Red Hall Methodist Chapel

Audenshaw Road, Audenshaw, Tameside

The earliest chapel was located in Audenshaw Village on the east side of Taylor Ln. It opened in 1782 and was demolished in 1876 to facilitate the construction of Audenshaw Reservoirs. It was on the site for Audenshaw Reservoirs, No. 3. A replacement chapel was built on the north side of Audenshaw Rd close to the site of the earliest chapel. This was provided by Manchester Corporation Waterworks. A datestone for 1876 was placed over the entrance to the replacement chapel.

In 1893 some alterations were made to Red Hall Chapel and the architect was John Henry Burton of Ashton-under-Lyne. In 1908 a Sunday school was built on the east side of the chapel and the architect was Joseph Ashton Percival, a business partner of John Henry Burton. This building was set back from Audenshaw Rd and it fronted Edward St. It is just visible in the background of the right-hand photo below.

In 2004 Red Hall Methodist Chapel amalgamated with Guide Lane Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and Audenshaw United Reformed Church (formerly Bridge Street United Reformed Church) to form Trinity Methodist Church accommodated in the replacement chapel. In 2007 the replacement chapel was demolished and a third building was erected on the same site. This was opened on the 27 Sep 2008 by the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins and the Revd Richard Church.

When the replacement chapel was demolished the datestone was saved and remounted in the wall on the other side off the road almost opposite the new Trinity Methodist Church. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Tameside, Councillor John Sullivan, on the 11 Dec 2009.

Left: The earliest Red Hall Methodist Chapel of 1782.

Right: The replacement Red Hall Methodist Chapel, early 1960s.
The circular datestone for 1876 is just above the entrance.

Left: The datestone in the wall on Audenshaw Rd almost opposite to the
new Trinity Methodist Church.

The inscribed stone tablet mounted above it reads:

THIS DATESTONE COMMEMORATES
THE RED HALL CHAPEL
WHICH MANCHESTER WATERWORKS BUILT TO REPLACE
THE DEMOLISHED CHAPEL BENEATH THE RESERVOIRS.

Right: The new Trinity Methodist Church on the site of the replacement chapel.