GATEACRE CHAPEL (continued)

The source of the design? Too little is known of architects working in Liverpool before 1700 (one shadowy figure emerges in 1700) but for other reasons it seems unlikely that the design had its inspiration there. The Warrington Classis set up about 1646-7, though no longer part of the national church, was still the regular meeting place for Presbyterian Ministers for this district, so, no doubt, when the proposal to build a Chapel at Gateacre became a practical possibility in the later 1690s the leading men of the congregation and their Minister found guidance there from others who had been building similar Chapels.

It could be that attached to the Classis meetings was someone who could fulfil the role of Consultant Architect when required. But even without an architect, those meetings would provide an opportunity to discuss such matters as: 1) how large a building would be needed for the estimated size of congregation; 2) what sort of layout of seating had been found to serve best; 3) where, and how big, should the pulpit be; 4) how many windows should there be, their size and disposition, and; 5) most important - how much would it all cost. Many chapels were being built at this time, and a body of experience was becoming available. Even if there were few new chapels yet in the Warrington district, the Classis meetings would be opportunities to discuss chapels in the wider area, and to hear about new building all over the country and, maybe, to arrange to visit one or two good examples.

Architectural Description - We now see Gateacre Chapel (listed Grade II by the D.o.E.) as a plain and simple rectangular building of red sandstone, 45½ ft. by 33 ft., 20 ft. high to the eaves, with a Vestry at the East end, a West Gallery, East-west orientation of the interior with Communion Table, small Organ and Pulpit. In the North side wall are two segmental headed windows (internally a niche between them), in the South wall three windows, in the East end one window at a higher level, and at the West a "Venetian" type of window with, externally, 2 ashlar buttresses. We also have a list of alterations (with dates) so that if we work backwards through them we may be able to find our way to the original building as it was in 1700.

1953: The most recent major work was the rebuilding of the roof after the structure was declared dangerous by the City Surveyor owing to the ravages of death-watch beetle. Externally the line of the roof was unaltered, but the green slates replace original stone flags; internally the shape of the ceiling dates from 1953; the structure is now steel replacing original timbers.

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