Jenkin Chapel, Saltersford
Encyclopedia
Jenkin Chapel, Saltersford stands in an isolated position on the eastern slopes of the Pennines
4.3 miles (7 km) northeast of Macclesfield
, Cheshire
, England
. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building. The chapel lies at the junction of three ancient trackways, known as "salters' ways" because they were used by packhorse
s carrying salt. Later the tracks were used by cattle drovers and sheep dealers. It is an Anglican
chapel in the diocese of Chester
, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Macclesfield. Its benefice
is combined with those of Holy Trinity, Rainow and Forest Chapel
.
farmhouse with a chimney stack than a church. It consists of a two-storey nave
, a one-storey chapel and vestry
, and a three-stage tower with a saddleback roof. The tower has an external staircase, a bell chamber and a porch with stone benches. A chimney rises from the middle of the south wall. The windows are Georgian
in style, with sashes
and small panes of glass.
Inside the chapel are box pew
s, an octagonal pulpit
and a carved reading desk. The chancel is panelled and divided from the nave by rails consisting of turned baluster
s. Hanging from a lintel at the entrance to the chancel are similar balusters forming an arch. In the chancel is a small stone font
with an oak cover. At the west end is a gallery on which is the coat of arms
of the Stopford family who lived in nearby Saltersford Hall in the 17th century. On the floor are grave slabs relating to the Turner family who were later residents of the hall. Chapel registers date from 1770.
, North Wales
, traded. The track-marking stone at this point was known as "Jenkin Cross". Other theories are that Jenkin was the name of a local farming family, or that it was the name of a "fiery Welsh preacher" who preached at the horse fair held here.
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
4.3 miles (7 km) northeast of Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building. The chapel lies at the junction of three ancient trackways, known as "salters' ways" because they were used by packhorse
Packhorse
.A packhorse or pack horse refers generally to an equid such as a horse, mule, donkey or pony used for carrying goods on their backs, usually carried in sidebags or panniers. Typically packhorses are used to cross difficult terrain, where the absence of roads prevents the use of wheeled vehicles. ...
s carrying salt. Later the tracks were used by cattle drovers and sheep dealers. It is an Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
chapel in the diocese of Chester
Diocese of Chester
The Diocese of Chester is a Church of England diocese in the Province of York based in Chester, covering the county of Cheshire in its pre-1974 boundaries...
, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Macclesfield. Its benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
is combined with those of Holy Trinity, Rainow and Forest Chapel
Forest Chapel
Forest Chapel stands in an isolated position in the civil parish of Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough in Cheshire, England, within the Peak District National Park from Macclesfield. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. It is an Anglican church in...
.
History
The chapel was built in 1733 by local people using local materials who also raised money to pay for a minister. A tower was added in 1755.Architecture
The appearance of the chapel is more that of a GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
farmhouse with a chimney stack than a church. It consists of a two-storey nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, a one-storey chapel and vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, and a three-stage tower with a saddleback roof. The tower has an external staircase, a bell chamber and a porch with stone benches. A chimney rises from the middle of the south wall. The windows are Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in style, with sashes
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
and small panes of glass.
Inside the chapel are box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, an octagonal pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
and a carved reading desk. The chancel is panelled and divided from the nave by rails consisting of turned baluster
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
s. Hanging from a lintel at the entrance to the chancel are similar balusters forming an arch. In the chancel is a small stone font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
with an oak cover. At the west end is a gallery on which is the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Stopford family who lived in nearby Saltersford Hall in the 17th century. On the floor are grave slabs relating to the Turner family who were later residents of the hall. Chapel registers date from 1770.
Name
There is disagreement about the origin of the name "Jenkin". One theory is that the junction was the site where a man called Jenkin from RuthinRuthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, traded. The track-marking stone at this point was known as "Jenkin Cross". Other theories are that Jenkin was the name of a local farming family, or that it was the name of a "fiery Welsh preacher" who preached at the horse fair held here.