A plain 18th-century Baptist chapel in the Rossendale valley, its pulpit, galleries and box pews still all in place
Access unclearno public right of way confirmed — check locally before setting out
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Baptists first met at Lumb, nearby, in 1742, and by 1760 the growing congregation had built this chapel here at Goodshaw; according to chapel tradition, its pews were carried across the moor from their old meeting place. Among all the places English Heritage looks after, this is the only Nonconformist chapel, plain like most built by Christians outside the established Anglican church. Inside, wooden galleries survive from the original 1760 chapel, and box pews plus a pulpit with its sounding-board canopy were added when the building was extended around 1800. A newer chapel opened in the village in 1864, and this one saw only occasional use afterwards, so its Georgian fittings were never replaced or modernised. It isn’t reliably open at present. The Pennine Bridleway crosses the moors a mile or so to the east.
