Capernwray Chapel

Capernwray Chapel is a sandstone Gothic Revival building in Over Kellet featuring a five-stage tower with clasping buttresses, decorative gargoyles, and a pyramidal roof topped by a weather vane. The rectangular structure includes a chancel and displays architectural details characteristic of its period.

Edmund Sharpe designed the rectangular structure in 1840 as the original chapel building. E.G. Paley later expanded it in 1856 by adding the distinctive tower and chancel that define its current appearance.

The chapel began as a private prayer space for Capernwray Hall residents and later became an independent Evangelical meeting place. This shift shows how local religious practices and the building's purpose changed over time.

The chapel stands next to Capernwray Hall and maintains its Grade II listed status, reflecting its protected heritage status. Visitors should be respectful as this remains an active place of worship with regular gatherings throughout the year.

During World War II, the chapel provided spiritual comfort to students from Ripley St Thomas School who were evacuated to the nearby Capernwray Hall. This wartime chapter added a layer of community significance to the building.

Location: Over Kellet

Inception: 1857

Architects: Edmund Sharpe

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 54.14400,-2.70290

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24