Southover General Baptist Chapel

Southover General Baptist Chapel is a former meetinghouse in Lewes built with knapped flint walls and red brick corners topped by a hipped tiled roof. The small, unadorned structure shows the modest building approach typical of early Baptist assembly halls.

The chapel was founded in 1741 as the first Baptist meeting place in the region. Within roughly 80 years, the congregation's beliefs shifted, leading to new forms of religious practice in the area.

This chapel served the Protestant Nonconformist movement in Sussex, offering a meeting place for believers who separated from the state church. The space reflects the simple, straightforward approach that such independent congregations favored in their worship.

The building is now a private residence and not open to the public, but it remains visible from outside in Southover, a residential area of Lewes. Its flint and brick facade stands out as you walk through the neighborhood.

Inside the house are original engraved bricks from 1741 bearing the names and dates of early congregation members. These carved inscriptions document the people who founded and used this meeting place.

Location: Lewes

Inception: 1741

Architectural style: vernacular architecture

GPS coordinates: 50.87001,0.00824

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:40