. It of in 1852 land adjoining the burial ground and at the a driveway end of from Street. Regent The and church closed stands in 1983 bricked and up derelict. a short For while there plans were to refurbish the after but Tabernacle old a period temporary of use the of Moravian Church, in the 1992 congregations two decided to amalgamate. There been a number have of schemes to repair the which Tabernacle is on Historic old at risk registerEngland’s and is to it be hoped one will be agreed soon. TOUR 4

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 16 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 17 at the KINGSWOOD CHAPELS INTHE TOWNSCAPE Former Whitfield Former Whitfield Tabernacle Park Road ST649739, BS15 8HR Congregational ChurchCongregational Regent Street ST648739, BS15 8HR Regent Street ST649738, BS15 8HU Moravian Church further Street, offRegent the west wheel has turned John full Cennick In circle. December 1775, resigned from the Calvinist Methodists to join the Church theof United Brethren, better known as the Moravians. contended a while followers For ownership Cennick’s of the to quickly established but Tabernacle moved their own chapel and burial ground on the This present site. was Theconsecrated present church designed was and in 1758. Bristol, just north of Foster by & Wood of built in 1856-1857 the original chapel which then was demolished. The the Moravians, following practice their of mother church at Herrnhut tended to found settlements in Saxony, with the chapel as the focal settlement point. Cennick’s at East Tytherton in Wiltshire is It is a good example. doubtful whether a settlement such planned was or built their for at house’ Kingswood sisters’ the beyond ‘single education and and opened industry. It the in infant 1792 Note that theschool contains graveyard in 1838. markers brought here the when Bristol Moravian Church and burial ground cleared were in the 1970s. With the creation the of United Church, Kingswood (Moravian/ WhitfieldUnited Reformed [26] Church) United Church, formerly the Moravian Church, Kingswood Church, Moravian the formerly Church, United United Church, Kingswood Church, United , Walk west along Regent along Regent west Walk Street and turn left into Blackhorse Road. Here stands the former Chapel [29] Wesley the magnificent mother church the of Wesleyan Methodist Circuit and successor to the Colliers’ School and rises Chapel. It in the greenery its own of burialextensive ground. The main school building remains theof 1850s empty reasonablybut intact. was It with great reluctance but pressure irresistible under that the Kingswood Society agreed to build and open this grand structure in The church1844. closed in the when Methodists1978 decided to combine at UntilZion. recently a burnt being is now it shell, out converted to flats. Chapel Church . KINGSWOOD . It was built in 1873 as Bourne built was . It in 1873 Chapel, CHAPELS INTHE TOWNSCAPE Kingswood Methodist Two MileTwo Hill ST644739, BS15 1JR Two MileTwo Hill ST641738, BS15 1AD Two MileTwo Hill ST642739, BS15 8BE Bourne Christian Centre Christian Bourne Salvation Army Corps Hall Blackhorse Road ST644738, BS15 8DZ Former Kingswood Wesley Back toBack the main road and further at the west beginning Mile Hill is Kingswood Two of Methodist Church [25] formerly Zion United Methodist Free Church, built in 1854 as the mother church circuit its own of to outshine the magnificenceIt Chapel. similarWesley and of ‘twin’ rival as a resultchapelsa of built were and between 1870 1850 disastrous quarrel at the Methodist Conference 1849. of The branches two not reunited were and until the two 1932 Kingswood congregations building lavish Such until by 1978. the United Methodist Church due was to the patronage local of industrialists like the boot-makers the Flooks and the colliery owners the Brains. Further again west is the third Bourne now chapel, huge Christian Centre [4] named after Hugh Bourne, the one of founders the of primitive still Methodist Their1841 stands movement. firstchapel of further the down west hill and used is now as the Salvation Army Corps Hall [27] Kingswood Methodist Church Methodist Kingswood NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 18 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 19 compel children under yearsthe 13 to of age attend. Nonconformists understood that the ability to read, write and interpret was the Bible the core to providing a basic education. From century, freethe 17th day classes adult for study and education children’s for anwere essential part of chapel these Some life. of schools children,day for assuch that at Whitfield , became affiliated to the non-sectarianBritish CHAPELS IN THE COMMUNITYTHE IN CHAPELS Banners high on the former Whit walk in Kingswood in walk Whit former the on Banners high From the very beginning chapels and meeting houses the were focal point the of social their of lives communities, not solely Any chapelplaces has worship. of numerous regular meetings and many share their facilities with the wider community. Education is a particular concern which in modern times often means hosting pre-school activities. not was until It the that a nation-wideEducation School network of 1870 of Act Boards created was to levy rates to provide schools and to Many chapel organisations had their separate own banners which used to be paraded on occasions as such the Kingswood Whit Sadly they Walk. are rarely now seen. By theBy late which 19th century, the Temperance Movement, had 1840 comeby to mean total abstinence from alcohol, was strong in most nonconformist chapels Most chapels. had their temperance societies adults for and after their Band 1847 of Hope children. for Tabernacle [30] Tabernacle and Foreign Schools Society which had been founded in 1814. These are different from Sunday Schools concept – a credited to Robert – which Raikes blossomed in the Gloucester of in 1750 century. late 18th built CHAPELS INTHE COUNTRYSIDE Bethesda, Hawkesbury Bethesda, according to the stone setin the in gable 1817 and restored in 1919. Take the WickwarTake road which shortly routejoins 410. cycle the routeFollow down the steep escarpment theof and Cotswolds across the broken country to . In the centre divert from route the to cycle the B4060follow (to Chipping Sodbury) up into the High Street. On the left is Wickwar Congregational Church [62] This trail follows parts of national cycle routes 410 and 41. It This It trail parts and 41. follows national routes of 410 cycle crosses South Gloucestershire from east and to west is mostly downhill. Both routes are The clearly way-marked. trail takes to a numberyou chapels of that are typical this of area in their scale and style. Start at Hawkesbury The Upton. village still has chapels two thebut parish at the church is bottom 1km away the of hill. Bethesda founded was Chapel to [22] serve an Independent congregation stands It in 1844. in burial its own ground entered through a pretty wrought-iron lantern arch. The Methodist originally was Church [23] built the by Primitive Methodists These persuasions in two 1860. together with the Baptists had great successin founding churches among the rural communities in South Gloucestershire. TOUR 5

