There is no record of the names of the pioneers of Primitive Methodism in Hanley, and the date of its commencement is uncertain. Hanley appears on the plan of the Tunstall Circuit in the year 1819. Where the first meetings were held we have no knowledge, but prior to the erection of the present chapel in Marsh Street, in the year 1851, the services were held in a building on, or near, the site where the Theatre Royal now stands.
The earliest record of Hanley as a Circuit date back to 1864, when it consisted of Hanley, Longton, Sneyd Green, Woodhousefield, Washerwall, Fenton and Bucknall. Washerwall and Woodhousefield no longer exist; Longton is with Stoke and Sneyd Green is in the Burslem Circuit.
The Northwood and Abbey Hulton Societies came into existence in 1866 and these two in addition to Hanley, Fenton and Bucknall form the present circuit. When the circuit was formed, the membership of the Marsh Street Church was 162, the circuit total being 325. A glance through the record of the years reveals many interesting sidelights on what might be termed a rather chequered circuit history. It would not be possible to state that the circuit had made steady progress through the years; too often internal difficulties have caused serious setbacks, with the result that the circuit has never quite fulfilled its early promise.
Many able men have laboured in the circuit and surely one of the wisest was the one who proposed that “Bro. _ _ _ wait upon Bro, _ _ _ and affectionately request him to withdraw himself from the circuit plan on the ground of want of ability to sustain our pulpits.”
Within recent years many changes have taken place, the Stoke-on-Trent Council have erected hundreds of houses in the Abbey Hulton area thus making it necessary for a new and larger building to be erected there for Sunday School and Public Worship. there is a fine site available for further extension when this can be attempted.
Northwood opened their new church in 1927 and this year school buildings have been completed at Bucknall. We have as a circuit, a splendid opportunity of work among young people, having over 1200 Sunday school scholars; happily our members are alive to this, one out of every three is a Sunday school teacher. Our C.E. Societies are flourishing and in addition we have three companies of the Boys’ Brigade and a splendid company of Girl Guides. Despite heavy property debts and the industrial depression, the circuit has almost trebled its Missionary income during the past five years. The present minister is the Rev. H. Rhead, who is in his seventh year on the circuit. The circuit is well served by its Stewards—Messrs. C.W. Mollatt and T.H. Henshall, and by its Secretary – Mr. W. Hayward.
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Regarding the Primitive Methodists in Hanley prior to the Marsh Street chapel (now Portofinos) – I have been working on-and-off for years on the history of the Theatre Royal, which was originally opened in a old Primitive Methodist Chapel in Brunswick Street, Hanley. Here is what I have managed to find out through original resources and newspapers, rather than secondary sources and hearsay.
The first Primitive Methodist chapel in Hanley was built in 1824 in Etruria Road on the later site of the railway station., but was auctioned off in 1829.
Another chapel was opened in July 1836 in Brunswick Street, facing up Frederick Street, and was capable of seating 800 persons. This chapel was galleried on three sides, and in 1843 was said to have a Sunday school for 180 children. The building is described as having two small windows, and a round hole for ventilation…. In 1850 this building was sold by Thomas Burndred to a group of men to become a chartist meeting room, the People’s Hall. This was then converted two years later to become the ‘Royal Pottery Theatre’ – which over the years developed into the ‘Theatre Royal’ – through many reconstructions.
In October 1851, a new chapel in Brunswick Street opened on the corner with Marsh Street – which was partially demolished and extended in 1860 to become the building we see today. Another chapel is mentioned in Stafford Row, Hanley – perhaps used in-between the chapels listed above.
If anyone has more information on the opening of the 1836 chapel, which I believe to the the one that became the Theatre Royal, it would be appreciated. The opened doesn’t show up in the index of the PM magazine for 1836 sadly.
I would like to prove or disprove the legend that the chapel was an old mine winding house. The Staffordshire Advertiser of 16/07/1836 says the “The Primitive Methodists have just completed a commodious chapel in Hanley…”, but doesn’t give further information as to the construction, so hard to prove either way.
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