Chapel of love

A TOAST to us: Age Concern chief executive Yvonne Lee (front) leads the celebrations

£1m Lotto grant to restore historic building

AGE Concern has scooped a bumper lottery grant of almost £1 million to restore George Street Chapel.

The disused structure, built in 1815, is one of the oldest Methodist chapels in the world and is seen as a key piece of Oldham’s heritage.

Now, thanks to £948,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the chapel will be brought back to life for use as a heritage resource and learning centre as well as a function and event suite.

The charity will rescue, restore and conserve the building creating a new centre, providing a base for its ongoing work, including intergenerational projects.

To sustain the chapel financially, it will also be used as a commercial venue to accommodate weddings, exhibitions, organ recitals and other special events.

Delighted Age Concern chief executive Yvonne Lee said: “Our research has shown that the building evokes fond memories for many people who were congregation members and visitors from other local chapels.

“The chapel and Sunday school played a huge part in their upbringing and daily life.

“We hope to turn it into a building and resource that Oldham can be proud of and for it to be used by the many different members of our present and future community.” Through the conservation work, the slate roof will be completely replaced and the historic flag-stone floor lifted and relaid. The original chapel organ, installed in the 1830s, will also be fully restored and refurbished.

Sara Hilton, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North-West, said: “We are delighted to offer our support to Age Concern Oldham for this fantastic project. For over 200 years, George Street Chapel has been a familiar landmark in the centre of the town and the emerging cultural quarter.

“Thanks to this award, and the hard work of Age Concern Oldham, this precious local building will be preserved so that it can be used, explored and enjoyed by visitors for many generations to come.”

People from across the community will now be able to get involved with the project, with volunteering opportunities and activities aimed at all age groups to help lead the research into the chapel and its work.

Volunteers were recruited to set up Friends of George Street and they have been unearthing the building’s colourful past.

George Street Chapel played a major role in the development of Methodism, which had originated in the North-West’s industrial areas. Age Concern bought the Grade II-listed building in 2003 with a view to repairing and restoring it.