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 20 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 21 Church Church Bethesda Cromhall Chapel Chapel Cromhall Methodist Church Methodist Church Hawkesbury Upton Hawkesbury Upton CHAPELS INTHE COUNTRYSIDE Tytherington Baptist Baptist Tytherington Townwell ST698908, 8AQ GL12 Park Street ST781869, GL9 1BA High Street ST725885, 8NP GL12 . This is an a simple early of example 19th century Chapel Road ST610925, BS35 1QA Hyde Park Row ST780870, GL9 1BB Wickwar Congregational Itchington Road ST668880, 8Q GL12 Oldbury-on-Severn former Rejoin cycle route 410 to cross the northern route 410 cycle Rejoin tip the of South Gloucestershire and Coalfield.theFollow route through and Cromhall Cromhall Chapel to Townwell [12] Independent chapel with chapel and minister’s house under one roof-line and set in burial its own ground. to to go Tytherington. under Just routeDivert 410 off cycle the railway bridge is Tytherington a Baptist Church [52] modest building in stone and 1884 of brick. From here is quickest to it take the direct the road over up ridge across the A38 and to down the centre Thornbury. of the canHere trail you enjoy round the chapels town (see page 15). will and take 41 to Oldbury-on- you routes 410 Cycle Severn where the Methodist has chapel been [40] recently converted into a house. Oldbury-on-Severn Church Methodist former until recently Warmley BS35 5NA BS35 Church Church Ebenezer WARMLEY AREA WARMLEY Methodist Church CHAPELS OF THE COALFIELD THE OF CHAPELS Mill Lane ST670724, BS30 8BQ Cock Road ST655727, BS15 9SQ Mill Lane Independent Lane Independent Mill , originally Methodists built the for Wesleyan in Chapel Road ST699727, BS15 4NH Anchor Road ST662744, BS15 4RG Tower Road South ST668724, BS30 Warmley Congregational Congregational Warmley Made-for-Ever Methodist Former Wesleyan Chapel Wesleyan Former Tower Road South ST699727, BS30 2XL Methodist Church ST682732, ST682732, Church Methodist Bridgeyate Cock Road Methodist Church Road Cock Former Warmley Tower United Tower Warmley Former Tower United Church, a grand ItalianateTower church built the for Free Methodists Along past the in brass 1868. the works of Quaker William and Road Champion and to the Tower end of bearing right across into Chapel brings Road to Warmley you Congregational built The Church [54] in London 1846. Road thetakes railway and over past you the Crown Colliery of site back to the start. to otherDiversions two chapels can be made. Cock Road occupiesMethodist the former Church school [11] building and is the just up road 1859 fromof the one of last remaining colliery Cornish engine houses. Made-for-Ever Methodist Church takes [35] built in 1896 its name from an unsuccessful attempt to mine coal nearby. Two relatively long walks long are relatively of suggested a flavour to give Two the area and its chapels – one around Warmley and the second around Winterbourne. Start at Common Bridgeyate with Ebenezer [3] and purchased the by United 1810 Free Methodists in 1855. convertedNow to A walk a holiday let. Bath down Road, bearing right intoPoplar and Road right again into Mill Lane brings to Mill you Lane Independent Methodist Church [55] established a breakaway temperance by here in 1899 group. theAt top the of rise is the former Chapel Wesleyan [57] converted now into A little housing. further 1833 of north in is Road another Ebenezer [56] Tower Ebenezer, former Bridgeyate Methodist Church Methodist Bridgeyate former Ebenezer, TOUR 6

