In1783 the Chapel (left) was built at Knolls Green for the Wesleyan Methodists. Henry Ridgeway conveyed the land to Samuel Jepson who is assumed to have built it. Two years later, John Wesley himself preached here. In 1791 Samuel and his son conveyed the land and the chapel to Margaret Hope whose family resided in Marthall. The congregation soon began to hold different views and the older members left to join the Baptists at Great Warford. The chapel appears to have declined and become vacant before in 1803 it was taken up by Independents whose services were led by students of the Reverend Robert Roby from the Manchester Academy.
In 1808 The Reverend James Turner settled in Knutsford and the Knolls Green chapel came under his wing. In 1811 the chapel was formally taken on by the Paedo-Baptist Congregationaliists, or Congregational Church as it became. As the 19th Century progressed the chapel at times had its own evangeliist who also looked after the Pepper Street chapel, or reverted to its role under Knutsford supervision. In 1902 two adjoining cottages were purchased and Mr Falkner Armitage, an architect from Altrincham oversaw their conversion into a Sunday School in memory of James Wood a Wilmslow Deacon who was known for his pastoral work in the area (see plaque below). The chapel closed in 1961 |
Knolls Green Congregational ChapelIn 1867 a Congregational chapel was built in Pepper Street and survived, latterly under the wing of Hale URC until the 1980s.
|
Plaque in honour of James Wood at the Sunday SchoolNo images survive of the old Methodist chapel in Hall Lane. But William Hulme, writing under the pseudonym of Cedric II wrote at length. It stood for forty five years "and was certainly not attractive in outward appearance. There was a plain pulpit, narrow seated, straight-backed pews, and benches in the centre without support for the back. Near the middle of the chapel was an ugly stove with a long iron pipe. In the evening the place was lighted up by four candles. The choir was an important institution and became proverbial for its heartiness.
|
The Methodist Chapel in Faulkner's Lane
In the period before 1836 Methodists met in private houses but in that year a chapel was built nearly opposite the entrance to what was the New Hall (now Sunrise and Barclay Hall) on Hall Lane on land given by James Ashton, a slater. The location was in front of the house now called White Lodge, (previously Seven Lights). It became unsafe and the congregation was split as to whether to rebuild in Hall Lane or relocate to Faulkner's Lane (previously known as Antrobus Hall Lane). Those who lost and wanted to stay in Hall Lane started to meet at the Mission Room at Hall Bank. On 9th August 1882 the new chapel in Faulkner's Lane was opened.
|
Knolls Green Chapel Brass Band late 1940s
back row Colin, Frank Cooper, David Hulme, James Butler, Derek Warburton and ?Four in front of them: Goodwin Kirk, Keith Warburton, Naylor, Brian Johnson Second row: Bill Thomas, John Lowe, Sam Egerton, Keith Whitehead, Reg Faulkner, Len Burgess, Ronnie Hard, John Egerton, Richard Wild, Dawson, Frank Butler. Front row: Ken Wild, Kenworthy, Frank Lowe, Godden, Sam Ross, Cooper, Bert Kirk, Ken Chapman |