The Agapemone Chapel
Introduction
The photograph on this page of The Agapemone Chapel by Derek Harper as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
The Agapemone Chapel
Image: © Derek Harper Taken: 26 Jul 2010
Built in 1846, together with an adjoining house at the rear on the left, for the Agapemone (Abode of Love), a religious cult founded by the defrocked Reverend Henry James Prince, who had already been operating in Suffolk and Weymouth. Prince and his rector, Samuel Starky, variously claimed to be The Holy Ghost, the Prophet Elijah, and Two Witnesses of Revelation chapter 11. Prince's successor, John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, went a crucial step further in 1899 by claiming to be the new messiah. Some of the scandalous goings-on at Spaxton are related in a more detailed history at http://www.utopia-britannica.org.uk/pages/abode%20of%20love.htm . Some fascinating photos before and after recent restoration work are at http://www.maertonstud.com/complete_Web_site/The_Agapemone_Restoration_page.html . See also the listed building description at http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-269397-no-1-and-attached-former-chapel-to-right .
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
51.126583
Longitude
-3.097555