St Paul's Church, Sheffield
Encyclopedia
St Paul's Church, Sheffield, was a chapel of ease
to Sheffield Parish Church.
By 1700, Sheffield
's population had reached 5,000, and a second Anglican place of worship was required to house a growing congregation. A site on the southern edge of the town was selected, facing on to Pinstone Lane (later redeveloped as Pinstone Street
). A public subscription was raised, and St Paul's was largely completed by 1721. The church was built in the Baroque
style, with the street frontage dominated by an Italianate tower. The chapel had seating for 1,200 people.
A dispute over patronage
prevented the chapel from opening until 1740. Robert Downes, a local goldsmith
, had paid £1,000 towards its construction and promised a further £30 a year, on condition that he and his descendants would have the right to appoint its minister. However, the Vicar of Sheffield objected that, as St Paul's was a chapel of ease to his own church, he had the right to appoint a minister. In 1739, angered by the stand-off, Downes threatened to open the building as a chapel for Dissenters. A compromise was finally reached that the Vicar would have the right to choose the minister, but that the first minister would be a relative of Downes. This required an Act of Parliament
, following which, it was consecrated to Saint Paul on 22 May 1740.
A John Snetzler
organ
was installed in 1755. A dome
was added to the chapel's tower in 1769. In 1824, the church was placed in its own parish
. A memorial to Reverend Alexander Mackenzie, designed by Francis Legatt Chantrey
, was added around this time.
Following slum clearance in the 1930s, the church's congregation slumped, and St Paul's closed in 1937. It was demolished the following year, and the St Paul's Gardens were laid out on the site, later becoming known as the Peace Gardens
. The organ was removed to All Saints in Wingerworth
, while the Chantrey memorial was moved to Sheffield Cathedral.
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to Sheffield Parish Church.
By 1700, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
's population had reached 5,000, and a second Anglican place of worship was required to house a growing congregation. A site on the southern edge of the town was selected, facing on to Pinstone Lane (later redeveloped as Pinstone Street
Pinstone Street
Pinstone Street is located in Sheffield, England. It connects the two shopping areas of Fargate and The Moor in the centre of the city. Originally known as Pinstone Lane, its eastern side is home to Sheffield Town Hall and the Peace Gardens....
). A public subscription was raised, and St Paul's was largely completed by 1721. The church was built in the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style, with the street frontage dominated by an Italianate tower. The chapel had seating for 1,200 people.
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
prevented the chapel from opening until 1740. Robert Downes, a local goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
, had paid £1,000 towards its construction and promised a further £30 a year, on condition that he and his descendants would have the right to appoint its minister. However, the Vicar of Sheffield objected that, as St Paul's was a chapel of ease to his own church, he had the right to appoint a minister. In 1739, angered by the stand-off, Downes threatened to open the building as a chapel for Dissenters. A compromise was finally reached that the Vicar would have the right to choose the minister, but that the first minister would be a relative of Downes. This required an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
, following which, it was consecrated to Saint Paul on 22 May 1740.
A John Snetzler
John Snetzler
John Snetzler was an organ builder of Swiss origin who worked mostly in England.He was born in Schaffhausen, in 1710 and died in Schaffhausen, 28 September 1785...
organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was installed in 1755. A dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
was added to the chapel's tower in 1769. In 1824, the church was placed in its own parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. A memorial to Reverend Alexander Mackenzie, designed by Francis Legatt Chantrey
Francis Legatt Chantrey
Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey was an English sculptor of the Georgian era. He left the Chantrey Bequest or Chantrey Fund for the purchase of works of art for the nation, which was available from 1878 after the death of his widow.-Life:Francis Leggatt Chantrey was born at Norton near Sheffield ,...
, was added around this time.
Following slum clearance in the 1930s, the church's congregation slumped, and St Paul's closed in 1937. It was demolished the following year, and the St Paul's Gardens were laid out on the site, later becoming known as the Peace Gardens
Peace Gardens
The Peace Gardens are an inner city square in Sheffield, England. It was created as part of the Heart of the City project by Sheffield City Council....
. The organ was removed to All Saints in Wingerworth
Wingerworth
Wingerworth is a relatively large village and parish near to Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. It is one of the largest and most populous villages in the district of North East Derbyshire. Wingerworth is only two miles south west of the town of Chesterfield, 12 miles south of Sheffield and 120...
, while the Chantrey memorial was moved to Sheffield Cathedral.