Left, the first Moravian Church in Dukinfield, dating from 1751, & right, the Sunday and Day School dating from 1853. Both on Old Rd, Dukinfield.
The first Moravian Church in Dukinfield was situated on Old Rd and this dated from 1751 with a small settlement following in 1755. There were actually three churches built on Old Rd dating from 1751, 1826 and 1860. There was also a Sunday and Day School that opened on the 29 March 1853 that remained open until 1973. The architect for the school was John Eaton Sr of Ashton-under-Lyne and the contractors were Messrs Heaton & Hallas of Ashton-under-Lyne.
It is interesting to note that the Moravian Church and settlement at Dukinfield predates the one at nearby Fairfield, Droylsden, by 34 years, namely 1751 at Dukinfield and 1785 at Fairfield. It is understood that there was only limited room for expansion at Dukinfield, so a decision was made to purchase land at Fairfield in 1783 to build a church and larger settlement there.
In 1957 a Moravian Sunday School was opened in an empty farmhouse on Yew Tree Ln, Dukinfield, but in 1959 this was replaced by an army hut. In the 1960s it was decided to build another church on Yew Tree Ln but the third church on Old Rd remained open until c.1968 to be demolished in 1971 due to the poor condition of the building.