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 22 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 23 , a former United BS36 1QL BS36 Church . It proudly. It proclaims built was it , a Gothic structure in the Decorated ST967813, BS36 2HY CHAPELS OF THE COALFIELD THE OF CHAPELS WINTERBOURNE AREAWINTERBOURNE Methodist Church Methodist Church Zion United Church United Zion Winterbourne Down Down Road BS36 ST651797, 1BN Bristol Road ST645793, BS16 1SD White’s Hill Evangelical Woodend Road, Former Ebenezer United United Ebenezer Former Salem Methodist Church Factory Road, Watley’s End ST658811, Watley’s End Road ST659814, BS36 1QQ the one was of areas primitive of coal mining and further the down lane Frog Lane the was of complex theColliery, last traditional deep the to work pit coalfield. Our trailtakes the higher ground to the starting west just opposite the windmill in Frampton Cotterell at Zion United Church [16] builtstyle the for Congregationalists From here in 1873. to down Road its junction Woodend withfollow Park Lane and bear left across to Harris Barton the and follow footpath Bridge to up and across turn Nightingale’s left into Here End Road. is Ebenezer [58] Watley’s Methodist built to Church rival 1868 Salem of nearby at the other the end of turning left, Factory next (named Road after a hat factory The foundation which once stone here). worked of Salem Methodist laid was John Wesley by Church [59] himself in 1787. is a walkIt about of a mile Cloisters down Hicks Road, Common and Road Station to Road Winterbourne Down anotherMethodist chapel in Church the [63], Decorated then turn Camp Follow right, View, built instyle, 1878. left and right again into Worrells Lane across down the Frome Hill and to up White’s Common and Whiteshill Evangelical Church [60] in 1816. Whiteshill Evangelical Church, formerly White’s Hill Congregational Church 1816 Congregational Church Hill White’s formerly Church, Evangelical Whiteshill TOUR 7 , , built in 1904 for , the Hanham Tabernacle, Church TABERNACLES Former Former Bath Road ST692689, BS30 6LN Congregational ChurchCongregational Tree Community Church Tree Mustard Mustard Green Longwell Watsons Road ST658712, BS30 9DW Hanham United Reformed Reformed United Hanham Tabernacle Road ST640725, BS15 8DU of the a nursery of is now late 1880s school is the but most was originallywas Methodists and built the for in Tent 1829 purchased an by Independent congregation years later. 10 The corrugated of invention iron coincidedwith the theevangelical of revival these late of 19th century. Few tin tabernacles are left. Swineford Congregational Church [46] substantial survived to example have in the area. A number more of permanent missions this of period can also beas such found, the former Longwell Green Mission [34] Mustardnow Tree Community Church the Christian Brethren. The in idea the of Biblical terms Tabernacle, a moveable structure, an ‘itinerant in which temple’ to keep the tablets a powerful was Whitefield was one. concerned theof Law, that the Kingswood too be Tabernacle large ‘not or not too Some churches handsome our need we lest tents’. to move deliberately built their chapels temporary of materials, particularly either timber of or later timber of and corrugated iron. Should a more permanent structure be required then the tabernacle could to an be moved entirely to site further new a mission. new George Pocock Bristol of instrumental was in foundingthe and Methodist which flourished movement 1814 Tent between preaching visited Tent places as such Almondsbury, 1832. Iron Milbury Acton, Frampton Heath, Rangeworthy, Cotterell, The Wickwar and present Dursley. Hanham United Reformed Church [21] Former Swineford Congregational Church Swineford Former

NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 24 NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 25 . THE FUTURE THE Methodist Church , convertedTabernacle, Whitfield but to a café, Bath Road ST658710, BS30 9DD High Street ST646721, BS15 3QY Longwell Green Chapel Chapel Green Longwell Hanham BaptistHanham Church Coffee Shop, former Free It is not oftenIt realised that many individual chapels are in the hands trustees of and many for nonconformists the autonomy and independent decisions a church of community are paramount. ultimately to decisions be made have theHowever by community at large whether buildings which are important to our common heritage are to be cared and for particular effort made to for find uses new them. There examplesare several in this trail been homes where made have new in chapels old and the formerone example, Longwell Green Free Methodist Church [33] sad in its vandalised state, remains a significant problem desperately requiring a solution. We hope that you have enjoyed thetrail enjoyed hope that have found you We and have something the of spirit the of early nonconformists in the buildings they commissioned and the churches they founded. churchesNew are still being built and ones close. old Sometimes the ones will old finduses, perhaps new still providing a home to a church another of persuasion, particularly Christian some the of newer and movements religions.some the Bourne of older world once Chapel [4] the pride the of Primitive Methodists life saw as the home Fantasieof Foundations, a manufactory corsetry, ladies’ of before its present lease life of as Bourne Christian Centre Hanham Baptist Church rebuilt (1907, 1959, next to the site meeting of the 1714 house. The porch is a recent addition)

14 24 23

25 25 16 16 4 4 14 14 3, 8 3, 8 14 14 22 22 11 11 9 9 20 20 24 24 22 22 18, 25 20 20 22 22 21 21 18 18 8 8 25 25 11 11 10 10 18 18 18 18

17 17 14 14 5, 16, 25 5, 16, 25 (ST658712; BS30 9DW)

(ST728822)

(ST682926; GL12 8DW)

(ST726824)

1902

(ST665761; BS16 9DE)

(ST658710; BS30 9DD)

(ST648739; BS15 8HR)

(ST574891; BS35 4AY) (ST746838; BS37 6QE) BS37 (ST746838;

(ST726925; 8SR) GL12 (ST727821; BS37 6AH) (ST649738; BS15 8HU)

(ST649739; BS15 8HR)

(ST967813; BS36 2HY)

(ST780870; GL9 1BB) 1896 (ST781769; GL9 1BA)

(ST641779; BS16 1NT)

(ST682732; BS305NA)

(ST572826; BS35 5RE)

(ST644738; BS15 8DZ) (ST641738; BS15 1AD) (ST640725; BS15 8DU) (ST727821; BS37 6AH) (ST662744; BS15 4RG)

(ST642739; BS15 8BE) (ST681697; BS30 6HQ)

(ST644739; BS15 1JR) (ST643734 – site) (ST655727; BS15 9SQ)

