Wesleyan Chapel and School, Blackley

Chapel opened June 1862 and closed 1965-1966. Site Old Market Street formerly Exchange Street/Gilman Street/Ward Street shown as Wesleyan Chapel and Schools on old OS map. Buildings demolished and site cleared. In 2013 Pike Fold Community Primary School was under construction on the site.

NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AND SCHOOLS AT BLACKLEY – On Saturday afternoon the members of the Wesleyan Methodist congregation at Blackley met in considerable numbers to witness the laying of the foundation stone of a new chapel and schools, the increasing congregation and the requirements of the district calling for greater accommodation. A former chapel, erected about fifty years ago, has recently been pulled down, and on the site the new edifice is being erected, the school being also to be built upon the ground now partially covered by the old one. Of the new buildings Mr Henry Styan, of Withington Terrace, Moss Side, is the architect; and, judging from the plans, the erection of a very pretty chapel may be anticipated, which will afford accommodation for about 500 persons. The building will be in the style of the 12th century. The walls will be of such a height as to allow space for the addition, at a future time, of side galleries having seats for 200 people. The dimensions on the ground floor will be 61 feet by 39 feet 6 inches. Two vestries, an infants’ class-room, and a room for a hot water apparatus will be erected; and over the vestries a schoolroom 38 feet 6 inches by 27 feet, the latter being entered by a porch on the level at the back where the ground is much higher than in the front. The height of the building, to the top of the gilded gable terminal will be 63 feet 6 inches. The roof will be open-timbered, and equilateral in pitch. The principal front will be faced with Yorkshire parpoint and Hollington stone. Three lancet-headed windows will light the lower side of the galleries, and three large window above will have detached shafts, moulded arches, and at each side quatrefoil openings. The gable end will have a large rose window. The estimated cost of the building is £1,412, exclusive of the cost of hot water apparatus, gas fittings etc. [Manchester Guardian 3 September 1861 page 3]

BLACKLEY - The. first stone of a new Wesleyan chapel has been laid at Blackley, on the site of the old place of worship. Mr H Styan is the architect. There will be seats for about 500 persons: also a school-room, infants’ room, vestries, etc. The style of architecture will he that of the twelfth century. The total height of the edifice, to the top of the gilded gable terminal, will be 63 feet 6 inches. The roof will be open-timbered, equilateral in pitch, and will span the whole width of the building. The principal front will be faced with Yorkshire parpoints and Hollington stone. There will be three lancet-headed windows to light the underside of the galleries, and above will be three windows with detached shafts, moulded arches, and at each side quatrefoil openings. In the gable end will be a rose window. The cost of the buildings will be £1,414.[Builder 28 September 1861 Page 668]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 September 1861 page 3- foundation stone
Reference    Builder 28 September 1861 Page 668