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Visitor Information

Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Albion Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1QF

Tel: 01782 856810
Grid reference: SJ882473

The chapel stands at the corner of Albion Street and Bethesda Street, opposite the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

No toilet facilities on site.

Parking available in car park in adjacent Bethesda Street. No toilet facilities on site.

There are WCs and refreshments available in the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery opposite. There is also a restaurant opposite.

For further information visit Bethesda's website.

As at January 2010, Bethesda's website was being re-configured and only a limited access is available. Full access will be restored shortly.

Bethesda Methodist Chapel Events

Exhibition in Stoke-on-Trent Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, in conjunction with HCT, is hosting an exhibition about the history of Bethesda Methodist Chapel, and HCT’s restoration plans in 2010.

The exhibition will open in the afternoon on Saturday 23 January and will run until May 2010.

A new guidebook to Bethesda is available from the Museum from 23 January at a cost of £5.00 – alternatively copies can be sent by post if a cheque for £5.50 (payable to Historic Chapels Trust) is sent to HCT’s London office in St George’s German Lutheran Church.

Bethesda Methodist Chapel

Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent | Listed Grade II*

Transport

Nearest railway station: Stoke-on-Trent, approximately 2 miles away.

Frequent bus service to Hanley Town Centre.

History and Architecture

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.

Repair and Regeneration

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 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.

Phase I

The phase I repairs comprise

high level works to the leaking roof
renewal of the rainwater disposal system
dry rot eradication to make the exterior structurally sound
removal of pigeon guano
full repair of the front elevation and colonnade
re-introduction of a historic scheme of decoration.

Phase II

Phase II costing over £700,000 will embrace all outstanding essential external and internal repairs, including

works to the celebrated tiered galleries,
repair of the famous pulpit and stair cases
the introduction of a suitable historic organ.
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery will be staging an exhibition in 2010. A guide will be produced.

Future Use

An Audience Development Plan has been undertaken which sets out 27 potential uses that should attract a wide range of participants. These include concerts, exhibitions, weddings, civil partnerships, school events, conferences and film shows. The chapel will be available for rent. Visitor groups will be encouraged. Bethesda Friends has been established to assist with publicity and fundraising. £12,000 has been raised so far.

Supporting Bethesda Methodist Chapel

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.