The History of Kendal Chapel

Kendal Chapel has a long history and has stood for nearly 300 years.

In 1687, a permanent Dissenting congregation was founded at Kendal, but
there was, at the time, no permanent Meeting House. Some dated pew-ends,
now in the Chapel vestry, suggest that a permanent home was found in
1691, although the site of this is unknown.

The present Kendal Unitarian Chapel was built in 1720, during the ministry
of Rev. Caleb Rotheram.

The money for the purchase of the ground and building was raised by
subscription and the sale of chapel seats. One interesting list records the
assistance received from "our brethren far afield" who raised £132.14s.4d".
A total of £166.17s.6d was collected at Kendal, and the sale of seats
produced £94.10s - a total of £394.1s.10d. The Minister paid for the pulpit
and sounding board, and the ladies of the congregation purchased
a cushion for the pulpit.

In 1733, Rev. Rotheram began his Academy. According to the 'Dictionary
of National Biography' Rev. Rotheram educated about one hundred and
twenty laymen and fifty-six divinity, students.

Two years after the ministers death in 1752, Rev. Caleb Rotheram Jr.
became Minister of this Chapel, and in 1785 he started a Sunday School.

In 1786 sixteen ladies of the congregation purchased a crimson cushion
and cloth for the pulpit, and a green cloth for the desk, for the sum £8.12s.

The chapel yard was originally used as a burial ground, but in 1791 it was
decided that the Chapel Yard was inadequate for the burial needs of the
congregation, and on May 3rd the Minister and Chapel Wardens resolved:
"That the ground adjoining the Chapel being not more than sufficient for
the burial of the dead who have been members of the said Society, for
the future no persons be interred there who have not usually attended
religious worship in the said Chapel - and their families."

Rev. Caleb Rotheram Jr. died on 30 January 1796 aged sixty-three years,
after forty years as Minister of this Chapel, and is buried in the Chapel Yard.

During the time of the next Minister, Rev. John Harrison, who is also
buried in the Chapel Yard, an occasional worshipper was the poet
William Wordsworth. An Act of Parliament, passed in 1837, enabled
marriages to be solemnised in non-conformist places of worship, and
the "separate building, commonly called and known by the name of the
Unitarian Chapel, situated at the east side of the Market Place in Kendal"
was, on 4th July 1837, duly registered for this purpose.

In 1838 the Unitarian congregation was threatened with the loss of the
Chapel and its endowments to orthodox Calvinistic Presbyterians, who
believed that they had a moral right to the chapel because they thought their
theological views were closer to those of the chapel's founders than those
of the Unitarian congregation. In their defence, the congregation referred to
the original chapel deeds to ascertain the views and intentions of the founders
of the congregation.

The Unitarians found that their trust deed contained no doctrinal tests.
It was generally thought that these were omitted because their ancestors
believed in religious liberty, and had no desire to fetter the beliefs of their
successors. The Unitarians, therefore, held that they were morally and
legally entitled to the benefits of a foundation deliberately left unfettered
by tests. Also the Unitarians had historic continuity with the founders of
the Chapel. The pews they sat in had belonged to their ancestors since
the building of the Chapel. They had been baptised in the Chapel, and
their fathers and grandfathers were buried in the Chapel Yard.

With no legal protection, Unitarian Chapels were vulnerable to falling into
the hands of various sects of Trinitarian Dissenters. However, a vigorous
agitation sprang up for the alteration of the Law, and eventually the Dissenters
Chapel Act was passed. The Act received the Royal Assent on 19 July 1844,
the Unitarians, therefore, remained in possession of the Market Place Chapel.

The congregation then set about the long neglected work of putting their
property in good repair. It was probably on this occasion that "the Chapel
was re-roofed, the walls stone finished, and an organ purchased which
had been in use in the old Roman Catholic Church". The first organist
was William G. Gardside, engraver in stone, a signed specimen of
whose work as a monumental mason is now on the Chapel wall.

On February 14th 1869, the Sunday School was re-established with 14
children. By May the number had increased to 38 children with 12 teachers.

In September 1881, the Chapel was closed for the purpose of "improving
the barn-like appearance of the ceiling, putting in a new heating apparatus in
place of unsightly stoves, and erecting a new organ, removing the antiquated
leaden windows and the dilapidated seats on the cold flag floor".
The cost of the refurbishment was almost £1000.00.

The renovation created the chapel we see today.
The following account was given in the "Unitarian Herald",
. . all the old fashioned seats and the three decker pulpit having been removed,
the new seats are made of the finest figured pitch-pine, open ends, with
sloping and moulded backs. The neat pitch-pine rails to the communion,
with the gilded ornamental brackets and the drapery about the reading desk,
give this part of the Chapel a very handsome appearance.

The ceiling of the Chapel is divided into panels and beaded, and panelled
pilasters with ornamental capitals are carried down from each beam to the
floor. In addition to the above has been built a very handsome stone porch,
which is lighted with two three lighted stone mullioned windows, filled in with
coloured glass. The doors in the porch are hung in two, and are of a very
beautiful design with drapery panels.

A new organ was fitted by its builders Messrs. Wilkinson & Sons of Kendal.
The Chapel was re-opened on Thursday, 16th March 1882.
Mr. Wilkinson, the builder of the organ, presided thereat, and well proved
its qualities by skilful performance."

During the same month, the foundation stone of the Sunday School
was laid, and the following account shows the intentions of the builders.
"The Schoolroom at the east side of the Chapel . . . will be entirely lighted
from the roof with coloured glass. The ceiling will be a fine dome shaped
one, with enriched twelve panelled pilasters ornamented with twelve beautiful
Corinthian capitals. Round the dome above the frieze will be fixed foliage
leaves about 18 inches high....The Schoolroom will be panelled all round
with the best figured pitch-pine about 3 feet 6 inches high.

At one end there will be a raised platform about 22 feet by 12 feet for the
purpose of recitals . . . There will also be two extra rooms at the end of the
Schoolroom for use when tea parties are held . . . and it will be, when
completed, one of the handsomest schoolrooms either in this town or
"neighbourhood". The cost of the restoration and building was £1765.00

The schoolroom is still used today, and is a fine example of
Victorian architecture.

Little is known of the history of the Chapel from 1916 - 1944.

Some time during the period 1945-50, in the time of Rev. Deakin's ministry,
it was decided to move the box tombs in front of the Chapel, and make the
area a 'Garden of Remembrance' by planting shrubs and flowers.

In 1958, additional support for the Chapel roof necessitated the reconstruction
of the Chapel ceiling and further renovation, at a cost of just over £2000.00.

The Chapel memorial lights, designed by the then Minister, Rev. T.M. Wardle,
were placed on the walls in 1959 and were donated by members of the
congregation in memory of loved ones.

The symbols show:

| The Cross of Christ | Star of Bethlehem | The Dove | The Fish |
| Alpha and Omega | The Universal Cross | Flaming Chalice | The Scourges |

In 1997, a local amateur glass enthusiast, Mr. John Parker of Bowness
on-Windermere, renovated the Victorian stained windows in the porch.

Following a request in 2000 for the remains of an orthodox Christian
to be interred, the side garden was dedicated as a "Multi-Faith Garden
of Remembrance". The ashes of several people of different faiths now rest
in this beautiful garden.

In 2003 new inner gates incorporating the flaming chalice, were made
by a local craftsman, and in 2006 the schoolroom was extended to provide
more up-to-date facilities and disabled access.

The chapel and schoolroom are listed buildings. They are open to the public
when the chapel is open (Wed, Sat and Sun AM), or by arrangement.
The chapel is also open during the English Heritage Weekend in September.