Old and new in Halifax

I'm impressed with the way they have renovated Halifax's Georgian Square Chapel and the spire that is all that remains of the adjacent Square Church, cleverly incorporating them into a brand new library building and the restored Piece Hall behind. 

The Square Chapel (below) was opened in 1772, a place of worship for a thriving congregation led by Titus Knight, the minister, and James Kershaw, a leading chapel member. By 1850, the chapel was so popular that people were being turned away due to lack of space, so they bought the adjoining land and built a new church in the decorated Gothic style. At the time, the spire made it the tallest building in Halifax and it soon grew to be the largest congregation in the area.  

By the middle of the 20th century, the congregation had dwindled and the church closed in 1969. Sadly, in 1971, the roof and interior of the Gothic church were destroyed by fire. It wasn't until 1976, however, after a lot of argument, that demolition took place, leaving only the spire and a fragment of the church wall with a rose window intact.






















This has been beautifully incorporated into the new library, and airy glass sections have been built to link the buildings with the Georgian Square Chapel, which is now a theatre, cinema and arts centre. You can get more idea of the whole complex HERE.