Congregational Church (including attached Sunday School, gatepiers, walls and railings)

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on an elevated site on the N side of Ruabon with churchyard enclosed by high stone wall. Known as Hill Street Congregational Church.

History

The first Congregational Chapel in Ruabon was built in 1813 on Tan-y-Llan; in 1857 land was purchased from Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and a new chapel designed by W.I. Mason of Liverpool was built at a cost of ú1,400 and opened in 1858.

Exterior

Gothic Revival style. Roughly coursed and squared sandstone rubble, sandstone ashlar dressings, slate roof. T-shaped plan with schoolroom attached to rear. Gabled front with central wheel-window and recessed arched entrance in a buttressed and gables surround, on either side windows with simple tracery. Elevation to Pont Adam has three windows with simple tracery and an entrance to cellars at basement level, gabled end to school room has 3-light window with cusped heads. Rear elevation of schoolroom has 5-light mullioned and transomed window with arched heads.

Gate piers, gates, railings with fleur-de-lys finials and wall to Pont Adam form part of the ensemble.

Interior

Waggon roof with timber trusses rising from corbels set in the wall. Tall arched openings with original doors to each side of central pulpit.

Furnishings: Contemporary scheme with pitch-pine furnishings. Pews retain doors and enamelled number plates; pulpit with carved foliated panels said to be from the parish church of St. Mary's. Organ with painted and stencilled pipes by Wadsworth & Bro., Manchester. Chrome and glass electric lights of c1930. Schoolroom has inserted ceiling.

Reason for designation

Listed as a little altered mid-Victorian chapel with contemporary interior fittings