This is another cutting from the special edition of The Reporter entitled 'All Our Yesterdays' and published (I think) sometime in the 1980s:
Thomas Middleton's 'History of Hyde' has this to say about this Church:
'DAISYFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
This place of worship had a common origin with the Newton Wesleyan church. The movement commenced as a Wesleyan congregation in Hallbottom school in 1828, when Mr J. Drummond formed a Society. About 1835 there was a split among the Wesleyans owing to differences between Dr. Warren and other ministers. Those of the Hallbottom congregation who disagreed with Dr. Warren took a room for themselves near C. and J. Ashton's mills, and ultimately founded the Newton Wesleyan Church. The others remained at Hallbottom and took the name of Warrenites or the Wesleyan Association. They continued at Hallbottom until 1851. In that year a tea-meeting was announced, at which an objection was raised to one of the recitations on the programme, namely Dr. Bowering's poem entitled "God". This poem gave such offence that it was decided that unless it was struck off the programme, the tea-meeting must not be held at the Hallbottom. The promoters, however, were not disposed to accede to this proposal, and arrangements were made to hold the tea-meeting at the Temperance Hall, Hyde. After this the congregation became unsettled, and it was finally decided to leave Hallbottom, and erect the Daisyfield chapel and schools, which were opened in the year 1852. Soon after the erection of the new building the name of the United Methodist Free Church was given to the religious association with which the Daisyfield congregation was connected, this step being taken as a result of the amalgamation of the "Reformers" and the "Wesleyan Association". After a quarter of a century's use the building became inadequate, and at a cost of £2,900 the present chapel and school were built, the foundation stone being laid by Mr. David Holland, of Macclesfield, on Saturday, September 11th, 1875, the buildings being opened on Thursday, July 27th, 1876, when the Rev. Peter MacKenzie was the preacher. In 1907 the United Methodist Free Church, the Methodist New Connexion, and the Bible Christians, united under the name of the United Methodist Church.'
Sounds like a seething hotbed of Methodism. One wonders if they came to blows over the proposed poetry-reading at the tea-meeting. I've searched the internet for Dr Bowering's poem entitled "God" but can't find anything.
This is a section of the Ordnance Survey map of circa 1910 and shows where the church was. Cundy Street is still there and is opposite Garden Street, which runs along the north side of the football pitches off Ashton Road.
This is from my A-Z dated 1993 which still shows the church although it had been demolished in the late 1970s.
Had no idea that Hallbottom School had Wesleyan connections. When I was young it was used by St Mary's. I used to be fascinated when they lit the old gas lamps inside and pulled the chains to adjust the lighting. I believe the football pitch opposite used to be a burial ground and the exhumed bodies were required in Hyde Cemetery.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant re-buried, not required!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Dave.. I'd heard mention of 'Daisy Field' but did not know where it was... Did a bit of digging for the poem but could not turn up anything..
ReplyDeleteI remember Daisyfield very well. When I was in Eileen Orpet's dancing class in the 50s we used to do shows there and at Joel Lane Methodist Church.
ReplyDeleteAlright Tom, don't know if this has anything to do with this post but I've just found this medal at my mum's, would it be from the church? Perhaps my dad's christening medal.
ReplyDeleteI will try to upload some pictures now.
Mark Wibb.