John Wesley Harding preached in Gomersal, one of his closest lay assistants John Nelson was involved with lay preacher Edward Brooke who initiated the construction in the late 1820's of the Wesleyan Chapel in Latham lane with an unusual bow front, which became known as the "pork pie chapel".
The Grade II listed building is made of dressed stone with a hipped roof. The listing record describes the chapel as:
“Two storeys with string course and moulded eaves cornice and blocking course. A well proportioned facade treated as a broad bow of 4 bays of fixed pane windows with glazing bars and flat arched heads. A single flanking bay to left and right is slightly lower with round arched doorway with recessed reveals and stilted fanlight. Single light, similar to before, above doorway.”
The ‘Pork Pie Chapel’ as it is affectionately known, was closed for a year in 2011 while an extensive refurbishment was carried out.
The renovation project began in 2004 when plans were drawn up to alter the church buildings, but extensive dry rot was then found in the Sunday school hall, sending the costs spiralling. Two years later the church announced plans to sell off the Sunday school to fund the scheme which involved new heating, lighting, a kitchen and meeting room. However the plans were beset by delays and the work did not begin until 2010.
Phase one saw repairs to the outside – to the roof, guttering and window sills, then in February 2011 workmen began on the inside and the building closed for worship with members holding services at Birkenshaw Methodist Church instead.
Phase two, removing some of the pews to create a screened community room and kitchen, redecorating and re-carpeting was completed in February 2012, and the final stage saw a refurbishment of the upstairs.
The cache
Please be respectful of your surroundings at all times.
- Once you arrive at the starting coordinates, (N53 44.053 W001 41.410) you need to look up. What year was the church built? A = last digit minus 7.
- At the same location, how many windows are on the lower floor? B = number of windows.
- Go to the next stage (N53 44.056 W001 41.430). How many panels are on the side of the church? C = number of panels.
- Visit the grave of Private W.G. Simpson (N53 44.065 W001 41.458). D = the last digit of his age.
- Find the grave of Robert Benjamin and his wife Ellen (N53 44.060 W001 41.492). E = the number of letters in their surname.
- Locate the grave of Private R. Craven (N53 44.046 W001 41.483). F = the number of words on the last line of his headstone.
The final cache can be found at N53 44.ABD W001 41.ECF.
The cache contains a log and a pencil. There is no room for swaps or trackables. Replace the cache exactly as you find it and be careful not to be spotted. This can be quite a busy area.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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