St Cleer Bible Christian chapel

St Cleer Bible Christian Chapel opened in 1846 and carries a datestone declaring BC CHAPEL 1846. Built of slate rubble with granite, and with a hipped roof, it has an almost square footprint.

It is a Grade II Listed Building and you can see a description and picture here.  It tells us that it has an “exceptionally well-preserved interior, with gallery and good quality original fittings rare for this date and for completeness, including box pews and leader’s pews.”

Jo Lewis adds:

An imposing building  on the left side as you exit the west of the village taking the right fork  and seen on maps as Hocking House.

Built as a Bible Christian Chapel in 1846 (as per date stone), this had an associated Sunday school which sits next to it (left of where this picture was taken) which is now a private residence;

There are Sunday school records to 1942

After the Bible Christian Connexion joined with the United Methodist Free Church and the Methodist New Connexion in 1907, the chapel was a United Methodist Church, until 1932. Presumably it included the congregation from the United Methodist Free Church  on Well Street which closed in 1905.

In 1932 the United chapel became Hockings House Methodist Church. The Church closed and the premises were sold c2005.

In the tiny yard at the front of the chapel there are several burials with memorial stones.

Street View in 2010 shows it complete, but boarded up.  Damaging partial conversion works preceded its further sale in 2012. Lengthy negotiations are currently ongoing with the current owner about the possible extent of conversion, although currently no further communication. The building has deteriorated in the interim with its roof falling into a very poor state, with consequential damage occurring to the interior. Listed Building Consent was granted in 2015 for roof repairs, completed in 2017.

It is still owned by the developer.

Grid Reference: SX2432468210