Description

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 ABBEY LANE
669-1/1/8 (North side)
01/11/72 United Reformed Church
(Formerly Listed as:
ABBEY LANE
Congregational Church)

GV II

Congregational chapel. 1811, altered 1888. Red brick, random
burnt headers, stucco front lined for ashlar, slate roofs. 3x3
bays, single storey, hipped roofed vestry to E. W front: has
open modillion pediment with anthemion at apex, centre bay
recessed under moulded round arch, side bays with windows set
in segmental arched recesses. Tetrastyle Ionic porch with
modillion cornice. 9-panelled double doors flanked by similar
single doors, with pilasters, panelled reveals. Fine cast-iron
Adam-style fanlights; semi-elliptical to centre, round-headed
to sides. Round-arched window over porch with moulded
architrave, pilaster jambs with moulded string course at level
of capitals; margin glazing. Side bays have 2-light mullion
and transom windows with moulded architraves, round-headed
margin glazed lights. Side elevations: have modillioned eaves,
ground floor and gallery windows in round-arched recesses with
2-light mullion and transom windows detailed as before, under
segmental rubbed brick arches. E end wall: has rebuilt
parapet, two 2-light windows, arched recesses detailed as
before. Abutting vestry has dentilled eaves, margin glazed
sash window in arched recesses to E, similar window and
inserted door to N; porch with slate roof and spiral columns
to S.
INTERIOR: gallery with cast-iron quatrefoil columns, dentilled
cornice, solid panelled frontal. Arched recess to E wall with
rosette moulding, fluted pilasters with stylised anthemion
capitals. Vestry doors with pedimented doorcases. C18 mahogany
pulpit, remodelled and enlarged in late C19 with additional
barley-twist columns; stair with C18 handrail, later balusters
and newel. Dais rail, mid C19, fluted newels with acorn
finials. Dado panelling with dentilled cornice. Fine complete
set of late C19 pews with decorative carved ends, scrolled
armrests, brass numbers and umbrella racks. Vestry has dado
panelling and cast-iron Art Nouveau fireplace. The church
occupies the site of the original Meeting House of the
Independent Congregation founded 1665.

Listing NGR: TL5359838349

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26570327

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas