Hyde Central Methodist Church

Services in connection with the Wesleyan Methodism Society appear to have been conducted in Hyde around the year 1811. The services were held in various places, chiefly in private cottages. Early in 1815 a building at the corner of Cross St and Water St was secured. Later in 1821 a larger chapel was built on a plot of land facing Water St, Port St and Milk St. This was later enlarged to incorporate a day and Sunday school for the large increase in children of the rapidly growing cotton trade employees. By 1850 it was necessary to provide a larger building and a plot of land was acquired on Norfolk St.
The opening service at Norfolk St was held on Friday April 18th, 1851. After the opening of the new chapel, the Water St building was used entirely for Sunday and day school purposes.
Fast forward to the 1980's, when it was decided to demolish the old building on Norfolk St and re-build a modern church virtually on the same site. The old building was demolished in 1988 and literally hours later work started on the new church.
A large gathering of members assembled in the pouring rain to see two of the oldest members of the church, Mrs Mollie Dobbs and Mr John Charlton laying the foundation stone. The foundation stone was carved with a clock set at 8-45 pm, the supposed time of John Wesleys conversion to Methodism, along with the words " Praise and Thanksgivings", which appeared on the first Methodist church, built in Bristol in 1739.





The old building on Norfolk Street in the 1980's

Laying the foundation stone for the new church in 1988


The new church in 2012

Joel Lane Primitive Methodist Chapel

Joel Lane Primitive Methodist Chapel was first organised in the 1870's in an old room at the bottom of Joel Lane in Gee Cross. The rent was £4 per annum. Prior to this services were held in a cottage situated lower down than the Werneth Hotel. The Room at the bottom of Joel Lane was really a loft over a stable that was heated by a coal stove in the centre of the premises. It was not uncommon for the services to be interrupted by the grunting of Pigs or braying of Donkeys - must have made for some interesting sermons! Abraham Lee from Compstall used to lead the singing and accompany it with his cello playing.



The foundation stones were laid on the 29th May 1875 by :-

Mrs Horsefield of Slack House ,Hyde.
Mrs Thomas Beeley ,Hyde.
Mrs Ellis ,Grimsby.
Mrs John Lee's Buckley ,Woodley.

The opening services were held on February 27th and March 5th and 12th 1876 and the first minister was the Reverend J.Hall.
New classrooms were added in 1884 as the congregation grew and further improvements were carried out in 1904.



The Hyde Primitive Methodist movement is said to have originated in a school held in Thomas Street,Floweryfield. The noted Methodist Hugh Bourne preached in Floweryfield around 1821 and the Thomas Street School was,in all probability , the outcome of his mission.


Reverend Hugh Bourne


The Chapel was finally closed in the late 1960's and, after its demolition, a new Close named Buckley Close was built on the site named after one of the layers of the Chapels' original foundation stones.

Up Date From Our Comments

Prior to the gatherings in the old room at Joel Lane, the first gatherings were in the home of Abel Stafford who lived in one of the cottages that still stands at the bottom of Treacle brow. Missioners from Woodley commenced the work and the old P.M.curcuit of Woodley, Grieve Fold and Joel Lane survived unchanged until the mid 60's.