Church in Cheshire, England
The Guildhall , formerly Holy Trinity Church , is a redundant church in Watergate in the city of Chester , Cheshire , England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building .[ 1] The church closed in 1960, became known as the Guildhall, and was converted to be used for secular purposes.
The original building, which had a north aisle , probably dated from the late 12th century.[ 2] The east end and south side were rebuilt in 1678.[ 2] This church had a spire which was rebuilt in the 1770s but in 1811 was taken down for reasons of safety.[ 3] The present church was built between 1865 and 1869 to a design by James Harrison . He died before it was finished and the church was completed by the firm of Kelly and Edwards of Chester.[ 1]
After the church deconsecrated in 1960, it was taken on by the Freemen and Guilds of the City of Chester in the late 1960s[ 4] and converted into two halls, the Major Hall and the Lower Hall, for a variety of secular uses, including conferences, receptions, dances, and concerts.[ 5]
In October 2011 the Freemen and Guilds of the City of Chester handed responsibility for the building back to the local council but secured continued access for banquets and other important functions.[ 6] A new members' bar, branded as "The Guild Chester", opened in the guildhall in October 2019.[ 7] [ 8]
It is built in red sandstone with grey slate roofs. Its plan consists of a continuous nave and chancel with a clerestory , a west porch, a detached south spire and porch, and a vestry to the south. The tower has three stages with double doors to the east and above this a relief sculpture of Christ enthroned. The second stage has a lancet window and clock faces to the east and south. The third stage has two-light bell-openings, corner buttresses , a pierced parapet and a recessed octagonal stone spire with three lucarnes to each face.[ 1]
Most of the fittings have been removed. The east window, dated 1885, is by Kempe ,[ 9] and depicts God and major Old Testament figures and saints.[ 1] Now hidden by flooring is a memorial to John Whitmore who died in 1374.[ 9] [ 10] The former chancel screen and the reredos are also hidden.[ 1] There is a burial vault under the building which dates back to when the church was built.[ 7] [ 11]
^ a b c d e Historic England , "Guildhall, Chester (1376467)" , National Heritage List for England , retrieved 22 February 2012
^ a b Barrow, J S; Herson, J D; Lawes, A H; Riden, P J; Seaborne, M V J (2005). " 'Churches and religious bodies: Medieval parish churches', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 2, the City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions, ed. A T Thacker and C P Lewis" . London: British History Online. pp. 133–156. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ Salter, Mark (1995), The Old Parish Churches of Cheshire , Malvern: Folly Publications, p. 29, ISBN 1-871731-23-2
^ "Work begins on access for community facility" . Daily Post. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ "About us" . Chester Guildhall. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ "Chester Guildhall could reopen as a venue once repairs are complete" . Cheshire Live. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ a b "New members' bar The Guild Chester invites people to join for free" . Cheshire Live. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ "Chester's historic Guildhall is transformed into stunning new bar" . Cheshire Live. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ a b Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward ; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire , The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press , p. 241, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
^ Lewis, C P; Thacker, A T (2003). " 'Later medieval Chester 1230-1550: Religion, 1230-1550', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 1, the City of Chester: General History and Topography" . London: British History Online. pp. 80–89. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
^ "Watch: Big plans for Chester's Guild Hall" . ITV. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2020 .
Churches in Cheshire
St Mary's Church, Acton
Alderley Edge Methodist Church
St Philip's Church, Alderley Edge
St John the Baptist's Church, Aldford
Christ Church, Alsager
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Alsager
St John the Evangelist's Church, Alvanley
St Mark's Church, Antrobus
St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn
St Elizabeth's Church, Ashley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Ashton Hayes
St Mary's Church, Astbury
St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton
Audlem Baptist Church
St James' Church, Audlem
St Oswald's Church, Backford
St Michael's Church, Baddiley
Christ Church, Barnton
St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow
St Bertoline's Church, Barthomley
Holy Trinity Church, Bickerton
St Wenefrede's Church, Bickley
Bollington Methodist Church
St John the Baptist's Church, Bollington
St Oswald's Church, Bollington
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bosley
St Paul's Church, Boughton
St Oswald's Church, Brereton
Brown Knowl Methodist Church
St Mary's Church, Bruera
St Boniface's Church, Bunbury
St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Burleydam
St Nicholas' Church, Burton
St John's Church, Burwardsley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Byley
Holy Trinity Church, Capenhurst
Holy Trinity Chapel, Capesthorne
St John the Evangelist's Church, Chelford
English Presbyterian Church of Wales, Chester
Chester Cathedral
Christ Church, Chester
Holy Trinity Church, Chester
Northgate Church, Chester
