Primitive Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Blackpool

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH BLACKPOOL - The Building Committee of the Primitive Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Blackpool, propose to erect new premises comprising church and Sunday school, with frontages to Chapel Street and Peer Street. Competitive designs in a limited competition were invited, and a design submitted by Mr Halstead Best, 20, Clifton Street, Blackpool has been selected. [Builder 31 October 1930 Page 732]

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH - The elevations are designed on broad modern lines, following the classic tradition. Externally the building would be faced with Accrington “Nori” red pressed bricks with white joints, relieved with cream-coloured ribbed vitreous terra-cotta dressings. Internally, hard plaster would be used to upper portions, treated architecturally, with fibrous plaster decorations and light oak woodwork and furnishings. The foundations would be of concrete, with solid basement walls, waterproofed and reinforced where necessary. Floors in main portions would be of concrete, covered with oak wood-block flooring. The roof would be of steel and timber construction and covered with Westmorland green slates. All pews and furnishings would be of light oak, finished similarly to the existing organ casings. The building would be heated on the low-pressure central heating system, radiators to be of the panel type let in the walls, worked in conjunction with an approved system of ventilation. The estimated cost of the complete work is £16,000. Mr Halsted Best FRIBA is the architect. [Builder 21 November 1930 Page 870]

NEW CHURCH - The scheme for the erection of a fine new Primitive Methodist Church at Blackpool, to take the place of the present old church in Chapel-street, has been advanced by the acceptance by the trustees of the design of Mr. Halstead Best, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.I., for the church and school. It was in June that the trustees of the church invited competitive designs, in limited competition for the new church and school and these were considered at a meeting this week. The trustees. who, when they considered the plans, were unaware of the names of the architects voted unanimously, it is understood, in favour of the design shown and this was found to be the design of Mr. Best. who designed the new First Church of Christ Scientist in Whitegate-drive the new Holy Cross Church, South Shore, and many prominent Blackpool buildings. 

The scheme will necessitate the demolition of the present church and school, three cottages in Pier-street, and three shops fronting to Chapel- street. The accommodation will consist of a church, school and primary department, each being a self-contained building, with ample natural lighting. The main entrance to the church is to be in Chapel-street and Singleton-street and the main entrance to the Sunday school is also from Chapel-street, and this will serve as an additional exit from the church. Another entrance to the Sunday school is planned in Pier-street, where there will be also the entrance to the choir vestries and the primary department. A separate minister's entrance is provided for in Singleton-street. Inter-communication is planned between the various parts of the three buildings. The church will have seating accommodation for 806 people, 640 in the body of the church, 56 in the choir and 110 in the gallery. The Sunday school will accommodate 433 scholars and the primary department 100 children. As the whole of the site with a frontage to Chapel Street will not be required for church purposes, the winning design provides for the erection of two lock-up shops. The total estimated cost of the scheme is £14,500 but with flats or other accommodation built over the lock-up shop an additional expenditure of £1,500 will be entailed, making the cost of the whole scheme £16,000. [Fleetwood Chronicle 24 October 1930 page 8]

Reference    Builder 31 October 1930 Page 732
Reference    Builder 21 November 1930 Page 870
Reference    Fleetwood Chronicle 24 October 1930 page 8
Reference    Hartwell and Pevsner. Lancashire North page 149