Welsh Calvinistic Chapel and School Broad Street Pendleton

An eccentric design in brick, terracotta and stone which, according to Manchester Faces and Places, was won in competition.The memorial stones of a new Welsh Calvinistic chapel, schools, and chapel‑keeper's house, were laid in Nobember 1878  and the chapel opened in 1880.

Stewart loathed the building, commenting “How can one excuse his design, where the brick, terracotta and stone are combined in a manner which is surely unforgivable in any age? Look at the rose window, the rings of red brick arches and radiating yellow stone voussoirs, and the momentous keystone at the apex which supports an utterly horrible turret; look at the four towers, capped with stone dish covers, and the perverted interpretation of a Romanesque portal at the centre. Some day someone may be able to see the joke, even if it seems to be in regrettably bad taste.”

PENDLETON. - A new Presbyterian chapel, schools and house at Pendleton, near Manchester, have lately been completed under the superintendence of Mr William Dawes, architect, Cooper‑street, Manchester. The design is based on the Romanesque style. The walls throughout are constructed with red brick, relieved with stone dressings. The chapel, which accommodates 305 persons on the ground‑flour and 258 in the galleries, is 57 feet long, 30 feet 7 inches wide, and 32 feet high. In connection with the chapel the is a minister’s vestry and conveniences for the use of the congregation, and between the chapel and the schools there are three rooms that may be alternately used as vestries or classrooms. Over these rooms are arranged the organ‑chamber and two additional class‑rooms. The school‑room is 48 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 22 feet high. In the basement there are storerooms, tea‑room, heating‑chamber, etc. The contractors for the work were Messrs Kewley, Jones, and Robertson. Mr Joseph Roberts was the clerk of the works. The cost of the buildings was about £5,500. [Building News 2 July 1880 p27]

Reference    Building News 29 November 1878 p557
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 April 1880 page 7
Reference    Salford Weekly Courier 1 May 1880 Page 3
Reference    Building News 2 July 1880 p27
Reference    The Builder 1880: II: 31, 322.
Reference    Stewart - Stones of Manchester