SHROPSHIRE NONCONFORMIST CHAPELS

[former] Baptist Chapel, English Walls, Oswestry The first Baptist chapel on this site was opened in 1806 on land given by John Roberts (who lies buried behind the chapel). The chapel was enlarged in 1818. In 1851 there was seating for about 340 worshippers. On Census Sunday 30 March 1851 there were 92 worshippers at their mornng service and 107 at their evening one, plus 22 children at the Sunday School in the morning. In 1855 it was described as having two galleries. The chapel was enlarged again in 1867, when it was said that the "external appearance has been greatly improved by architectural embellishments by Messrs W. & J. Morris and Chaplin, builders, of Oswestry". In 1871 the mayor of Oswestry presented the chapel with an organ. Services continued there until a new Baptist chapel was opened in Salop Road in 1892. In April 1897 the chapel was up for auction but was withdrawn when the bidding reached £660. The chapel in this photograph has been used for other purposes since then, including, in recent years, as offices of the National Farmers Union. The whole site was redeveloped & re-opened in 2001. The building is now used for commercial purposes. Grid ref: SJ 290294

All the photographs on this website are copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the copyright owner.

To return to the main page, click here