The “warm and welcoming” Old Meeting House Unitarian Chapel in Mansfield hosting a heritage open weekend.
The Old Meeting House Unitarian Chapel at Stockwell Gate dates back to 1702, making it the oldest non-conformist place of worship in Nottinghamshire.
On the weekend of September 17-19, it will participate in the National Heritage Open Days, England’s largest history and culture festival celebrated by thousands of organizations and volunteers.
The national theme of the festival is “Edible England” to highlight all traditional and local customs related to food. That’s why The Old Meeting House organized a weekend called Food Glorious Food, which offers a fun day of games and activities for children, special talks, a photo exhibition, music and a quiz.
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The historic chapel building from 1702.
The historic chapel building from 1702.“Our open days are always very popular,” said coordinator Viv Brown. “The chapel is 300 years old, but with its beautiful stained glass windows it is very warm and inviting.
“We will be giving away hot crossbreads to local children on Saturday to keep a 120 year old local tradition alive, and after our Sunday Thanksgiving service we will deliver all donated products to a chalkboard in Mansfield, operated by the Trussell Trust.
“We always like to promote our town of Mansfield and the chapel, which regularly has around 35 people.”
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Disco for the disabled is after Covid. back in MansfieldThe pastor of the chapel, Pastor Maria Pap, took part in the open day last year, which was held through Zoom due to Covid-19.
The pastor of the chapel, Pastor Maria Pap, took part in the open day last year, which was held through Zoom due to Covid-19.
The event will be opened on Friday by Mansfield Mayor Coun Andy Abrahams and will be chaired by the chapel’s inspiring first pastor, Transylvanian Rev. Maria Pap.
The first lecture, also on Friday, will be given by Kath and Peter Faulkner on Penford’s Mill, a former flour mill in Mansfield that supplied wood for the renovation of the chapel in the 1880s.
The second address on Saturday will be given by one of the chapel’s past ministers, Rev Derek Smith, aged 92. He will explain how food, including a giant gooseberry cake, was exchanged between the chapel and a chapel in Mansfield, Massachusetts, USA in the 1920s.
The two chapels are still closely linked, with one in the States planning to attend the Thanksgiving service by broadcasting a reading and a choral piece.