Cheadle Heath (St. John's) Primitive Methodist Chapel Stockport Road Cheshire
This large brick built chapel with a spire was erected in 1906
The chapel sits on the corner of Stockport Road and Myrtle Street. It is an imposing building typical of the Edwardian era. There is no date plaque. It is thought to have replaced an earlierĀ chapel in Stockport Road built in 1855.
In 2014 it is still open for worship.
Photos taken in October 2014
OS Map Ref:109:SJ879888
Comments about this page
Sale reported in Manchester Evening news… https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/property/1900s-methodist-church-stockport-up-23375781
In trying to solve the mystery of one of our unknown chapels, Paul Wood has identified a different earlier chapel in Cheadle Heath, on Old Road. See the comment here
On August 22 1859 they laid the foundation stone for a 29′ x 26′ Sunday School, built on the side of the chapel and separated by sliding doors, so that the combined school and chapel would hold a congregation on 400 -500.
John Thomas tells us that the stone was laid by WS Allen Esq of Wood Head Hall. Speakers at the later tea meeting included T Cooper (Sunday school Superintendent, T Chambers and Rev JB Hall (Independent).
Primitive Methodist magazine November 1859 page 688-689
A second account by Mr Macpherson of the opening of the chapel is in the October magazine p.619-620. He is a bit miffed that Conference has decided that they don’t want architectural detail, only spiritual aspects in the PM magazine, but says that the chapel opened on July 28th 1853.
Sermons at the opening meetings were delivered by Rev J Clarke (Stockport), Rev R Vaughan (Manchester), Rev Thomas Cheesman (Doncaster), Rev J THornton (Stockport), Rev J Garner (Hulme), Rev R Davies (Bradford), Rev JG Wilson (Stockport), Thomas Dunning (Stockport), J Heap (Macclesfield) and J Ardern.
There is an account by James Macpherson of the laying of the foundation stone of the 1853 chapel in the Primitive Methodist magazine of April 1853 pp.244-245. The ceremony took place on Feb 12th 1853 when James Watts Esq used “with workmanlike ability … a mallet of famous dimensions (and …) a silver trowel of beautiful design by Mr James Bryan, Silversmith, of Stockport,” to lay the stone.
There was a tea party where 150 “partook of the cup which cheers but not inebriates.” This was followed by a public meeting with contributions from James Watts, Rev S Hooper (Independent of Heaton), J Peet (Salford), J Macpherson (Stockport), Mr Alcock (Manchester), Mr Faulkerener (Cheadle), Wilson (Stockport, Wesleyan), Mr Gent (Gatley Lane), Mr Nelson (Manchester)and Isaac Watts (Burnage, Independent).
I wonder if the trowel (which was inscribed) and the mallet still exist?
Add a comment about this page