This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print.
This was opened on 16th October 1825, the first of the proprietary chapels or chapel of ease built in Leamington. The chosen site across the top of the Parade was at the opposite end of the town from All Saints the parish church. It was built on open land, which soon became the centre of a major development of villa style housing at the north end of the town, although the total scheme was never completed. Edward Willes provided the land and paid for the chapel, and Bertie Greatheed gave the land for the road. This is now called Clarendon Avenue, but originally was known as South Parade. The resulting building could be one of the earliest Norman revival chapels in England, becoming the private property of the Vicar of Leamington. The Rev. Downes levied a charge on the congregation of 6d (2½p) each or 2/-(10p) for five, with servants half price. The Rev. Craig leased the chapel when he arrived at the Parish Church, and promptly abolished the entrance fee. The architect was PF Robinson whose Norman style was based on the Abbey of Jumiege in Northern France.(626.?)
Trinity Chapel opened on 6th November 1847, in Beauchamp Terrace built by a breakaway group because of cost of renting Christ Church.
In 1856 the Rev. Craig’s lease ended with acrimony and the Rev. Bickmore took on the chapel. He had the building refurbished and renamed it Christchurch. During its lifetime the chapel passed through the full spectrum of church politics. The Rev. Bickmore decided that he should avoid every ‘extreme of doctrine and ritual’. The next incumbent, Rev. Nicholson, who took over in 1879, preferred a ‘High-Church style of service’ to cater for the fashionable local congregation. Whilst Mr. Dale, who bought the lease in 1881, decided that the chapel should be used for Evangelical purposes, and consequently gave Rev. Dr. Nicholson and his ‘High Church’ services notice to quit. Rev. Dr. Nicholson then purchased St. Michael’s and All Angels on Warwick Street and renamed it the Church of St. Alban the Martyr. Rev. Hook was at the Parish Church for 9 years from 1896; he combined proprietary chapels of St Albans, Good Shepherd and Christ Church with the Parish Church.
By 1951 the Chapel needed extensive repairs and the Bishop refused to appoint a minister so the congregation, along with that of St. Luke’s, Holly Walk who had recently joined Christ Church, moved to St. Mark’s Milverton. The building closed in 1954, eventually the Borough Council agreed to purchase it for £3,900 with the building being demolished in 1958. The Council in agreeing to purchase offered the possibility of retaining the Tower but this did not happen. Shortly after demolition a local businessman offered to turn the site into a car park for 500 cars; thankfully it was chosen to be gardens and tennis courts.
Flats design by Frederick Gibberd
One more scheme which was set aside was the construction of a tower block of flats designed by architect Frederick Gibberd. Leamington lost a landmark church that dominated the view along the main street, the Parade, although it can still be seen on many old postcards and photographs.
Peter Coulls 2018