Places of Worship in Charlesworth, Broadbottom and Gamesley

Charlesworth Independent Chapel (Top Chapel), Monks Road, Charlesworth.



Tradition has it that the first chapel was built as a result of a priest or merchant becoming lost in a dense fog on the moors and swearing that he would build a chapel if spared. A chapel, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, was erected by the Abbot of Basingwerk after he received a gift of land from Robert de Charlesworth in 1308. Following the Reformation, the chapel passed to the Church of England but, as a result of little use appears to have been taken over by Presbyterians. After the Restoration of the Monarchy the chapel was allowed by the Howards (Lords of the Manor) to remain in their hands. Before the close of the seventeenth century the building was in the hands of the Independents, and was rebuilt on the same site about 1786 and enlarged in 1827.

A detailed history is provided in the Charlesworth Independent Chapel Triple Jubilee Commemoration 1798 - 1948.


Charlesworth Particular Baptist Chapel, Glossop Road, Charlesworth.



The first services held by the Particular Baptists in the area were in a barn at Moorside. After renting rooms and various meeting places it was decided to build a Chapel and 900 square yards of ground were acquired. The chapel was built in 1835 on the present site. Mr. Squire Booth, the first Minister, died in 1825 and Mr. George Beard was appointed Minister and continued until 1852 when he died and is buried in the Chapel graveyard. Around 1900 the land on which the Chapel was built was purchased at a cost of £160. In 1907 the Chapel was re-seated and renovated at a cost of £550 and in 1915 gas was installed. The ground behind the Chapel was purchased in 1918 so as to extend the vestries and other conveniences at a cost of £90. In 1927 the vestries were enlarged and other alterations made costing £600.


Primitive Methodist Chapel, Lee Head, Charlesworth.

The Primitive Methodists opened a Chapel at Lee Head, with a day-school in connexion with it, in 1843/4.
In 1914 the building was in use as Charlesworth Liberal Club.


St. John the Evangelist, C of E Charlesworth.



The Centenary Handbook of 1949 provides the following information.
The Ecclesiastical District of Charlesworth (including Chisworth and Simmondley) was formed in 1844 under Sir Robert Peel's Act. The foundation stone was laid by John Chapman, Esq., of Hill End, Mottram on 25th October 1848 on a site known as "Ashen Bottom" which was purchased for £300 . It was consecrated on 8th October 1849 by John, Bishop of Lichfield. This handsome building designed by the architect, Mr. Joseph Mitchell of Sheffield in the Early English Perpendicular style is generally admired for "its simplicity and good taste". It cost £2,700 to build. The first vicar was the Rev. Goodwin Purcell, M. A. appointed in 1845. In 1853 a severe storm caused damage to the roof and a new one was required. The first organ was placed in the Church in 1864, later to be replaced by another one at a cost of £400. A stained glass window of the Good Samaritan was installed in the south transept by Miss A. Wood and on 6th April 1920 a war memorial to the dead of the Great War was unveiled by Major. S. Hill Wood. During the tenure of Rev. N. Louch a surpliced choir was introduced and the organ moved from the north side of the choir to the south transept. The space under the tower was converted into a small chapel which was opened and its altar dedicated on November 11th 1934. The oak flooring and furnishings in the sanctuary were given by members of the congregation. Electric lighting and electrically amplified gramophone peal of bells were inaugurated on 5th May 1935. Improvements were made to the sanctuary in 1965 by moving the communion rail forward in order to accommodate the increase in numbers.


Broadbottom Methodist Chapel.
The book Echoes In Glossop Dale tells us that the Broadbottom Chapel was built in the year 1858 to replace the small school-chapel at New York, which was sold and made into cottages. The chapel at Broadbottom accommodated upwards of 200 worshippers, and has a small school-room behind it, where a Sunday school is carried on. For architectural style and neatness of interior arrangement, it is superior to any other country chapel in the circuit.
In 1917 the trustees received a notification that the Great Central Railway Company wished to purchase the land on which the building stood. It was agreed that a new chapel and school should be erected with no cost to the trustees. The Etherow Brow Chapel replaced the original in 1920.


Church of the Immaculate Conception RC, Broadbottom.



The foundation stone was laid in June 1895 by Canon Hermann J. Sabela of St. Charles, Hadfield on land given to the Church by Lord Howard. The money needed for the building was loaned free of interest by Mr. B. Moss, a Charlesworth Independent churchman. The opening took place in August 1896 and the Parish of St. Charles served Charlesworth, Broadbottom, Gamesley, Hattersley, Mottram and Simmondley.
The church is situated at the foot of a hill on the south east side of the railway bridge and stands in its own grounds. The church itself is a pretty structure of an early English design with parpoint facings and has been substantially built. Mr. Oswald Hill of Manchester was the architect, and the contractors were Messrs. Storrs of Stalybridge.
The altar of Caen stone with marble pillars, the figures in relief and decorative work show great artistic skill. This and the two side altars, also of Caen stone were supplied by Messrs. Bolton of Cheltenham. The windows are of stained glass by Messrs. Edmonson of Manchester. There is a memorial window on each side of the Church nearest to the altar, each divided into two elongated sections. On the right is St. John and St. Luke ( with inscriptions), on the left St. Mark and St. Matthew.


Geoffrey Allen Church Centre, Gamesley. Bishop Geoffrey Allen, Bishop of Derby when proposals for the building of the Gamesley estate became known, was keen to encourage the vicar of St. Johns, Charlesworth in the building of a Church centre on the estate. The building work began in October 1969 by J. & T. Rhodes of Bredbury. The centre cost a total of £16,000 including furniture and fittings. The Parish of St. John, Charlesworth opened the doors of the Bishop Geoffrey Allen Centre on 12th September 1970. On its 21st Anniversary the Bishops Council agreed to the Church becoming a district Church.


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Last updated: 12 December 2021