Providence Chapel, Charlwood

Providence Chapel is a single-story wooden structure featuring weatherboarded walls, a slate roof, and a seven-bay veranda supported by timber pillars. The building displays local craftsmanship with its carefully detailed exterior.

The building began as a military guardhouse in Horsham in 1797 before being relocated to Charlwood by horse-drawn wagons in 1815. Upon arrival, it was converted into a chapel for the local Nonconformist congregation.

The chapel represents the Nonconformist religious tradition, having served Independent Calvinists and Strict Baptists as their meeting place for generations.

The chapel is not regularly open to the public and visits need to be arranged in advance. Contact Helen McKenna, the Trust Secretary, to coordinate a visit at your preferred time.

The interior preserves original 19th-century features including an octagonal pulpit, box pews, and early fireplaces in the vestries. These details reveal how the congregation furnished their meeting space when it first opened.