Union Chapel (opposite Queen’s Park) Rochdale Road, Harpurhey

HARPURHEY CHAPEL - The general plan of the building is a parallelogram, with a tower on the north-west angle. The tower contains the gallery staircase and a smaller turret is carried up with it, which has an open belfry, with crocketted spire and vane, altogether 90 feet high. The main entrance is in the centre of the front to Rochdale Road, and is formed with a large archway which spans the porch. On either side of the porch are the doors leading to the interior. The roof is of novel construction, having two trussed tie-beams running parallel with the length of the chapel, this dividing it into three parts. The centre part, or nave, extends the full length of the building, and includes the recess which contains the choir at the east end. The roof is overlaid with boarding, and asphalte roofing felt is placed between the boarding and the slates. From the point of the roof are suspended three chandeliers of elegant design. The pulpit is on the same level as the choir gallery, and is divided from it by a carved screen, which being moveable, a platform for public meetings can be at once arranged by removing the screen. The back gable is pierced with a circular window filled with stained glass. Underneath the orchestra is a lecture room, and on one side is the minister’s vestry, om the other a staircase to the organ gallery. The style of the architecture is of the Decorated period, which is chiefly expressed in the window tracery and carving; the other detail being exceedingly simple. The outside length of the building is 90 feet, and the outside width 46 feet. The cost of the whole, including heating apparatus, gas fittings, upholstery, gates, railings and fences, architect’s fee, etc, will not exceed ,2,100. The architect is Mr R Moffat smith, of Manchester; and the contractors Messrs Farrell and Griffiths, of Lower Broughton. There is now accommodation for 700 persons, and when the side galleries are added, there will be total accommodation for 900. [Manchester Guardian 14 March 1855 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 March 1854 page 11 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 June 1854 page 5
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 March 1855 page 1 - opening  notice
Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 March 1855 page 7 - opening report
Reference    Manchester Guardian 14 March 1855 page 6 - description