The Wesley Chapel on Priory Street, in the
Bishophill
Bishophill is an area of central York, in England. It lies within the city walls and has been occupied since at least the Roman period.
Etymology
Known as "Bichill" by 1334, the name was also recorded as "Bychehill Lomelyth", "Lomelyth" being ...
area of
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
, in England, is a
Grade II* listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
building.
The church was built in 1856, on the newly-developed Priory Street, the area having formerly been part of the grounds of the
Holy Trinity Priory
The Holy Trinity Priory, also known as Christchurch Aldgate, was a priory of Austin canons ( Black Canons) founded around 1108 by the English queen Matilda of Scotland near Aldgate in London.[Sunday school
]
A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes.
Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...]
, and a house for a preacher. The design was by James Simpson, and it cost £10,936.
The chapel is built of brick, in a classical style, with a stone pediment, and stone around the windows and doors. The front is of five bays, and two storeys. It has three main entrance doors, and two arched windows on the ground floor, and three arched windows above. The left and right facades are of seven bays, but designed in a similar manner. Inside, the foyer is fully panelled, with a glazed screen separating it from the auditorium. The screen incorporates a memorial panel to congregation members killed in
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Doors in the side of the screen lead to staircases up to an oval gallery. This is above the auditorium, which retains its original pews, and have stained glass in every window except one, much in an
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...
style.
Later in the 19th century, a lecture hall was added at the rear of the building, its design possibly by G. T. Andrews. In 1892, a new organ, built by James Binns, was installed, and the buildings were extended in 1907 and 1910. In 1914, a new porch was added.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the school was taken over by the council, as the
Manor Secondary Modern School, and that building is now the separate Priory Centre.
The chapel was originally part of the York Circuit of the
Wesleyan Methodist Church. In 1867, it became the head of the new York Wesley Circuit, covering the city west of the
River Ouse. In 1932, the Wesleyan Methodists became part of the new
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a Protestantism, Protestant List of Christian denominations, Christian denomination in Britain, and the mother church to Methodism, Methodists worldwide. It participates in the World Methodist Council.
M ...
, and the chapel headed the revised Wesley Circuit. The chapel closed in 1982, with its congregation transferring to the
Central Methodist Church. It was purchased by a congregation linked to the
Assemblies of God
The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), commonly known as the Assemblies of God (AG), is a global cooperative body or communion of over 170 Pentecostal denominations that was established on August 15, 1989. The WAGF was created to provi ...
, and was renamed as the Assembly of God Church, then in 1993 it was renamed as the Rock Church. At this point, it was still part of the Assemblies of God, but aimed to offer a more contemporary expression of worship, with rock music and a dance academy. By 2006, it claimed an average weekly attendance of 250 adults. In 2018, it was again renamed, as QChurch.
See also
*
References
External links
*
{{Churches in York
Grade II* listed churches in York
Methodist churches in North Yorkshire
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1856