St Andrew's Church, Chester
St Francis' Church, Chester
St John the Baptist's Church, Chester
St Peter's Church, Chester
Church of St Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester
St Michael's Church, Chester
St Nicholas' Chapel, Chester
St Olave's Church, Chester
St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester
St Werburgh's Church, Chester
Welsh Presbyterian Church, Chester
Zion Chapel, Chester
St Nicholas' Chapel, Cholmondeley
St James' Church, Christleton
All Saints Church, Church Lawton
St Bartholomew's Church, Church Minshull
St Mary's Church, Coddington
St Mary's Church, Congleton
St Peter's Church, Congleton
St Michael's Church, Coppenhall
St John's Church, Cotebrook
St Barnabas' Church, Crewe
St Mary's Church, Crewe
St Peter's Church, Crewe
Union Street Baptist Church, Crewe
St Michael and All Angels Church, Crewe Green
Christ Church, Croft
Christ Church, Crowton
All Saints' Church, Daresbury
St Wilfrid's Church, Davenham
St Peter's Church, Delamere
St Mary's Church, Disley
St Michael's Church, Ditton
St John's Church, Doddington
St Mary's Church, Dodleston
St Luke's Church, Dunham on the Hill
Christ Church, Eaton
St Mary's Church, Eccleston
Christ Church, Ellesmere Port
St Chad's Church, Farndon
St Luke's Church, Farnworth
Forest Chapel
St Laurence's Church, Frodsham
St James' Church, Gawsworth
St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall
St Luke's Church, Goostrey
St Mary and All Saints' Church, Great Budworth
All Saints Church, Great Saughall
Baptist Chapel, Great Warford
St John the Baptist's Church, Guilden Sutton
St Mary's Church, Hale
St Mary's Church, Halton
St Mary's Church, Handbridge
All Saints Church, Handley
St Peter's Church, Hargrave
St John's Church, Hartford
All Saints Church, Harthill
St Matthew's Church, Haslington
St Philip's Church, Hassall Green
St Paul's Church, Helsby
St Thomas' Church, Henbury
St John's Church, High Legh
St Mary's Chapel, High Legh
St Luke's Church, Holmes Chapel
Church of St Mary of the Angels, Hooton
St Michael's Church, Hulme Walfield
Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield
St James' Church, Ince
St Philip's Church, Kelsall
St John the Evangelist's Church, Kingsley
Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford
St Cross Church, Knutsford
St John the Baptist's Church, Knutsford
St Peter's Church, Little Budworth
St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Leigh
St Oswald's Church, Lower Peover
St Luke's Church, Lower Whitley
Lymm Baptist Church
St Mary's Church, Lymm
King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield
St Alban's Church, Macclesfield
St George's Church, Macclesfield
St Michael's Church, Macclesfield
St Paul's Church, Macclesfield
St Peter's Church, Macclesfield
Macclesfield United Reformed Church
St Oswald's Church, Malpas
St Michael's Church, Marbury
St James' and St Paul's Church, Marton
St Michael and All Angels, Middlewich
St Peter's Church, Minshull Vernon
Minshull Vernon United Reformed Church
St Wilfrid's Church, Mobberley
St Stephen's Church, Moulton
St Mary's Church, Nantwich
St Mary's and St Helen's Church, Neston
St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley
St John the Evangelist's Church, Norley
St Michael's Church, North Rode
Holy Trinity Church, Northwich
St Helen Witton Church, Northwich
St Luke's Church, Oakhanger
St Peter's Church, Oughtrington
St Catherine's Church, Over Alderley
St Lawrence's Church, Over Peover
St Paul's Church, Over Tabley
St Chad's Church, Over
Over United Reformed Church
St Thomas' Church, Parkgate
St Peter's Church, Plemstall
Poole Methodist Chapel
St Christopher's Church, Pott Shrigley
St George's Church, Poynton
St Peter's Church, Prestbury
St Mary's Church, Pulford
Holy Trinity Church, Rainow
St Mary's Church, Rostherne
All Saints' Church, Runcorn
Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn
Jenkin Chapel
St Mary's Church, Sandbach
Sandbach Methodist Church
St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandbach Heath
St John the Evangelist's Church, Sandiway
All Saints Church, Scholar Green
St Edith's Church, Shocklach
St Michael's Church, Shotwick
All Saints Church, Siddington
St John the Baptist's Church, Smallwood
All Saints Chapel, Somerford
St Lawrence's Church, Stoak
St Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath
St Matthew's Church, Stretton
St Peter's Church, Swettenham
St Peter's Church, Tabley
St Helen's Church, Tarporley
St Andrew's Church, Tarvin
St Alban's Church, Tattenhall
All Saints Church, Thelwall
St Mary's Church, Thornton-le-Moors
St John's Church, Threapwood
St Mary's Church, Tilston
St Jude's Church, Tilstone Fearnall
St John the Evangelist's Church, Toft
St Chad's Chapel, Tushingham
St Chad's Church, Tushingham
Holy Ascension Church, Upton-by-Chester
St Leonard's Church, Warmingham
Holy Trinity Church, Warrington
St Alban's Church, Warrington
St Elphin's Church, Warrington
St John the Evangelist's Church, Warrington
St Mary's Church, Warrington
St Peter's Church, Waverton
Methodist Church, Weaverham
St Mary's Church, Weaverham
Wesley Methodist Church, Chester
All Saints' Church, Weston, Cheshire
St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston
Christ Church, Wheelock
St Mary's Church, Whitegate
St Ambrose Church, Widnes
St Bede's Church, Widnes
St Marie's Church, Widnes
St Mary's Church, Widnes
St Saviour's Church, Wildboarclough
Christ Church, Willaston
Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow
St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow
St Michael's Church, Wincle
St John the Evangelist's Church, Winsford
St Oswald's Church, Winwick
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wistaston
St Oswald's Church, Worleston
St Margaret's Church, Wrenbury