Chowbent Chapel

Chowbent Chapel is an active Unitarian place of worship in Atherton, Greater Manchester, England.

[6] In 1721 Richard Atherton, a staunch supporter of James II, expelled the congregation on political grounds.

[3] The chapel dates from 1721 on land donated by Nathan Mort of neighbouring Alder House[7] It is built in rustic brick, in Flemish bond on a rubble sandstone plinth, with stone quoins, an eaves cornice and a slate roof.

[2] Nikolaus Pevsner considers the chapel "has the best-preserved C18 ecclesiastical interior in South Lancashire".

[8] The original box pews are in place upstairs and down, there is a three tier pulpit on the north wall.

[8] When newly built, the chapel's oak rafters and trusses were open to view, its walls were whitewashed and the windows contained leaded panes of clear glass set in a lozenge pattern.

[11] Apart from Wood, other notable ministers of the chapel included Harry Toulmin (1766 – 1823) who moved to America and became Secretary of State of Kentucky[12] and Thomas Walker Horsfield (1792–1837) a historian and topographer.