Methodist Free Church and School, Openshaw

MANCHESTER - The corner-stone of a Methodist free church has been laid at Openshaw, near Manchester. The intended edifice will comprise a chapel to seat 310 adults, and a school to accommodate from 300 to 400 children. The building will be of brick, with white bands and stone dressings. The architect is Mr. R. M. Smith, of Manchester, and the contractors are Messrs. B. and W. Hoyland, of the adjoining township of Bradford. The cost will exceed £1,000; towards which amount £550 have been already raised. [Builder 7 July 1860 page 436]

METHODIST FREE CHURCH — CHAPEL AND SCHOOL AT OPENSHAW - On Saturday afternoon, the corner stone was laid of a chapel and school for Methodist Free Church at Openshaw. near this city; the site being opposite Wood-street, upon the Ashton Old Road. and near the rooms which have been rented for the last twelve years as a school and preaching place. Several hundred persons attended. Alter singing and prayer, the secretary of the Building Committee. Mr. J. H Crossfield gave an historical review of their operations in Openshaw. They had now 260 scholars and teachers, and a comparatively numerous congregation, of whom 46 were recognised members of the church. The intended edifice would consist of a school to accommodate upwards of 300 scholars, and a chapel to seat 310 adults; the architect being Mr. R. Moffatt Smith, of Manchester, and the contractors Messrs. B. and W. Hoyland of the adjoining township of Bradford. The entire cost would exceed £1,000 of which one half been raised; the ladies having been chiefly instrumental by means of a bazaar held in the Chorlton Town Hall. There had been no place or worship erected in Openshaw during the last twenty years, while the population had probably trebled, and at present the employees of one establishment alone were more than sufficient to fill all the places of worship in the township. …. [Manchester Guardian 27 June 1860 page 2]

Reference        Builder 7 July 1860 page 436
Reference        Manchester Guardian 27 June 1860 page 2