Watts Chapel

Watts Chapel - Christmas Tree

To get into the Christmas spirit, why not check out the magnificent Christmas tree in the Watts Chapel. The 14ft-high spruce has been adorned by the garden volunteers with 3,000 lights and decorations, many of which have been made by hand and painted by the volunteers. The tree has been generously donated by Hans Christmas Andersen who sell their fine trees at Van Arnhem Nursery.

Watts’s second wife, Mary, was also an artist and she designed Watts Cemetery Chapel when Compton Parish Council bought the land for a new cemetery in 1895.  This extraordinary circular building covered in celtic and art nouveau decoration is open daily to the public.  Local villagers were invited to decorate the chapel under her guidance.  Each member of her class had a separate job and 74 Compton villagers took part.  G.F. Watts paid for the project and also painted a version of The All-Pervading for the altar only three months before he died. Mary Watts was deeply involved with the Home Arts and Industries Association.  She founded the Compton Potters’ Arts Guild, producing terracotta garden ornaments. Watts Chapel & Cemetery is managed and maintained by the Watts Gallery Trust on behalf of Compton Parish Council. Enquiries should be directed to the Curator Cicely Robinson. 

Burials remain under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council and enquiries about purchase of plots, funerals or any matter relating to burials, should, in the first instance be directed to Joanna Cadman, telephone; 07711 566458

A comprehensive guide is available at Watts Gallery Shop. Further information can be found HERE

The Chapel is open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm, Saturday to Sunday and Bank Holidays 10.00am to 5.30 pm.

Visitors are asked to respect that the cemetery is a working cemetery.