Back to the future for historic chapel

OLDHAMERS are being invited to share their views on the future of one of the borough’s most historic buildings.

Age Concern received a £51,800 boost in its bid to bring George Street Methodist Chapel back to life in April.

Age Concern bought the Grade II listed building in 2003 with a view to repairing and restoring it.

The disused chapel, which has stood in Oldham for almost 200 years, is seen as a key piece of the borough’s heritage.

The Heritage Lottery Fund gave Age Concern the cash to develop and finalise the details of restoration plans to help secure extra funding over the next two years.

The building, one of the oldest independent Methodist chapels in the world, will also have a new life as a functions and meetings facility.

The chapel was built in 1815 by a group of friends. Many of the members were hatters. A key feature of the chapel is a collection of wooden pegs for members to hang their hats.

Underneath the chapel lies a row of two-roomed single-storey cottages in which families lived to bring in extra income. It is still possible to see the original fireplaces.

Volunteers were recruited to set up a Friends of George Street Chapel group and members will be consulted about future plans and developments as well as helping to raise awareness and funds.

They will also become involved with the day-to-day running of the project, including acting as guides for visitors to the chapel

Letters have now been sent out to community groups, businesses, individuals and organisations across Greater Manchester to generate as much information as possible about what people want to happen with the chapel.

Annika Dawson, project officer at Age Concern, said: “These consultations are an essential part of the development stage as we need to determine the opinions of our potential audiences and prove to the Heritage Lottery Fund that our proposals will be successful.

“What we offer has to fall in line with the National Curriculum so we have spoken with local primary schools to see whether our plans fit the requirements for pupils and to ask what else they would be interested in.”