Victoria Road, Leeds, England, United Kingdom
“The undertaking, including the erection of a minister’s residence, will entail an outlay of about £5,000. The chapel will be in the decorated Gothic style, and will have a stone facade. The gable will be flanked on each side by a turret, while at the north-east angle will be a tower 102ft. in height. The chapel will consist of nave, aisle, and transept, giving accommodation for 414 persons, while there will be gallery accommodation for an additional 296 persons. The main roof will be an open timber one supported on columns, with clerestory above. The schoolroom will be under the chapel, though lighted above the ground. The pews will be open, and all the woodwork of pitch pine. Mr W S Braithwaite, South Parade Leeds, is the architect, and the work has been let to the following contractors:- Messrs Hannam and Barber, masons and builders; Messrs H Atkinson and Son, carpenters and joiners; Mr J P Mountain, plasterer; Mr John Fox, plumber; Mr W Horsfall, ironfounder; and Mr James Season, slater.”
Building News 6.8.1886 p. 198
A later source described the existing building as “a rectangular structure of stone in a Romanesque style, with a gabled front; in the basement are schools, and in the rear vestries, etc”. In 1940 there was a chapel which seated 600 in pews, a school hall and six other rooms. Methodists were still using the chapel in 1949 but by 1971 it was occupied by Bethel United Church in Christ Jesus (Apostolic)
Sources
Kelly’s Directory of Leeds, 1893 p.769
Free Methodist Manual: London: Andrew Crombie, 1899 p 269, Leeds, West Circuit
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson Returns of Accommodation provided by Methodist Chapels and other Preaching Places, 1940/635 Leeds, Headingley Circuit
OS 25 inch Yorkshire CCXXX.11 1889
OS SE2835SE-A(1949) and B(1971)
Christopher Hill adds:
Leeds Bethel United Methodist Free Church was built in 1886. In 2021 on Street View it is Bethel Apostolic Church, having previously been the First United Church of Jesus Christ.
It is is an impressively tall but not very wide building which is Grade II Listed. You can read a detailed description and see a picture here.
Grid Reference: SE 28755 35460
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