Simmondley Chapel
High Lane
(Independent)
In 1837 a room was taken over some cottages as an Independent Sunday School. It was decided that a Chapel should be built and a subscription list was opened for the purpose and people from Charlesworth and Simmondley contributed. Names like Buckley, Lynes, Dixon and Charlesworth were associated with the building. Some members of the community who were in the building trade helped in the construction of the chapel built in 1844.
Sunday School was held every Sunday afternoon and some of the builders were also teachers. The land was offered for sale by Lord Howard’s Estate for £200 but was purchased for £30 by Mr. Wilson. Later on a vestry and stone cellar were added to the Chapel. A Centenary Service took place in June 1944.
The building is in use today as a Pre-School Playgroup.
Zion
Simmondley Lane
(Methodist)
Every Society in the Circuit whilst sharing in a common Methodist heritage has its own individual traits and characteristics. Especially true is this of Zion – an offshoot from Spring Street, Hollingworth – which began Sunday School activities in a large room over the Logwood Mill, Dinting Fold rented from Edmund Potter Esq. of dinting Vale Printworks with gas and coal for a nominal sum of 18d per annum. The room could be used for all School purposes but not as a preaching place. The first scholars were the children of the families Duckworth, Kennedy, Blakely, Cockayne, Ollerenshaw, Heginbotham, Booth and Egerton.
Until the opening of the present Chapel preaching services were held in cottages kindly lent by friends. As the room over Logwood Mill could not be used for preaching purposes the need for a Chapel was soon felt. A site was fixed and the ceremony of laying the corner stone took place on Saturday 5th August 1860. The stone was laid by John Whittaker Esq. of Hurst – a loyal and generous friend of the Connexion who gave £30 towards erection. The Chapel was opened for Divine Worship on February 17th 1861.
In 1869 a large vestry was added to the Chapel with a gallery over the top for an organ. This was done at a cost of £110 – the whole amount being raised by the Ministers, Teachers and friends. Mr. J. Warhurst Esq. of Ashton presented an organ to the memory of his mother. In 1874 systematic efforts were made to clear the Chapel debt of £180 – a successful bazaar was held on Good Friday 1875, the debt was paid off and a good balance left in the hands of the Treasurer.
Soon after the debt was cleared it was thought desirable to build a School and after fund raising efforts and generous donations land was secured in 1883. The first sod was cut by Mr. S. Hollingworth. On Saturday 23rd August 1885 a special tea and meeting was held in commemoration of entering possession of the new school. In July 1888 a public elementary Day School was commenced under the mastership of Mr. W. J. Horsey whose promising career was cut short after a brief illness in March 1889. He was succeeded by Mr. Oliver Beswick and later by Mr. E. M. Penney. Mr. Penney transferred to Padfield Council School after 30 years service in August 1924.
The chapel and school buildings closed in 2018.