The Salford Circuit
100th. Anniversary of the official opening of the present building,
Sunday 25th. January 2009
Sunday 25th. January 2009
This was an important event in the history of Glazebrook Methodist Church. We decided to hold a special service in the afternoon and asked Dr. Keith Davies (Chairman of the District) to conduct it.
We managed to get word round the Circuit in time for visitors to make it to the service. And, boy, did they really make it!
We managed to get word round the Circuit in time for visitors to make it to the service. And, boy, did they really make it!
The Church was almost full, which normally only happens at our performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’, and the service was enjoyed by all. I have made an effort to clarify the history of Methodism in Glazebrook. Many Methodists know of the ‘two Churches in one village’ problem, which existed for about 60 years. However I will give what little ideas I have gleaned, as a cautionary tale about “discussions not becoming arguments”, and not just in Churches.
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 b Miss C. Hartley of Southport was on 28th. January 1909. The Hartley family was best known for their jams etc., but was 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 then became known as Glazebrook Centenary Methodist Church.
In September 1939 Centenary Church transferred from the Leigh Circuit to the Cadishead Circuit. Temple Church was transferred to the Cadishead Circuit in 1957, but 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
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 b Miss C. Hartley of Southport was on 28th. January 1909. The Hartley family was best known for their jams etc., but was 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 then became known as Glazebrook Centenary Methodist Church.
In September 1939 Centenary Church transferred from the Leigh Circuit to the Cadishead Circuit. Temple Church was transferred to the Cadishead Circuit in 1957, but 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