Heywood Miller Street Primitive Methodist chapels

The 1920 Christian Messenger tells us “The jubilee of our second town society was celebrated in 1915. When that cause was first formed (1865) in the East-end of the borough it was a notable success. Then it passed through a most critical period, when it was up against grave difficulties and had almost to admit defeat. But there were faithful souls supported by the circuit authorities who held on and eventually the brighter day dawned. An unused chapel in Miller Street belonging to the Methodist New Connexion was purchased, and, in course of time, a flourishing church and school were built up. A new church was erected in 1900, at a cost of more than £1,000. In this enterprise the officials were led by Rev. G. Trusler, who confessed only recently that, although he had helped to reduce a great many debts upon church property, this was the only church he had built during his ministry. This was followed in 1914 by the building of a school of quite modern type. “

Street View shows residential flats on the site. So what’s the story?

The story of Miller Street chapels

(suggested modified title)

MPM

Supplementary Information

1861: Sunday School formed (see 1880 entry below).

1865: A second society was formed in the east end of the borough.

The First Miller Street Chapel

1867: Only one Heywood chapel (in the Registration District of Bury) appears on the 1867 List of Places for Public Religious Worship, Lancashire No. 61 – probably ‘Mount Pleasant’, Bank Street if Miller Street had not yet been purchased.

1867-69: An unused chapel in Miller Street owned by the Methodist New Connection was purchased. This chapel was built in 1844 and can be seen on the 1844/7 6” OS map. and then again on the 1890 ¹/₅₀₀ OS Town Map where it is labelled ‘Meth. Chapel (Primitive) (seats for 200). It scales at about 39’ x 32’.

1869: The first newspaper report on this chapel was that in the Heywood Advertiser of 6 November which announced that two sermons would be preached at the Primitive Methodist Miller Street chapel,

1871: Worrall’s Directory of Bury, Bolton and district: p. 169 lists Places of Worship and their Ministers in Heywood: under Methodist (Primitive) Chapels, Bank street and Miller street are listed.

1880: From the Heywood Advertiser of 21 May:

‘PRIMITIVE METHODIST, MILLER-STREET. – Rev. John E. Jones; superintendents, Messrs. John Sutcliffe, and Joseph Ainsworth; number of teachers, 16; scholars – boys 32, girls 31, total 63; total number of scholars last year 55; volumes in library, 143; school established 1861.’

1881: From the Heywood Advertiser of 18 March:

‘MILLER-STREET CHAPEL. – For some time there has been a movement on foot to hold a bazaar in connection with the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Miller-street, to clear off a debt which seriously retards the progress of the work carried on there, and which amounts to £240. On Saturday evening the promoters of the scheme held a tea meeting, about 30 persons being present. Subsequently, under the presidency of Mr. John Sutcliffe, a meeting was held, when addresses in support of the scheme, by the Rev. A. Morton, resident minister, were delivered. Promises of help had been received from many persons …’

The Bazaar took place in September 1882.

1900: From the Heywood Advertiser of 6 July:

‘In the meantime the Miller-street society continued to use their old chapel, and this bus served them until quite recently. According to the Rev. G. Trusler, the circuit minister, it was a miserable, dirty, disreputable, discreditable, and unhealthy place. It was a plain brick structure which had for many years shown signs of gradual decay. The internal arrangements were antiquated and altogether out of harmony with modern ideas as to what is necessary for a place of worship and Sunday school. Still, as a relic of the past, the old chapel was interesting, especially on account of its associations. Many persons whose memory .. in reverence were worshippers there, and some of the regular ministers of the denomination received their first passions within its walls. Before it was decided to take down the old chapel and erect a new one on the same site, efforts were made to secure a new plot of ground further away from the Church, but they were unsuccessful. The old structure has been taken down and the new one is in course of completion. Pending its completion the services and Sunday school are held at the Mechanics Hall.’

The Second Miller Street Chapel

1896: From the Heywood Advertiser of 7 February 1896:

‘PROPOSED NEW CHAPEL IN MILLER STREET.

