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United Reformed Church, Billericay

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Billericay's Congregational Chapel sits in Chapel Street just off of the High Street, and was built to the design of James Fenton in 1838. Technically this is within the reign of Queen Victoria, but it looks all of a piece with the many Georgian churches of all denominations built in the east of England during the previous decade, being of white brick in an Early English style. The cost of the building was a little under fifteen hundred pounds, about half a million in today's money. There are entrances either side of the frontage in the conventional manner of non-conformist churches of the time, although the arrangement of windows between them is curious, three tall upper lights arranged so the central light is the tallest, and below them three lower lights all the same height. It looks to me as if the lower lights were inserted at a much later date. The chapel became part of the United Reformed Church in the 1970s. Inside, the 19th Century galleries remain, supported on cast iron pillars, but otherwise all the original furnishings have been replaced, probably at the start of the 21st Century. Modern chairs face towards three large blank lights echoing those in the frontage, a platform in front supporting a modern holy table and pulpit in bleached wood. In some ways this is a shame, as it is always interesting to come across a non-conformist chapel which retains its furnishings, but it has been done so well here that it is hard to complain, especially as such refurbishments are usually the sign of a busy community life. Simon Knott, January 2022 Follow these journeys as they happen at Last Of England Twitter.

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