Unitarian Chapel, Liverpool

The Unitarian Chapel on Ullet Road in Liverpool is a Grade I listed building, celebrated for its architectural and historical significance. Constructed between 1896 and 1898, this Gothic masterpiece was designed by the father-and-son duo Thomas Worthington and Percy Worthington to house a congregation with roots tracing back to the Act of Uniformity of 1662. It opened its doors in June 1899 and has remained an active Unitarian center ever since.

The chapel's striking exterior is built of red brick with red sandstone dressings and topped with a slate roof. Its Gothic style is exemplified by decorated window tracery, a seven-bay nave with clerestory, aisles, and a chancel with a polygonal apse. The west end features an elegant three-bay porch with a parapet, crowned by a circular window with a carved angel at its apex. Above the gable, a three-arched structure resembles a bell-cote, though it lacks bells. The copper doors, adorned with Art Nouveau designs by Richard Llewellyn Rathbone, are a distinctive feature of the entrance.

Inside, the chapel showcases stone-lined walls and a reredos depicting the Last Supper, complemented by Art Nouveau light fittings. Stained glass windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones, a leading figure of the Pre-Raphaelite Movement, further enhance the interior's beauty. The building also includes a library, cloisters, and a grand hall, all designed with meticulous attention to detail.

The Unitarian Chapel serves as a space for faith, reason, and intellectual exploration, embracing freedom of inquiry and tolerance. It has been a cornerstone of the community, supported by members who historically played significant roles in Liverpool’s commerce, politics, and philanthropy. As a hub of spiritual and intellectual growth, the chapel continues to welcome all who seek meaning beyond traditional dogma or creed.