The Stainton Institute

The Stainton Institute, on Stainton Lane in Stainton village, is a former chapel which is now used as a community building. It was originally built in c.1698 as a Presbyterian chapel. The chapel was refurbished and extended in the 19th century. It later became a United Reformed Church (the URC was formed in 1972 by a union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the majority of churches in the Congregational Church in England and Wales). However, by the early 21st century the congregation had decreased. The Stainton Institute, with the aim of converting the church to a community hall for residents of Stainton Parish, obtained charity status in August 2008, and went on to purchase the building. The former chapel is a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. The building has been renovated after obtaining planning and listed building consent permissions, and long running fund raising efforts.

"Two licences were issued in 1672 for Presbyterian meetings in the parish of Heversham, one being from John Hinde’s house, probably the same John Hind of Stainton whose house was registered 13th January 1698/9 under the Tolerance Act.... The chapel was erected c1698. ....Ministers who were ejected for their churches because they wouldn't conform to the use of the Book of Common Prayer in the 1660s were not allowed to preach within 5 miles of the church where they had been the minister. This chapel is roughly 5 miles from Kendal...."

Stainton Institute Website