The old school at Bottomley Lane Foot 1818-1876. Photo by kind permission of Roger Birch

It was decided a new school should be erected and in the year 1818 a school was built, originally known as Bottomley Lane Foot. John Fielden of Bottomley donated the land on condition he could send one scholar free of charge to the day school. It was situated on the Bottomley side of the canal, just over the bridge at the bottom of the lane.

A stone was placed above the door with the inscription:

The School was built by public subscription for instructing the children of all denominations

This lead to considerable bickering and civil war between the trustees and the school superintendents over the following years.

The new school was opened in the December of 1818 and one Sunday a month was set aside for Church of England use, but the Wesleyans provided the pulpit with preachers the rest of the time. These people were the first Trustees in 1818:

John Fielden of Bottomley

John Fielden jnr of Bottomley

James Scholfield of Calflee

Thomas Baron of Allescholes

Samuel Fielden of Higher Scout

Robert Dawson of Stonehouse

John Scholfield of Calflee

John Shackleton of Lanebottom

Abraham Scholfield of Knowltop

John Stevenson of Bottomley

John Scholfield the younger of Calflee

"On Good Friday, the memorial stones of a new Wesleyan Chapel were laid at Lanebottom, Walsden..... Prior to the ceremony, the Sunday scholars and others formed in procession, and headed by a banner and Todmorden Brass Band, marched to Walsden and back again to the site of the chapel. The site is on the left hand side of the turnpike road from Todmorden, near the entrance of Summit Tunnel, and in sight of the old place.......The first foundation stone was laid by Miss H. Lacy of Underbank Hall; an elegant trowel was presented to her on behalf of the trustees by Mr. A. Fairbourne, and a mallet by the Rev. J. Hornby, on behalf of the architect. Miss Lacy, having gone through the formality of laying the stone, declared it "Well and truly laid". The other stones were laid in the same manner, a trowel and mallet being presented in each instance. The ladies who laid the stones were: Miss Martha Howarth of Park House Burnley, (niece to Miss Howarth of Spring Bank, Burnley, who had been advertised to lay it, but was prevented by indisposition; Mrs. J. Warburton of Haslingden; and Mrs. Abraham Dawson of Knowltop.

 

Bottles were deposited under two of the stones containing various documents, coins, newspapers, etc. including a manuscript setting forth the number of scholars (177), teachers (54), members (69), names of trustees of new chapel, and other details in relation to the new church at Lanebottom."

In 1899 the chapel became licensed for marriages. The first wedding was celebrated on 3rd October 1899 between Abraham Greenwood of Rochdale and Miss Hannah Crossley of Lanebottom. Both families were connected with the chapel. The following year, on 17th April, the marriage was celebrated between William Clegg, a greengrocer of 200 Rochdale Road, Shade, and Miss Mary Hannah Law of Birks Hall, Walsden.

In 1909 the chapel celebrated its centenary at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scholfield of Summit.

The new Chapel and school at Lanebottom,

A class of mixed ages at the school in 1918. Included amongst

the children are Kathleen Fielden and her brother Leslie, and brothers

Jack and Clifford Chadwick

The Chapel Choir about 1920

The photograph is published with the kind permission of members of

the current Trinity Methodist Church and the Rev. Robbie Bowen

Front row left to right:

F. Sutcliffe, Walter Redman, Mrs. Blackledge, Florence Firth, Rachel Halstead, Mrs. Amy Greenwood, Doris, Clifford Chadwick, Mrs. Arthur Shackleton

Middle row left to right:

Ernest Taylor, Ruth Law, Mary Crowther, Mr. Blackledge (choirmaster), Frank Jackson (organist), Mary Law, Edith Cryer.

Back row left to right:

Mrs. Ruth Law, Arthur Greenwood, Willie Starkie, Rowland Law, Frank Crossley, Arthur Taylor, Ernest Booth, Mrs. Smith.

1926 saw a Golden Jubilee of the opening of the new chapel. The celebrations commenced with a successful tea in the schoolroom; when 200 people sat down to partake in the tea. The party continued in to the evening and again the following day.

John Dawson was Chairman for the occasion. He was well placed to be made chairman on such an auspicious occasion. At the age of 70, and with a whole life spent around the school and chapel, he could remember more than most what the old days were like. He was a direct descendant of Susan Scholfield, the first Wesleyan in the Todmorden circuit, his grandfather was John Scholfield, the man who cut the first sod for the new chapel over 50 years previously, and his mother, Margaret, laid the first corner stones along with 3 other ladies.

Mr. Dawson said that he could remember the old chapel across the canal and how the ladies who worshipped there wore big crinolines, bustles and chignons, whilst the men folk wore big beards and lots of whiskers. He said:

" For about 2 years the new chapel was lit with oil lamps, and they had a wheezy old harmonium, but they soon got tired of that and got a new one, which was still in use and one of the best. From that they went on to a borrowed organ, but that wasn't satisfactory; it was always breaking down and eventually the trustees appointed a body of young people to collect money for a new organ, and the result was they got the organ they have today."

William Scholfield

Rev. John Law, Missionary

More recent memories are just as fondly remembered.

Janet Rooks remembers the Chapel from her childhood days. She says:

" The main thing that I remember from my first visit was the contrast between the outside and inside. I didn't want to go in, but mum held my hand and said, come on, it's OK. The front entrance seemed dark and foreboding but inside, it was light and airy. The atmosphere was that of joy and happiness, as if everyone was really glad to be there.  Was there a large organ? I seem to remember some huge organ pipes, or could this be a distorted childhood recollection?

Mother used to take me to the anniversary every year...The occasion demanded new clothes from top to toe and it always seemed to be on a lovely fine day. The Chapel would be packed, sparkle and shine and smell of the polish and floral arrangements."

Alan Walton also remembers the chapel from his childhood. He says -

"We have a great interest in Lanebottom Methodist Chapel ......I recall being present at the Sunday School back in the '50's for a double Golden Wedding celebration, together with around 100 other guests . The two couples were related and were (I think) Fieldens and possibly Greenwoods.

The original corner stones of the Chapel were laid (so tradition has it) by the eldest daughters of 4 of the founding families of the Chapel. Each daughter was presented with a commemorative trowel and mallet in a presentation case. The instructions were that each set was to be passed down to the eldest daughter of the respective families. One of the sets is still in our family but getting ever more distant! I have been able to keep track of it and had it in my possession for a short time a couple of years ago. We would be interested to know if any of the other sets are still in existence and their whereabouts."