Jenkin Chapel

Jenkin Chapel is an Anglican chapel in Rainow with a three-stage tower and a two-story nave built from local stone. The structure resembles a Georgian farmhouse in design, giving it the appearance of a rural dwelling rather than a typical place of worship.

Local farmers built this chapel in 1733 at the junction of three ancient trackways used to move salt by packhorse. A tower was added to the structure in 1755, completing its present form.

Inside, you can see box pews, an octagonal pulpit, and a carved reading desk from the 1700s that show how people worshipped and arranged their religious spaces. These original features give you a real sense of what services felt like in that time.

Evensong services take place at 3 PM on the second and fourth Sundays from Easter through Christmas. To explore the interior more thoroughly or arrange a guided tour, contact ahead to make arrangements.

The chapel sits isolated on the western slopes of the Pennines, surrounded by a belt of trees on otherwise bare hillside. This remote setting gives the place a quiet, windswept character that visitors often find unexpected and moving.

Location: Rainow

Inception: 1755

Website: http://achurchnearyou.com/saltersford-st-john-the-baptist

GPS coordinates: 53.28626,-2.02566

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:46