Previously Birchcliffe Baptist Church, this Grade 2 listed buiding is now owned by Pennine Heritage. A floor was put in at balcony level, seen here, so that office space could be created underneath.
The Birchcliffe Centre in the Snow, 1993 - JNB00612
Description
Formerly a Baptist Chapel and Sunday School and one of the largest and most magnificent of its time. Converted in 1977 to provide a 350 seat Conference Centre and offices. In 1982 the former Sunday School was converted to become a 62 bed residential centre for conferende, educational and leisure activities. It is administered by Pennine Heritage, a charitable trust
Previously Birchcliffe Baptist Church, this Grade 2 listed buiding is now owned by Pennine Heritage. A floor was put in at balcony level, seen here, so that office space could be created underneath.
This was the third General Baptist's Chapel on the Birchcliffe Hillside the first opened in 1764 on Sandy Gate although meetings had been held at Higher Needless at the top of Wadsworth Lane some years earlier. In 1833 the chapel was rebuilt to accomodate the ever growing congregation. Due to structural problems it was decided to abandon and build a new chapel lower down Birchcliffe Road which is the building seen here which opened in 1899. The chapel closed in 1974 and became the Birchcliffe Centre now owned by and home to Pennine Heritage Trust.
David Fletcher walking up to the door. This was the third General Baptist's Chapel on the Birchcliffe Hillside the first opened in 1764 on Sandy Gate although meetings had been held at Higher Needless at the top of Wadsworth Lane some years earlier. In 1833 the chapel was rebuilt to accomodate the ever growing congregation. Due to structural problems it was decided to abandon and build a new chapel lower down Birchcliffe Road which is the building seen here which opened in 1899. The chapel closed in 1974 and became the Birchcliffe Centre now owned by and home to Pennine Heritage Trust.
Pictured in the Board Room at the Birchcliffe Centre, Hebden Bridge discussing an HLF application for funding are: standing L to R: Michael Newton with Phil Kennedy, David Fletcher and Frank Woolrych from Pennine Heritage Ltd. Seated: Nick Wilding, Fiona Spiers (Head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber) and Kathryn Frankish (Casework Manager HLF).
David Fletcher giving a talk at the Birchcliffe Centre in the upper floor of the chapel after its first conversion to form a community space. The Birchcliffe Centre received a Heritage Lottery grant to improve the facilities of this upper floor which included the creation of a stage and an additional mezzanine floor. See www.pennineheritage.org.uk/
Designed by George Lister Sutcliffe, of the firm of Sutcliffe and Sutcliiffe Architects. This image appears on page 13 of A Short History of Birchcliffe Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge. Dated 1899.