(ST640776; BS16 1ND)

1841 (ST724791; GL37 6RY)

(ST651765; BS16 5RA)

(ST646721; BS15 3QY)

(ST642733) (ST647728; BS15 8FX) (ST698908; 8AQ) GL12

INDEX OF PLACES TOSEE Evangelical (former Methodist), (former Evangelical Aust Bridgeyate former Methodist, 1810 Methodist, former Bridgeyate Bitton former Methodist, 1859 Methodist, former Bitton

27 Kingswood Salvation Army, Salvation Kingswood 27 6 Chipping Sodbury former Baptist, 1819 Baptist, former Sodbury Chipping 6 25 Kingswood Methodist, 1854 Methodist, Kingswood 25 14 Easter 14 Compton Methodist, 1869 23 Hawkesbury Upton Methodist, 1860 22 Hawkesbury Upton Bethesda, 1844 10 Codrington Baptist, 1894 Baptist, Codrington 10 4 Bourne Christian Centre, 1873 Centre, Christian Bourne 4 1851 Reformed, United former 5 3 11 Cock 11 Road Methodist, 1859 35 Made-for-Ever Methodist, 1896 Methodist, Made-for-Ever 35 24 Kingswood Colliers’ School 12 Cromhall, 12 1819 7 Chipping Sodbury Baptist, 1991 Baptist, Sodbury Chipping 7 13 Downend 13 Baptist, 1786 28 Kingswood School 8 Chipping Sodbury St Laurence Roman Catholic, 1838 36 former Primitive Methodist, 1857 Methodist, Primitive former Mangotsfield 36 33 Longwell Green former Free Methodist, 1856 Community Church, Mustard Tree Green Longwell 34 31 Kingswood former United Reformed, 1853 Reformed, United former Kingswood 31 16 Frampton 16 Cotterell Zion United, 1873 Frenchay 17 Society of Friends, 1809 Frenchay 18 Unitarian, by 1740 15 Falfield former Mount Pleasant Congregational, 1843 Congregational, Pleasant Mount former Falfield 15 1 2 19 Hanham Baptist, 1959 Baptist, Hanham 19 20 Hanham Mount 29 Kingswood former Wesley, 1843 Wesley, former Kingswood 29 21 Hanham United Reformed, 1829 26 Kingswood Moravian now United, 1857 United, now Moravian Kingswood 26 30 Kingswood Whitfield Tabernacle, 1741 Whitfield Kingswood Tabernacle, 30 9 Chipping Sodbury former Society of Friends, 1692 Friends, Society of former Sodbury Chipping 9 32 Little Sodbury End Tyndale Baptist, 1890 Dates indicate earliest building to beseen Page NONCONFORMIST Heritage Trail 26 INDEX OF PLACES TO SEE

