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Temple “Methodist” Church was the second “Methodist Church” in Glazebrook, a brick building erected in about 1880 to replace an earlier building in Dam Head Lane. In November 1896 a church meeting was held after several new members had been made in the previous two weeks. This strategy enabled one side of an argument (about what is not known) to remove from office the Church Treasurer and Sunday School Superintendent, Mr John Bridge.
In response to this traumatic event, several Sunday School Teachers, their scholars and other stalwarts of the Church, left Temple and decided to form their separate “Methodist” Church in the village. A first building was erected in the grounds of Crompton House, next door to the present building and less than 50 yards away. This was the “Iron Chapel”, which was opened on 20th December 1896.
In 1907 money was raised to buy the land, Brickhill Croft, for the present building. The foundation stones were laid on 25th July 1908, and the building was completed in late November, or early December 1908, with a dated stone at the front apex of the roof. Not wishing to leave the building empty, it was used immediately, but the official opening by Miss C. Hartley of Southport was on 28th January 1909. The Hartley family were best known for their Jams etc, but were also involved in Methodism with Hartley Victoria College in Manchester. The Iron Chapel was sold to another Methodist Society in Hazel Grove, Stockport. The church became known as Glazebrook Centenary Methodist Church.
The national, united Methodist Church was formed in 1932, so “Methodist” before this time covers the various types of Methodists.
In September 1939 Centenary Church transferred from the Leigh Circuit to the Cadishead Circuit, and Temple Church was transferred to the Cadishead Circuit in 1957 and closed in 1974. For several years the two societies had become closer and wounds had healed, in so much that joint services were held and in the final years of Temple, their Sunday School Anniversary and other special services were held at Centenary Church Glazebrook. This name, which has fallen out of use, always left me wondering who St Henry had been, (St Henry = Centenary) and was presumably due to the church opening at the start of the 20th Century.
A much more detailed booklet on the 50th Anniversary of the opening was written by Miss Mildred Bridge, a relative, granddaughter? of John Bridge, in January 1959.
Article contributed by Ray Jeffrey, February 2009
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