Highfield Independent Chapel, Huddersfield

History

Highfield Chapel Huddersfield (1772-1843).jpg

The original Highfield Chapel was built in 1771 at a cost of £827 and opened at the start of 1772. It was the first Dissenters' church to be built in the town

The chapel was enlarged in 1791 at a cost of £350 and an adjacent Sunday School was built in 1812.[1]

In 1843 it was taken down and replaced by the current building at a cost of around £7,000. During the rebuild, the congregation worshipped at the Independent Chapel on Ramsden Street.[2] By August 1843, the Leeds Mercury reported that the carpenters had laid the floor of the new gallery.[3]

The Sunday School was later rebuilt at a cost of £4,000 and reopened in 1865.[4]

The premises later became Highfield Congregational Church and then Highfield United Reformed Church. Following the closure of the church, the congregation amalgamated with St. James' Presbyterian Church to form Highfield St James United Reformed Church.

In more recent years, the former chapel was converted into a set of apartment flats.

Further Reading

Historic England Listing

  • Grade II
  • first listed 29 September 1978
  • listing entry number 1229042

NEW NORTH ROAD (North Side). Highfield. Highfield United Reformed Church. Mid C19. Ashlar. Hipped slate roof. Two storeys. Moulded eaves cornice and blocking course. Five bays of which end two break forward, and are framed by giant Tuscan pilasters and giant Ionic columns, on high plinths taking full entablature and massive parapets, each with four piers and pedimented centre, slightly broken back. These bays frame large panelled doors in moulded frames with segmental pediments, and above them one panel each, with moulded and shouldered frames. Central three bays have sashes with glazing bars, vertically linked in giant round- arched surrounds with moulded frames, and separated by moulded panels. Side elevations have similar giant round-arched windows, the 1st on each side continuous (ie without panels), the next three with plainer frames.

Gallery

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Records

  • Huddersfield & District Family History Society — burials 1733-1899
  • West Yorkshire Archive Service (reference: KCZ0023) — baptisms 1853-1935, burials 1773-1947, records re graveyards 1850-1981, minutes 1771-1977, membership records 1772-1973, financial records 1771-1978, educational records including Sunday School 1822-1977, Huddersfield Girls' College Company and Huddersfield College Company 1870-1885

Location

Notes and References

  1. Source: Kirklees Image Archive.
  2. "Brotherly Love" in Bradford Observer (09/Mar/1843).
  3. Leeds Mercury (19/Aug/1843).
  4. Discovering Old Huddersfield: Part Four (2000) by Gordon and Enid Minter, page 29.