Brook Street Chapel is a Grade I listed building. The description given by Historic England can be seen at the following link: (
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"The chapel was built in 1689 soon after the passing of the Act of Toleration. The land was given by Isaac Antrobus, a Knutsford tanner and life long dissenter, as a gift to build the chapel and a small burial ground. Money for the building and fitments were given by other members.
William Tong helped Isaac Antrobus organise the building of the New Chapel. It was built of red brick with a stone-flagged roof in two storeys with two external staircases. Inside there is a gallery on three sides and a pulpit on a long wall. The pulpit dates from the late 17th or early 18th century and the pews from 1859.
The Chapel was built so that it was inconspicuous and resembled a private house or farm building. This was because the dissenters had a very real fear that the right to public worship and freedom from prosecution could be withdrawn. It is said that lookouts were posted by the outside steps to the galleries in case of attack.
It is the burial place of the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell who died in 1865, her husband William Gaskell who died in 1884, and their two unmarried daughters who died in 1908 and 1913.
The gardens which lie behind the chapel are tranquil and well kept. A cutting taken from a Mulberry Tree in Shakespeare’s garden, has been planted in the chapel garden in recognition of the two years Elizabeth spent at boarding school in Stratford-upon Avon."
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The building is still in use as a Unitarian chapel.
"Services are held every Sunday at 11.00am.
Enjoy Tea, coffee, biscuits and a chat after Sunday Service. The chapel is known for its friendly atmosphere and so you will always receive a warm welcome, friendship and support." (
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The Graveyard is located to the front and side of the chapel. There are a number of graves with a connection to Elizabeth Gaskell a Victorian novelist who was closely connected with this chapel from its earliest days. Elizabeth attended this chapel every Sunday with her Aunt Lumb and she later became a Sunday School teacher.
"Elizabeth and her husband William Gaskell, and two of their daughters are buried in the grounds surrounded by numerous members of her family, including her great great grandfather, Peter Coulthurst, who died in 1741 and who was a founding trustee of the chapel and her Aunt Lumb.
The graves of previous ministers and other eminent people as well as members of the congregation all lie in the well tended grounds." (
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Elizabeth Gaskell"Elizabeth’s Ancestors
The family has been closely connected with this chapel from its earliest days. Robert Holland who died in 1705 had been pastor of our sister chapel at Allostock until 1700. Her great-great grandfather, Peter Coulthurst, was a founding trustee and was buried here in 1741. Two others, John Turner and Thomas Coulthurst , were ministers here and are buried under the flag stones in the aisle." SOURCE: (
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The inscription on the gravestone of Elizabeth Gaskell reads;
"ELIZABETH CLEGHORN GASKELL
BORN SEPTEMBER 29TH 1810
DIED NOVEMBER 12TH 1865
WILLIAM GASKELL
BORN JULY 24TH 1805
DIED JUNE 11TH 1884"