History
- Evidence that small group holding Unitarian beliefs existed in Rochdale as early as 1512
- Rev Thomas Assherton, Bishop of Middleton, dismissed from his church for preaching that Jesus was neither Son of God nor risen Lord, came to Rochdale around 1512 and continued to hold religious services with group of followers
- Within few years, however, Assherton taken before Archbishop Cranmer and under threat of torture, recanted his "heretical beliefs"
Blackwater Street Unitarian Church
- Had distinction of being oldest non-Conformist church in Rochdale dating from 1717
- Congregation had its origins in days of Charles II
- 1662 Act of Uniformity drove 2000 ministers from Anglican Church. Among them, Robert Bath, vicar of Rochdale, then obliged to conduct services in secret for ten years, until Act of Toleration
- Chapel established 1672 in house known as "Amen Corner" where services held until 1717 when new chapel was erected in Blackwater Street
- 1856 chapel completely replaced on same site by beautiful building. Members of this church responsible for founding earliest schools in Rochdale at Toad Lane and "Vicar's Moss" (now Milnrow Road)
- Chapel demolished in 1972 to make way for Market development but still fondly remembered by many of present congregation.
Clover Street Unitarian Chapel
- Rev Joseph Cooke, itinerant preacher on Rochdale Methodist Circuit, dismissed 1803 for "heretical" preaching
- Supporters from surrounding districts subscribed to build Providence Chapel in High Street where Cooke continued to preach until his death in 1811
- This proved to be nucleus for Unitarian worship in the area - its influence being felt far beyond Rochdale
- The movement declined after Cooke's death but a few faithful followers continued to worship in hired rooms or their own homes
- In 1818 chapel in Clover Street was dedicated and small Sunday School started. As no preacher available, members of congregation conducted services and led classes, these lay preachers dividing their time between churches at Rochdale, Newchurch and Todmorden. Regular meetings also held in many surrounding villages
- First regular minister was appointed 1862 and congregation grew in strength
- To mark Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee, 1862, new school built and chapel itself modernised
- Day school established 1863, continuing until 1890, when taken over by Rochdale School Board and transferred to a new building
- Clover Street known as "Co-op" Chapel as many of original Rochdale Pioneers worshipped there
- Over time, it became clear that worshippers at Blackwater Street and Clover Street had developed shared Unitarian beliefs despite the two groups having developed from different beginnings
- A "harmonious co-operation" developed between them and congregations malgamated in 1890, with Sunday worship being held in Blackwater Street and Sunday School in Clover Street
New Beginnings
- When demands of town planners necessitated closure of Blackwater Street Church, Clover Street was also demolished to make way for present multi-purpose building, opened 29 July 1974, in which a wide variety of religious and social activities can take place
- Exquisite "pre-Raphaelite" altar windows, designed by famous Victorian artist Edward Burne-Jones, retained from Blackwater Street building, serve as constant reminder of shared heritage
- Current church is spiritual home to thriving congregation held together by that heritage and by a unique faith.