This is Toxteth Ancient Chapel, built in 1618 by a group of Puritans who had settled in the area to escape persecution. The design of the chapel reflected Puritan values, with wooden seating, no adornments on the walls and no decorated altar. Minister Richard Mather preached his first sermon in the newly built chapel on 30th November 1618.
Sadly, the Puritans became the victims of increasing persecution so Richard Mather left Liverpool and set sail for the New World from Plymouth with the Pilgrim Fathers. Once in America, Mather continued as a minister of a Congregational Church in Massachusetts until his death in 1669. His son and grandson became presidents of Harvard and Yale Universities.
The chapel is the oldest dissenting place of worship in the UK and, although substantially rebuilt in 1774, parts of the original walls remain.
It still holds services with about a dozen regulars in the congregation, the oldest member, who we met today, is 93 years of age.
The interior is small and dark, on two levels with very low ceilings so quite hard to photograph, I tried and this was the only one I really liked.
We went on to see 6 other places so had an interesting and varied day, lots of photos too!