Rook Lane Chapel

Rook Lane Chapel was a place of worship, and is now an arts centre, in Frome, Somerset, England.

Rook Lane Chapel
Two story symmetrical building with two tiers of seven windows. Leading up is a driveway with grass and shrubs on either side.
Chapel front, following renovation
General information
LocationFrome, Somerset, England
Construction started1705
Completed1707
Website
rooklane.org.uk

Built in 1707 by James Pope[1] the chapel was the place of worship for nonconformists.[2] In 1717 there were a thousand ‘hearers’ in the congregation. In 1773, a split in the congregation of Rook Lane led to the establishment of another Congregational Church, Zion, in Whittox Lane.[3] As other chapels opened, however, there was a gradual decline in attendees and in 1933 the pastor's salary was reduced by £20 to £205 (equivalent to £20,000 in 2021).[4] In 1965 the chapel merged with the Zion Chapel and Rook Lane eventually closed in 1968.[1][5] It was sold to developers but they were unable to secure planning permission for proposed future uses. Lead and tiles were stolen from the roof, vandals broke in, smashed all the memorials and brought down the gallery.

The building was square with two pillars supporting the roof and a gallery around three sides.[6] There are two tiers of seven windows, and a central pediment spanning five windows. Side lobbies were added in a matching style in 1862 for stairs to the gallery. Over the main door is an inscription from Ecclesiastes 5:1: "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God".[7] There is a domed roof structure which is still intact. It is said that this chapel was locally known as "The Cupola".[8]

It was bought by the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust which, with help from a grant from English Heritage, restored the Grade I listed building.[7] The building is now owned by NVB, a firm of architects, who have converted it into a community facility for exhibitions, receptions, meetings and concerts, including chamber music,[9] on the ground floor now run by the architects practice with this function known as Rook Lane. www.rooklane.org.uk The galleried upper floor is used as office space by the architects. The building is also licensed for weddings.[10]

References
  1. "Rook Lane Chapel, Frome". Institute of Historic Building Conservation. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. "Rook Lane Arts". Creative Frome. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  3. Goodall, Rodney. The buildings of Frome, 2nd Ed. Frome: Frome society for local study. p. 149. ISBN 0-9510157-5-3.
  4. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. "Rook Lane Chapel, Frome". Somerset Building Preservation Trust. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  6. Historic England. "Former Rook Lane Congregational Chapel (1167729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  7. "Rook Lane Chapel, Frome". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2006.
  8. "Former Rook Lane Congregational Chapel, Bath Street (West side), Frome". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  9. "Rook Lane Chapel". Frome Concerts Group. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  10. "Weddings at Rook Lane Chapel". Rook Lane. Retrieved 14 December 2014.

51°13′47″N 2°19′21″W

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