Offerton Methodist Church
A member of Churches together Stockport South
MINISTER - Rev Kofi Tekyi-Ansah
We look forward to seeing you
It is reported that many remarkable conversions and manifestations of God’s presence took place in this upper room, and a number of members were noted for strong piety and religious fervour. The erection of St. John’s not withstanding the cause or Wesleyan Methodism obviously prospered in Offerton, despite a drop in population to 358 persons by 1881, and about the year 1884 it was first thought necessary to start a scheme for erecting better and more suitable premises. After a prolonged struggle and much sacrifice the scheme finally came to fruition. In the year 1887 on Thursday, 22nd September Mrs. Morton or Southport, formerly of Halliday Hill House, Offerton and Mrs. Bradley of Lisburne House laid the foundation stones of the present Chapel. At the ceremony stone laying trowels were presented to these ladies and both pledged £25 to the building costs. Stones were also laid by Misses N. Waterhouse, E.Coyne, E.Cocker,
A.Sidebottom, S.A Waterhouse, M Wild, A.Vernon, S.Bruckshaw, Masters R. Parkes, N.Barlow and C.Coyne. Rev. Marshall Randles delivered an address. A public meeting was held in the evening in the schoolroom of the older building: total promises and payments in connection with the day's proceedings were £161-8s-0d.
Rev. Charles Garrett held the Opening Services on Thursday, 22nd March l888, at the completion or the Opening Services £730 had been raised leaving an adverse balance or £207. It was a considerable uphill struggle to bring the debt down to £95. Some better idea of the size or the problem is gleaned from the Church Trust Accounts for 1889: -
Income £12.5s.2d: Expenses £11.5s.3 1/2d: Balance 19s.l0 1/2d.
The Chapel Keepers remuneration was 3s.0d per week and free rent of cottage below Sunday School.
In 1906 there were 17 members of the Society and 45 scholars in the Sunday school. The final clearing of this debt was part or a grand Circuit scheme to clear Trust debts from the Chapels and the Manses in 1906. This took the form of a Grand Bazaar run by the whole Trinity Circuit for 4 days (25th - 28th April) at The Armory, Stockport. Mr. J Rothwell and Miss Waterhouse represented Offerton on the planning committee but many more were involved in the work. Original building costs had been reduced by such expedients as omitting lavatories and not fitting gas lamps! It was however reported as a pleasant brick building with circular headed windows and calculated to seat some 150 or so persons. The form was that of a Chapel of Norman style from plans by Peter Pierce architect of Stockport, building contractor was John Lee of Portwood.
The entrance to the Church was through an arch doorway, which has a tablet, inscribed WESLEYAN CHAPEL, inside there was a partition with inner doors provided to prevent draughts.
(MORE)
