Rye Particular Baptist Chapel
Encyclopedia
Rye Particular Baptist Chapel is a former Strict Baptist
place of worship in Rye
, an ancient hilltop town in Rother
, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex
. Built in the 18th century on the site of a decaying Quaker
meeting house, it served Baptists in the town for many years until a new chapel was constructed nearby. English Heritage
has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.
of Rye, on a sandstone hill in the middle of flat marshland, has (in common with the rest of Sussex) supported a great variety of Christian denomination
s over the centuries. The earliest post-Reformation
community were the Quakers
, who founded a chapel on the south side of Mermaid Street in 1700 or 1704. They used this meeting house for the next half-century; but in 1753 it was reported as being "in a very dilapidated condition and past hope of repair". They sold the site to a congregation of Strict Baptists
who had just formed in the town. They knocked down the decrepit building and erected a new chapel on the site; it was ready in 1754. An adjacent house was taken over and used as a schoolroom for Baptist children.
By 1900, the chapel had been joined by an array of other places of worship. The Church of the Holy Spirit, an Anglican
church at Rye Harbour
, was established in 1849; a Roman Catholic church was built in 1900; a second Strict Baptist chapel was founded in 1835; Methodists built their chapel in 1814 and extended it in 1852; and in 1882 a Congregational church was founded. Meanwhile, some members of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel seceded
from it in 1813 and founded a new independent Baptist church; they met in a house at first, but built their own chapel in 1817. The parish church
, St Mary's, had existed since Norman times
.
In 1909, a new church was built in nearby Cinque Ports Street. It replaced yet another Baptist chapel of 1844; but the congregation of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel moved to it as well. The 1754 building was closed in 1910 and sold. It became a men's club before being converted into a house, which took the name Quaker's House.
Rye Particular Baptist Chapel—under its new name of Quaker's House—was listed at Grade II by English Heritage
on 12 October 1951; this defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 1,991 Grade II listed buildings, and 2,106 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Rother.
. The roof, which has two dormer
windows in the attic space above the first floor, is laid with tiles at the rear and slates at the front. The three-bay
façade, 29.5 feet (9 m) wide, has a wide doorway with a straight canopy supported by ornate brackets
. A twin staircase with metal railings leads to the door from the pavement. A thin string course of red bricks separates the ground and first floors, which have two and three shallow-arched sash window
s respectively. There are two similar windows on the rear wall; originally the pulpit
stood between them. A small gable
-ended extension at the rear may have been a vestry
. The interior has been opened out to form a single tall open-plan space, although the attic space has been retained.
Strict Baptists
Strict Baptists, also known as Particular Baptists, are Baptists who believe in a Calvinist or Reformed interpretation of Christian soteriology. The Particular Baptists arose in England in the 17th century and took their namesake from the doctrine of particular redemption.-Further reading:*History...
place of worship in Rye
Rye, East Sussex
Rye is a small town in East Sussex, England, which stands approximately two miles from the open sea and is at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede...
, an ancient hilltop town in Rother
Rother
Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.-History:...
, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. Built in the 18th century on the site of a decaying Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
meeting house, it served Baptists in the town for many years until a new chapel was constructed nearby. 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...
has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.
History
The medieval Cinque PortCinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
of Rye, on a sandstone hill in the middle of flat marshland, has (in common with the rest of Sussex) supported a great variety of Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
s over the centuries. The earliest post-Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
community were the Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, who founded a chapel on the south side of Mermaid Street in 1700 or 1704. They used this meeting house for the next half-century; but in 1753 it was reported as being "in a very dilapidated condition and past hope of repair". They sold the site to a congregation of Strict Baptists
Strict Baptists
Strict Baptists, also known as Particular Baptists, are Baptists who believe in a Calvinist or Reformed interpretation of Christian soteriology. The Particular Baptists arose in England in the 17th century and took their namesake from the doctrine of particular redemption.-Further reading:*History...
who had just formed in the town. They knocked down the decrepit building and erected a new chapel on the site; it was ready in 1754. An adjacent house was taken over and used as a schoolroom for Baptist children.
By 1900, the chapel had been joined by an array of other places of worship. The Church of the Holy Spirit, 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...
church at Rye Harbour
Rye Harbour
Rye Harbour is a village located on the East Sussex coast in southeast England, near the estuary of the River Rother: it is part of the civil parish of Icklesham. Rye Harbour is located some two miles downstream of the town of Rye....
, was established in 1849; a Roman Catholic church was built in 1900; a second Strict Baptist chapel was founded in 1835; Methodists built their chapel in 1814 and extended it in 1852; and in 1882 a Congregational church was founded. Meanwhile, some members of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel seceded
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from it in 1813 and founded a new independent Baptist church; they met in a house at first, but built their own chapel in 1817. The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, St Mary's, had existed since Norman times
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
.
In 1909, a new church was built in nearby Cinque Ports Street. It replaced yet another Baptist chapel of 1844; but the congregation of Rye Particular Baptist Chapel moved to it as well. The 1754 building was closed in 1910 and sold. It became a men's club before being converted into a house, which took the name Quaker's House.
Rye Particular Baptist Chapel—under its new name of Quaker's House—was listed at Grade II 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...
on 12 October 1951; this defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 1,991 Grade II listed buildings, and 2,106 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Rother.
Architecture
The chapel is a two-storey red-brick building in a Vernacular styleVernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
. The roof, which has two dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
windows in the attic space above the first floor, is laid with tiles at the rear and slates at the front. The three-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
façade, 29.5 feet (9 m) wide, has a wide doorway with a straight canopy supported by ornate brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
. A twin staircase with metal railings leads to the door from the pavement. A thin string course of red bricks separates the ground and first floors, which have two and three shallow-arched sash window
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...
s respectively. There are two similar windows on the rear wall; originally the 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...
stood between them. A small gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
-ended extension at the rear may have been a 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....
. The interior has been opened out to form a single tall open-plan space, although the attic space has been retained.