Dates indicate earliest building to be seen Page

37 Mangotsfield and Castle Green United Reformed, 1835 (ST665762; BS16 9EP)

38 Marshfield Chapel (ST775738; SN14 8LT)

39 Marshfield former Unitarian, 1752 (ST777737; SN14 8LT) 9

40 Oldbury-on-Severn former Methodist, 1835 (ST610925; BS35 1QA) 21

41 Methodist, 1820 (ST601872; BS35 4DR)

42 Rangeworthy former Ebenezer, 1874 (ST690854; BS37 7LS) 7

43 Shortwood Methodist, 1876 (ST675759; BS16 9NH)

44 Staple Hill Independent Methodist, 1892 (ST649758; BS16 4QG)

45 Staple Hill Methodist, 1874 (ST649760; BS16 5HQ) 2

46 Swineford, former Congregational, c.1887 (ST692689; BS30 6LN) 24

47 Thornbury Baptist, 1828 (ST640900; BS35 2EG) 15

48 Thornbury Cossham Hall, 1789 (ST636897; BS35 2BJ) 15

49 Thornbury Methodist, 1878 (ST635902; BS35 2AQ) 15

50 Thornbury United Reformed, 1826 (ST637899; BS35 2AT) 15

51 Methodist, 1897 (ST609866; BS32 4NJ)

52 Tytherington Baptist, 1884 (ST668880; GL12 8QE) 21

53 Upton Cheyney United Reformed, 1834 (ST693701; BS30 6NL) 6, 12, 13

54 Warmley Congregational, 1846 (ST669737; BS15 4NH) 22

55 Warmley Mill Lane Independent Methodist, 1899 (ST670724; BS30 8BQ) 22

56 Warmley former Tower United, 1858 (ST699727; BS30 2XL) 22

57 Warmley former Wesley, 1833 (ST668724; BS30 8BH) 22

58 Watley’s End former Ebenezer, 1868 (ST659814; BS36 1QQ) 23

59 Watley’s End Salem Methodist, 1787 (ST658811; BS36 1QL) 23

60 Whiteshill Evangelical, 1816 (ST645793; BS16 1SD) 23

61 Wick United Reformed, 1837 (ST707726; BS30 5PN)

62 Wickwar Congregational, 1817 (ST725885; GL12 8NP) 20

63 Winterbourne Down Methodist, 1878 (SST651797; BS36 1BN) 23

64 Yate former Baptist, 1909 (ST699840; BS35 1QA)

M1 Frenchay Village Museum (BS16 1SZ) 6

M2 Kingswood Heritage Museum (BS30 8XT) 6

M3 Thornbury and District Museum (BS35 2BJ) 6

M4 Yate and District Heritage Centre (BS37 5BJ) 6

NR The New Room, Broadmead, Bristol (BS1 3JE) 10

1

2 3

4 5

1 Kingswood Methodist Church - page 18 2 Halley’s Comet, Frenchay Unitarian Chapel - page 8 3 Frenchay Unitarian Chapel - page 8 4 The pulpit, Frenchay Unitarian Chapel - page 8 5 Entrance to former White’s Hill Day School - page 23 FURTHER INFORMATION

Every effort has been made to ensure that information given in this booklet is correct at time of going to press, but you are advised to check details such as opening hours, bus services and so on before setting out.

The project team selected 64 from over 400 chapel sites in South Gloucestershire. Once you have tried our trail maybe you can create your own. The singular configuration of the windows are Trail often the clue that the building is or was a chapel.

Most of the places on this route can be reached by public transport. For information: www.travelinesw.com

Information for disabled passengers is available at: www. southglos.gov.uk/publictransportaccessibility

For information about public footpaths and bridleways: www. southglos.gov.uk/publicfootpaths For information about cycle routes: https://betterbybike.info

Several towns and villages such as Marshfield have their own heritage trails. Books on our nonconformist heritage can be obtained through public libraries, museums and bookshops. You can visit the council’s website at www.southglos.gov.uk/ heritagetrails

Hanham United Reformed Church (Hanham Tabernacle)

Inside front cover: Staple Hill Methodist Church, formerly Hebron United Methodist Free Church 1874

Cover: Wickwar Congregational Church 1817 NONCONFORMIST Trail

South Gloucestershire Heritage Trails are published by South Gloucestershire Council. For further trails in this series and information: http://www. southglos.gov.uk/heritagetrails

South Gloucestershire Council warmly acknowledges the considerable contribution to the content of this booklet which has been given by members of local churches and societies and many other individual people. It would also like to acknowledge the work of the Kingswood Chapels Survey in improving our understanding of our nonconformist heritage and to thank those who have supplied photographs for this publication.

Text: David Dawson

Original project team: Peter Aze, Vic Hallett, Terry Ray, Ron Martindale, Mel Barnett & David Dawson; 2018 revision by: David Dawson & Jane Marley

Design: South Gloucestershire Design Team

Photographs by kind permission of David Dawson, Frenchay Friends’ Meeting, Frenchay Unitarian Church, Hanham Methodist Church, Kingswood Heritage Museum Trust & Upton Cheyney United Reformed Church

‘The Ordnance Survey mapping within this publication is provided by South Gloucestershire Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to publicise local public services. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey Copyright for advice when they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use.’

Date of publication: 2018

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