Shover's Green Baptist Chapel
Encyclopedia
Shover's Green Baptist Chapel is a former Strict Baptist
place of worship in the hamlet
of Shover's Green in East Sussex
, England. Shover's Green is in Wealden
, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex
, and stands on the road between the market town
of Wadhurst
and the village of Ticehurst
in the neighbouring district of Rother
. Founded by Strict Baptists from nearby Burwash in 1816, the chapel—one of three Baptist places of worship in Wadhurst parish—continued to serve the community until the 1970s, when it was sold for conversion to a house. Its design is similar to that of the nearby Rehoboth Chapel at Pell Green
. English Heritage
has listed the building at Grade II by English Heritage
for its architectural and historical importance.
Nonconformity
in the county of Sussex as a whole). In November 1815, 24 members of Providence Chapel in Burwash left to found an additional chapel at Shover's Green. Work started in March 1816, and the building was ready in 1817. A Baptist congregation had existed in Wadhurst itself since 1815—it later moved into a former Methodist chapel
, and stopped meeting in the 1930s— and Rehoboth Chapel
was built in a similar style to the Shover's Green church in 1824. (The chapel at Burwash, now vanished, was also associated with the founding in 1842 of Bethel Chapel
at nearby Robertsbridge
.)
The chapel was renovated in 1876, when the original weatherboarding
and timber framing
was replaced by brickwork and tiles. As the congregation declined in the late 20th century, the building fell out of religious use, was closed in about 1973 and was converted into a house.
Shover's Green Baptist Chapel was listed at Grade II by English Heritage
on 12 April 1978; this defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 2,020 Grade II listed buildings, and 2,173 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Wealden.
façade. It has a slate-tiled hipped roof
and timber-framed walls with brickwork and tiles in place of the original weatherboarding
, still in situ at the nearby Pell Green chapel. The plain façade, facing northeast, has three equally spaced windows with round heads and wooden shutters. The double doorway, between the left and middle windows, has a flat canopy; another door to the right is a later addition, as is a lean-to
structure (originally housing a vestry
) on the northwest side. In the "nicely furnished interior", a "rather high" pulpit
originally stood between two windows in the rear wall. The roof has a bracketed
cornice
.
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 the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Shover's Green in 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:...
, England. Shover's Green is in Wealden
Wealden
For the stone, see Wealden GroupWealden is a local government district in East Sussex, England: its name comes from the Weald, the area of high land which occupies the centre of its area.-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:...
, and stands on the road between the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Wadhurst
Wadhurst
Wadhurst is a market town in East Sussex, England. It is the centre of the civil parish of Wadhurst, which also includes the hamlets of Cousley Wood and Tidebrook. Wadhurst is twinned with Aubers in France.-Situation:...
and the village of Ticehurst
Ticehurst
Ticehurst is both a village and a large civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. The parish lies in the upper reaches of both the River Teise before it enters Bewl Water and in the upper reaches of the River Rother flowing to the south-east...
in the neighbouring district of 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:...
. Founded by Strict Baptists from nearby Burwash in 1816, the chapel—one of three Baptist places of worship in Wadhurst parish—continued to serve the community until the 1970s, when it was sold for conversion to a house. Its design is similar to that of the nearby Rehoboth Chapel at Pell Green
Rehoboth Chapel, Pell Green
Rehoboth Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in the hamlet of Pell Green in East Sussex, England. Pell Green is in the parish of Wadhurst in Wealden, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex, and stands on the road between the market town of...
. 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 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...
for its architectural and historical importance.
History
Shover's Green is on the Wadhurst–Ticehurst road about 2.25 miles (3.6 km) west of the latter. It is also close to Burwash, a village which had a growing congregation of Strict and Particular Baptists in the early 19th century (reflecting the prevalence of ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Nonconformity
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
in the county of Sussex as a whole). In November 1815, 24 members of Providence Chapel in Burwash left to found an additional chapel at Shover's Green. Work started in March 1816, and the building was ready in 1817. A Baptist congregation had existed in Wadhurst itself since 1815—it later moved into a former Methodist chapel
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, and stopped meeting in the 1930s— and Rehoboth Chapel
Rehoboth Chapel, Pell Green
Rehoboth Chapel is a former Strict Baptist place of worship in the hamlet of Pell Green in East Sussex, England. Pell Green is in the parish of Wadhurst in Wealden, one of six local government districts in the English county of East Sussex, and stands on the road between the market town of...
was built in a similar style to the Shover's Green church in 1824. (The chapel at Burwash, now vanished, was also associated with the founding in 1842 of Bethel Chapel
Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, Robertsbridge
Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel is a former place of worship for Strict Baptists in Robertsbridge, a village in the district of Rother in the English county of East Sussex...
at nearby Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge
Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles north of Hastings and 13 miles south-east of Tunbridge Wells...
.)
The chapel was renovated in 1876, when the original weatherboarding
Weatherboarding
Weatherboarding is the cladding or ‘siding’ of a house consisting of long thin timber boards that overlap one another, either vertically or horizontally on the outside of the wall. They are usually of rectangular section with parallel sides...
and timber framing
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
was replaced by brickwork and tiles. As the congregation declined in the late 20th century, the building fell out of religious use, was closed in about 1973 and was converted into a house.
Shover's Green Baptist Chapel 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 April 1978; this defines it as a "nationally important" building of "special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 2,020 Grade II listed buildings, and 2,173 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Wealden.
Architecture
The chapel is a single-storey building with a regular three-bayBay (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. It has a slate-tiled hipped roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
and timber-framed walls with brickwork and tiles in place of the original weatherboarding
Weatherboarding
Weatherboarding is the cladding or ‘siding’ of a house consisting of long thin timber boards that overlap one another, either vertically or horizontally on the outside of the wall. They are usually of rectangular section with parallel sides...
, still in situ at the nearby Pell Green chapel. The plain façade, facing northeast, has three equally spaced windows with round heads and wooden shutters. The double doorway, between the left and middle windows, has a flat canopy; another door to the right is a later addition, as is a lean-to
Lean-to
A lean-to is a term used to describe a roof with a single slope. The term also applies to a variety of structures that are built using a lean-to roof....
structure (originally housing 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....
) on the northwest side. In the "nicely furnished interior", a "rather high" 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...
originally stood between two windows in the rear wall. The roof has a bracketed
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...
cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
.