Rivington Unitarian Chapel

Rivington Unitarian Chapel
Unitarian Chapel, Rivington
Rivington Unitarian Chapel Position of the chapel in the Borough of Chorley
53°37′32″N 2°33′55″W / 53.6255°N 2.5652°W / 53.6255; -2.5652Coordinates: 53°37′32″N 2°33′55″W / 53.6255°N 2.5652°W / 53.6255; -2.5652
Location	Rivington, Lancashire
Country	England
Denomination	Unitarian
Website	Rivington Unitarian Chapel
History
Founded	1703 (1703)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed building
Specifications
Materials	local gritstone

Rivington Unitarian Chapel is a place of Unitarian worship in Rivington, Lancashire, England. It was founded in 1703 and is designated as a Grade II* listed building. Its restoration in 1990 was aided by English Heritage. The chapel is an active place of worship: services are held at 2.15pm on the first and third Sunday of each month, and the bell is rung to call worshippers to the service. The congregation is a member of the Manchester District Association of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, part of the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians, the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.

The chapel's motto is:

Nonconformity has its roots in the Clarendon Code, legislation passed after the Commonwealth and the English Restoration, which made it difficult for people who did not conform to the established church. The Act of Uniformity caused about 2,000 clergy to leave the Church of England in the Great Ejection of 1662. The Conventicle Act 1664 prohibited unauthorised religious meetings of more than five people and Nonconformist clergy were not allowed to live near a parish from which they had been banned by the Five Mile Act 1665. There was a strong Puritan element in Rivington, possibly inspired by local martyr George Marsh. The Reverend Samuel Newton was ejected from Rivington Church on "Bartholemew Sunday" in 1662 and most probably the congregation followed him. Newton regained a licence to preach in 1672. The Willoughbys of Parham, of Shaw Place, Heath Charnock were prominent Presbyterians. and Hugh Willoughby was one of the first trustees and benefactors of the chapel, which was built in 1703.