Hale Congregational Church, Ashley Road, Hale

CHURCH EXTENSION AT HALE - The Congregational Church at Ashley Road, Hale, near Manchester, has just embarked upon a forward movement, which is the final stage in a larger scheme. Rather more than three years ago the church adopted a double scheme of extension of premises. The first part, which consisted of the erection of a fully graded Sunday School, with primary, junior; and intermediate departments, all self-contained, was proceeded with and completed about fifteen months ago. The church had agreed not to proceed with the larger scheme of erecting a new church until the financial position made it possible to do so without leaving any heavy liability to be faced in the future. The combined scheme is expected to cost about £9,000, and as about £7,000 of this has been paid or promised the erection of the church has now been commenced. The church is from the designs of Messrs. France and Laycock, of Manchester, and is arranged to accommodate 500 people, with provision for extending this to 650 if it is found necessary in the future. The contractors are Messrs. Martin Stone and Sons, of Altrincham. [Manchester Guardian 29 July 1912 page 5] 

The opening ceremony in connection with the new Congregational Church which has just been completed at Hale took place on Saturday afternoon. The scheme for the extension of the church schools was entered on five years ago and the foundation-stone was laid in October of last year. The total cost of the two buildings, church and Sunday school has been £9,700. The whole of this sum, with the exception of about £200 has already been raised, and it hoped and expected that the donations and collections at the opening ceremony would cover this amount and enable the church and schools to be opened entirely from debt. The doors of the new church were opened by Mrs. J. Goodier Haworth. The first part of the service which was then held in the new building was conducted by Rev. S. M. Berry (Birmingham) and the sermon preached by the Rev. J. D. Jones (Bournemouth). [Manchester Guardian 13 October 1913 page 6]