Description

CHESTER CITY (EM)

SJ46NW CHENEY ROAD
1932-1/2/43 (North side)
10/01/72 Chester College Chapel
(Formerly listed as:
PARKGATE ROAD
Chester College Chapel)

GV II*

College chapel. 1844-7. By JE Gregan of Manchester. Coursed red sandstone; graded Westmorland green slate roof.
Geometrical style. A hall-chapel with south-west bell-turret and north and south porches.
EXTERIOR: the west end has side of north porch with shoulder-arched occasional door; chapel has a 4-light window with tracery of 2 quatrefoils supporting a sexfoil; a trefoil in gable; cross finial; slender octagonal turret with loops to spiral stair and arched bell-opening in each face beneath a heavily crocketed spire. The south side of chapel has gabled porch in west bay with oak double doors on ornate hinges; shafts with stiff-leaf capitals; hoodmould to archway on head-corbels; diagonal buttresses; apex cross. The 5 bays to east have 2-light windows. The east end has a 5-light geometrical window; gable corss. The 2 east bays of the north side are detailed as south side; the college building adjoins the other bays, with the linking north porch to the west bay.
INTERIOR: Chester was the earliest Church of England College for training schoolteachers; the students played an active part in making the chapel furnishings which are well designed and executed, including the east window. The stalls face each other; oak dado of traceried panelling with rail inscribed: "Cleanse me from my sin: Sing ye praises with understanding: Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit: At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore: I am the Bread: I will wash my hands in innocency O LORD and so will I go to thine Altar: I am the Vine: there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness: Lord Jesus receive my spirit: Have mercy upon me Lord for I am weak: strengthen me with Thy free spirit: Make me a clean heart O GOD."
A tiered west gallery reached by the turret stair has a carved open-work front. The chapel has an encaustic tile floor; a traceried 3-gabled organ-case 1856 by Rev. TN Hutchinson; memorial head in circlet of Rev. Arthur Rigg, Principal for 30 years since inception of the College in 1839, by JS Westmacott; similar head of Dean Bellers 1854-1925, Diocesan Chancellor, plaque to Rev. JM Critchley, Vice Principal 1864-9 and Principal 1869-85; memorial to students killed in action 1914-19. On south side of gallery an oil painting after Reni of Michael casting out Satan and, north, after Rubens of the Deposition, given by the first Duke of Westminster 1883.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Chester College Chapel at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q15209539

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6