Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street /Dale Street, Manchester

Central Hall was built on the site of the Oldham Street Wesleyan Chapel, opened by John Wesley on 30 March 1781. Oldham Street Chapel was generally regarded as the headquarters of Lancashire Methodism but as the nineteenth century progressed commercial development in the area caused a dwindling of the congregation. However, there was still a need for a conference centre and the decision was made to demolish the “Old Chapel” in 1882. Central Hall opened for worship on Wednesday 27 October 1886 with a service conducted by the then president of the conference, the Rev R.N. Young D.D.

THE WESLEYAN PROPERTY IN OLDHAM STREET - Since August last the subject has been carefully considered —and at recent meeting of the Committee, a scheme was adopted which is in a fair way of being carried out. The plans which have been prepared, and which have received the approval of the Sub-committee acting in the matter, are now open to the inspection of the Methodist public of Manchester and neighbourhood.

The new building is designed to cover the entire site, which is 108 feet long in Oldham-street and 120 feet in Dale street, or 1,440 square yards in all. The front facing Oldham street will be occupied on ground floor by four large shops, two on either side of a spacious central entrance measuring 13 feet in the clear. These shops will extend some 30 feet back and are so arranged that they be let together with their corresponding basement and first floor rooms, thus giving show-rooms and cellarage in each case if necessary. The second-floor rooms will be devoted to rooms for the General Chapel Committee, and the third floor will contain a large library and general reading room. The idea of having a Methodist club in connection with the premises has not been mooted, but the reading-room and library will probably serve in a great measure as a convenient meeting place for Methodists in Manchester or those who may visit from the towns adjoining. Along the Dale-street front there are also four shops and four sets of cellars with distinct entrances from the street. Entering by the main Oldham Street entrance it will be seen that behind the shops there is a corridor 20 feet wide, containing to the right and left two spacious staircases leading to the first floor of the back part of the premises. Through this corridor a passage from Oldham Street is continued, passing a large committee-room 30 feet by 41 feet on the right and on the left two smaller rooms, one a cloak-room and the other a serving-room connected with the kitchen on the basement. Beyond these rooms there is another corridor six feet wide, giving two distinct outlets into Spear Street at the rear of the premises, access to the rooms above by two other staircases, hall-keeping room, lavatories, and two committee rooms. heating apparatus will be in the basement at the Spear-street side, together with a large room, 30 feet by 41 feet, which can be used as tea-room; also for meetings of the committee, and other purposes. On the first floor and behind the building fronting Oldham Street, there will be  what is regarded as, perhaps, the most important feature of the scheme - a large hall in the form of an amphitheatre, measuring internally 88 feet 6 inches by 82 feet 9 inches. The well of the hall will be raised a little above the level of the first floor, the side galleries will branch out towards Spear-street, and the Oldham Street building and the end gallery will join up to Dale-street, thus leaving the platform of the hall at the inside end furthest from the noise of the streets. Under the gallery floors commodious committee rooms are placed, as well as a ladies’ retiring room. Ascending from the ground floor by either of the two main staircases, there will be found another corridor 20 feet wide and 72 feet long. from which the visitor can pass into the retiring room over the platform or any of the committee rooms round the building, a corridor branching out from the main corridor along the entire well of the hall and communicating with the two staircases on the Spear Street side. From this corridor two entrances are provided into the well of the hall, and the well is connected by nine staircases with the gallery. Ample means of ingress and egress are thus provided at the same time that every part of the building is readily accessible. The convenient arrangement of the committee rooms in relation to the large hall afford admirable facilities for carrying on those evangelistic services of which it is hoped this will become the centre, and should it be found necessary to re-absorb any portion of the premise now proposed to be let for business purposes, it be done without any structural alterations whatever. The hall will give sitting accommodation for 1,250 persons. The seats gradually rise from the centre and are so arranged that the well portion can be used by Itself, or in connection with two front rows of seats around the gallery or the entire gallery. The room, therefore, will be for either small or large gatherings for district meetings, or for conferences. The arrangements of the building are quite unique, affording ample accommodation, at the same time the principle of construction is of the simplest and most economical character. Two platforms are provided. the one three steps above the level or the well for use when the well only is occupied, and the other rising six steps, for use when the entire room is occupied. There is also an organ chamber behind the platform. Mr. George Woodhouse, of Bolton, is the architect employed by the Committee. The new building will be classic in style, and is to be to be completed, according to present arrangements, in stone. The cost of the building is expected not to exceed £18,000. [Manchester Guardian 13 January 1882 page 6]

The contract for the demolition of the Wesleyan Chapel in Oldham Street, Manchester, and the erection of a large central hall and offices in its place has been let to Mr Webster of Chorlton-on-Medlock for the sum of £18,965. Mr George Woodhouse of Bolton is the architect. [British Architect 26 January 1883 Page 44].

