Methodist Free Church and Schools Ashton Old Road Openshaw

The memorial stones of the New Methodist Free Church and Schools were laid on Saturday by Mr W Mather MP ... The new buildings front Ashton Old-road between Bilcliffe-street and Princess-street.* They comprise a church with four vestries, a school with twelve classrooms and a lecture room. The church will seat 370 on the ground floor and 295 in the gallery. The interior of the church will be rendered effective by a wooden arcade carried on iron columns on each side, separating the nave from the aisles and carrying the main roof. The style is an adaptation of 13th century Gothic. The front, which comes nearly to the main road, will be dignified by a central arched doorway, three large triple lighted traceried windows, six octagonal turrets flanking the main front, and a buttress whose ample projection will give a due impression of light and shade. Messrs Potts, Pickup and Dixon of Victoria Buildings, Manchester, are the architects and Messrs Peters and Sons of Rochdale the contractors. The entire cost will approach £5,000 of which £2,000 has already been raised.

(* Billcliffe Street and Press Street 1966)

Reference           Manchester Guardian Monday 15 April 1889 Page 7 Column 2 (Ecclesiastical Intelligence)