For many years the Primitive Methodists of Heywood have felt the need of new premises to take the place of their school chapel in Miller-street. The present buildings are old, inconvenient, and the room used as the chapel is becoming too small. When the matter has been considered in past years, doubts were expressed as to the wisdom of expending money upon the site of the present buildings, owing to the proximity of the York-street Congregational Chapel and the Rochdale Road Baptist Chapel; but these considerations have now been overruled, and it has been decided to provided new and better accommodation on the same site. The precise form of the new buildings has not yet been settled, whether there shall be a school and chapel combined, or separate buildings for each purpose, one fronting to Miller-street, and the other at the rear. We understand the site is sufficiently large to enable either plan to be carried out. All that has been done up to the present is the appointment of a committee to further the movement generally, and under their auspices a successful tea and entertainment were held last Saturday at the Miller-street school. It has also been decided to hold a bazaar in aid of the object next November.

Over 100 partook of the tea, which was heartily enjoyed. Mr. Fred Piercy presided over the entertainment … The Rev. W. Wardle, circuit minister, delivered an address, in the course of which he spoke of the necessity for new premises, and urged that all connected with the place should do their utmost to bring it to a successful and a satisfactory issue. …’

1900: From the Heywood Advertiser of 6 July:

‘STONE-LAYING CEREMONY. INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS. On Saturday afternoon, in fine weather and in the presence of members and friends, eight stones were laid in the new school-chapel which is being erected for the Primitive Methodists in Miller-street, Heywood. This building will be better adapted for its purpose than the old chapel, which has been taken down to make room for the new structure. Mr. John B. Thornley of Darwin has prepared the plans, and the erection of the new chapel has been entrusted to Councillor S. Barker of Heywood.

Prior to the stone-laying there was a procession from the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Bridge-st., along Market-street and Church-street to Miller-street. A large number of persons took part in the parade. It was headed by the handsome banner belonging to Miller-street Sunday school and the Heywood Original Brass Band.

The Rev. G. Trusler, minister of Heywood Primitive Methodist circuit, presided over the ceremony.

… Underneath the [first] stone he (the chairman) would place a bottle containing copies of the Heywood newspapers, “Primitive Methodist World”, Primitive Methodist circuit plan, conference plan, programme of the day’s proceedings, and a coin of the realm. The coin was only a small one, but it contained a representation of the head of Queen Victoria, a worthy lady – long might she reign; they would never have a better Queen. (Hear, hear.)

After placing the stone in position Mr. Arthur Todd expressed hope that the new chapel might soon be found too small for the requirements of the denomination.

… The cost was estimated at £1,050. Towards this amount £463 19s. 8½d. had been either received or promised (Applause).’

And from the Heywood Advertiser of 9 November:

‘MILLER-STREET CHAPEL. THE OPENING SERVICES. The new Primitive Methodist Chapel in Miller-street, Heywood, was opened on Tuesday afternoon by Mr. Frank Heyworth of Heywood, in the presence of a large number of friends. The chapel, which has been erected on the site of the old one, will serve the double purpose of Sunday school and church. It consists of a room 40 feet by 30 feet, with rostrum and choir platform, and two large classrooms. The classrooms are separated from the school by revolving shutters, so that it may be used as a part of the big room for the purpose of assembly. At the Miller-street end a gallery is arranged, with two large classroom opening onto same with glazed, part movable screens. The entrances are wide and spacious, and all the rooms are lofty and well lit. The walling of the building is of brickwork, faced on the principal front with Baxenden double pressed facing bricks. The dressings are of York stone used sparingly, and the roofs are covered with Welsh slates. The heating is by hot water on the low pressure system, and ventilation is obtained by means of Tobin’s fresh air inlets with strong exhaust ventilator on roof connected with vent trunks for extraction of vitiated air. The buildings have been designed in the late Gothic style of a plain yet dignified character. Councillor S. Barker of Heywood is he contractor, and the work has been carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. John B. Thornley, architect and surveyor, of 45, Market-street, Darwen.’

The chapel can be seen on the 1909 25” OS map; it scales at about 50 feet x 36 feet.

1914: A school was built; it can be seen on the 1927/8 25” OS map, across the back of the chapel and scaling at about 56 feet x 38 feet.

1940: The chapel was listed in the 1940 Methodist Church Buildings Report Districts ‘B’, Circuit 224 Heywood (Central). The following information was provided:

Greentown (Miller Street): made of brick; seating 260; pews; one hall and four other rooms.

The National Grid OS map, surveyed/revised 1953 to 1965, published 1968, and the 1:25,000 OS map published ca. 1964, appear to show the chapel but not labelled as such. Presumably the chapel closed in the 1940s or 1950s and was demolished in about 1970.

The site of the chapel is currently occupied by a Northern Counties Housing Association building, OL10 4LZ.

Reference

Christian Messenger 1920/16