 The Wesleyan Chapel Committee Report of 1886 described the new building in the following terms:

CENTRAL HALL OLDHAM STREET MANCHESTER

The premises are intended mainly for the purpose of reaching the masses of non-worshippers in the centre of the city by means of popular evangelistic services held in the large hall whilst on the ground floor a chapel has also been provided for the regular congregation. They are also intended for connexional purposes and to provide accommodation for central and united meetings of the various circuits in the neighbourhood. The building has a commanding position and is designed in the classical style of architecture. The main entrance is in Oldham Street. The frontages were constructed of polished stone, the design being of bold and somewhat simple character, and relieved by carvings of appropriate design. The basement of the building is occupied by a restaurant and by various cellars and kitchen appurtenances. Upon the ground floor facing the main streets are various shops, one of which (in Dale Street) is a book-sellers where inter alia books and papers interesting especially to Wesleyans may be obtained. The main entrance is 13 feet wide, and is handsomely designed with enriched pilasters, panels and ceiling. This, with the other entrance in Dale Street, gives access to a corridor 20 feet wide, which communicates with the floors above by two spacious staircases of stone, well lighted by large windows of stained glass. Behind the principal corridor is placed the Morning Chapel, which is 41 feet by 30 feet and is fitted up with seats of pitch-pine and a pulpit of the same material, fronted by a semi-circular communion rail. The remainder of the space upon the ground floor is devoted to committee rooms, curator’s living room, lavatories etc. A hoist is provided from the basement to serve the rooms where teas are to be held. The corridors on this and other floors are laid with marble mosaic. Over the main entrance on the first floor are other committee rooms and offices, and a spacious corridor 20 feet wide occupies the space behind these and gives access to the staircase leading to the upper portion of the large hall. There are also two other staircases provided elsewhere for the same purpose. Fronting Dale Street on this floor is a large committee room 41 feet by 20 feet. Connected therewith is an ante-room and beyond these is a ladies’, room, the minister’s room lavatories etc. taking up the remaining space. Upon the second floor level is the large hall 86 feet by 83 feet, and capable of seating over 1,500 persons. Fronting Oldham Street is the accommodation for the Chapel Committee, divided into four rooms. Proper lavatory arrangements are provided, and there are also two strong rooms. A retiring room from the platform is provided on this floor. The large hall has an open pitch-pine roof resting on handsome pillars and with covered ceiling round. The room is simply lighted and the windows are fitted with stained glass. The platform is large and has a gallery at the back. The seats are arranged in amphitheatre form, there being twelve at the sides and fourteen at the end. All the seats are of pitch-pine, with shaped and moulded bench ends. The centre space is enclosed by handsome brass standards and a rail, whilst three seats behind the rail are again divided from the remaining sittings by a low wood screen, with doors at the aisles. There are four entrances from the first floor, level with the central area, and three staircases give access to the rest of the seats: and in addition there are two exits from the hall to the corridor and staircase of the Chapel Committee rooms. All the doors from the hall are made to open outwards, so as to provide for the safe exit of a crowd. The ceilings and corridors are made fireproof. The large hall is ventilated by a number of inlet tubes, and by exit ventilators in the roof. All the windows have double sashes to deaden the sound from the street below, and their upper parts are made to open. The heating is done by hot water pipes. On the third floor, fronting Oldham Street are two handsome rooms each about 44 feet by 31 feet, with open ornamental ceilings partly of glass, which can be used for library, reading rooms, lectures or bazaars. The whole building is now fitted with the electric light. The architects were Messrs Woodhouse & Morley of Bolton & Bradford, who successfully adapted and carried out plans prepared by the late George Woodhouse. The cost of the entire scheme has amounted to about £40,000.

 Reference    Manchester Guardian 13 January 1882 page 6
Reference    British Architect 19 January 1883 Page 35 - tenders
Reference    British Architect 26 January 1883 Page 44
Reference    Manchester Faces & Places. Volume 11 No 6 June 1900 Page 90