Non conformist churches refers to those denominations that are neither Church of England (Anglican) nor Roman Catholic. Generally speaking non conformist churches are those belonging to the Methodist, Baptist, and United Reform Churches. Generally speaking, congregations of non conformist churches meet in Chapels.
Because non conformist churches grew out of the belief in placing greater emphasis on preaching and reading the Bible as well as on the singing of hymns, rather than on the sacraments placed around the altar as in the Church of England and Catholicism, the architecture of the Chapel is dominated by a very large pulpit and organ to accompany music. In a Baptist Chapel there is also a font large enough for adult immersion for baptism.
The photographs here of the Methodist Chapel in the fishing village of Porthleven in Cornwall illustrate these ideas. The exterior of a Chapel usually has no tower or steeple, but the front reflects the generosity of the community. The interior usually has balconies and the pews face towards the pulpit area where the minister will conduct the service.
Click on the button ‘A Place Near You’ and follow the links to Non Conformist Chapels near you. Full details of Baptist Chapels near you can be found on www.baptist.org.uk/churchfinder/index.html .
And full details of all Methodist Churches can be found on www.methodist.org.uk by clicking on Links and Contacts and doing a church search.
