Tyldesley Top Chapel

The history of the chapel starts in the 1780’s when George Whitfield preached on Shakerly Paddock, Following this meeting the local people acknowledged a need for a permanent place of worship .The local squire gifted land on the highest point of Tyldesley and Lady Huntingdon a supporter of John Wesley supplied money for the building materials . The chapel was completed in 1789 and became known as the Top Chapel due to its geographical location .Later another smaller chapel was built at the bottom of the hill and became known as the Bottom chapel , this chapel no longer exists. The chapel has its own graveyard dating back to its very beginnings and we receive requests from all over the world enquiring about their ancestry.

“Selina Shirley was born in 1707 the daughter of Earl Ferrers; at the age of 21 she married the Earl of Huntingdon. She joined the Methodists in 1739 and nine years later made George Whitfield her Chaplin. Whitefield's followers now became known as the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection.

Selina Shirley Countess of Huntingdon

In 1768 she established a college in Trevecca in Brecknockshire where her ministers were educated. She also financed the building of 64 chapels in England and Wales the Top Chapel in Tyldesley being one of them. “

Picture Taken in around 1870

John Grundy (1807 - 1879) was a Grocer and Flour Dealer who lived in Elliott Street, Tyldesley, near Manchester. He attended the congregation of Top Chapel where he was a Churchwarden and was most concerned at the discomfort he felt during the winter, in both the Shop and Chapel. So he set about resolving the problem and overcome this discomfort, and after some time came up with an idea. He asked permission to carry out an experiment in heating the Chapel by using the schoolroom conveniently-sited below the Chapel. He erected a central heating apparatus by using a stove, flues, chimney and ventilators and succeeded in warming the Chapel.

To manufacture and market the central heating apparatus the company John Grundy Ltd was established in 1857 with an address in Lower Elliott Street Tyldesley. To secure the success of the heating apparatus he applied for and was granted Patent, BP 2949 in 1864. He continued to improve upon the heating apparatus, increasing its efficiency and effectiveness, and additional Patents were taken out in later years

John Grundy His Family monument

The Inscription on the monument

The chapel in 2004

The Chapel became a Pentecostal Chapel in 1970 after being in decline for a number of years and is now affiliated to Elim Churches independent.

We are presently finmishing the refurbishment of the Chapel which had been in need of major repairs. Funds have been provided by means of grants ,the roof has finally finshed early in 2007 but work continued to replace the heating system and to fit disabled toilets. The upstairs of the Chapel has been in use since March 2008 but work is still ongoing to the basement of the Chapel and the external repair of the side wall has still to be finalised.We have come a long way over the last few years but we are getting there and we hope the building will be there for another 200 years thanks to the builders who have worked hard on the roof and other things on the Chapel.