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Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent
Listed Grade II*
www.bethesda-stoke.org.uk
Bethesda
is an impressive building, reputedly seating up to 2,000 people, and notable
also for the prominent roles in civic life played by its trustees during
the nineteenth century when Bethesda became Stoke’s leading place
of worship.
The present building, dating from 1819, was built by members of the Methodist
New Connexion, replacing an earlier structure of 1798 on the site, and
constructed to plans provided by Mr Perkins. The chapel rear has chequered
brickwork with a curved end and two tiers of windows.
The main entrance is on Albion Street where Robert Scrivener, a local
architect, created a stuccoed Italianate frontage with a portico in 1859.
Behind is a vestibule with stairs to right and left leading up to the
immense continuous oval-shaped gallery, with its tiers of seats. Ahead,
unusually, is a minister’s vestry that gives access to the chapel
proper. A fine mahogany pulpit of 1856 with a double flight of stairs
was built by Robert Scrivener also from which the interior can be viewed,
the gallery supported on 24 slim iron columns. The ground floor pewing
was renewed in 1887 and new windows installed with ornamental margin lights.
There is a detached vestry block on the west side.
Bethesda Methodist Chapel, first came to national attention in the 2003
BBC 2 Restoration series. This vast, handsome place of worship in the
centre of Hanley has long been a cause for concern, as its condition rapidly
deteriorated. HCT has secured sufficient funding to undertake and complete
phase I of a £2.5m repair and upgrading scheme. Phase I alone has
cost around £0.9m.
The phase I repairs comprise high level works to the leaking roof, renewal
of the rainwater disposal system and dry rot eradication to make the exterior
structurally sound. Pigeon guano has been removed. In addition the full
repair of the front elevation and colonnade has been tackled. Work started
in September 2006 and was completed in September 2007. The front elevation
works took slightly longer than originally expected as extra work has
been found to be necessary requiring complete replacement of the roof
of the colonnade.
Phase II will consist of less essential but vital repairs to the rest
of the building fabric and the major task of upgrading the building for
community uses. An Audience Development Plan has been undertaken which
sets out 27 potential uses that should attract a wide range of participants,
for public benefit at reasonable cost.
Funding for stage I consists of £265,000 offered by the Heritage
Lottery Fund, £200,000 offered by English Heritage and approximately
£20,000 found by local people and grant giving trusts.
A local committee of Friends has been established to assist with publicity
and fundraising. A supporter's mug, made in Stoke-on-Trent, is now available.
If you would like one of these elegant mugs, please send a cheque for
£7.95, payable to ‘Historic Chapels Trust’ to Lynn Bentley,
Battlesteads, Alton, nr Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4BE. Please allow three weeks
for delivery.
The
local friends of Bethesda group organized a series of well attended open
days in late 2007, but the chapel was closed from January to March 2008
as it lacks heating. A programme of events and open
days has been arranged for 2008
For
further information visit Bethesda's
website
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