Platt Unitarian Chapel, Rusholme, Manchester
1687-1970
Archives
Total copies: 1
Registers, including: burial registers 1786-1807, 1861-1918; baptism registers 1785-1807, 1861-1965; marriage registers 1865-1963 (includes funerals 1946-1953); 1804 transcript of baptisms 1687-1704, 1714-1752 and various notes on burials 1804-1929 and baptisms 1743-1763, 1780-1784; membership roll c1957-1964. Congregation and Committee meeting minutes 1860-1961; secretary's papers, including: correspondence etc 1864-1923, rules, circulars, notices 1872-1923, plans and notes concerning land, pews, church plate and bell, undated; monumental inscriptions 18th-20th century.
Financial records, including: quarterly collections 1759-1804; cash books 1809-1845, 1861-1903, 1937-1961; bank pass book 1888-1905, 1950-1961; ledgers 1950-1961; annual reports and statement of accounts 1895-1896, 1900-1904, 1913, 1915, 1930, 1933-1935; treasurer's statement accounts 1945-1961; subscriptions 1889-1894; bills 1860-1904.
Sunday School committee minutes 1901-1913; Sunday School accounts 1887-1900; Temperance Guild cash books 1894-1905, subscriptions 1895-1901 and accounts 1896-1903; Goose Club account book 1898-1903 and members 1904. Correspondence 1895-1970
Place:/Rusholme/Manchester/Lancashire/England
Title:
Platt Unitarian Chapel, Rusholme, Manchester
Date of work:
1687-1970
Reference number:
GB127.M59
Level of description:
Fonds
Includes:
Custodial history:
Platt Chapel was built in 1699 by former members of Birch Chapel who had left there when the Rev Henry Finch was elected in 1697 (see Worsley Papers GB127.M55/6/L5/l-2b for building accounts and other).
The conveyance in trust of the Chapel and ground by Ralph Worsley in 1706 made provision for the conduct of public services 'by a Minister of the Presbyterian judgement and practice as to church discipline and government and not of any other persuasion' who, 'shall be orthodox and sound in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and such as hold and profess the doctrinal articles of the Church of England required to be subscribed by the pastor of such congregations as are qualified according to the Tolleration Act.'
During the second half of the eighteenth century, Presbyterianism in Lancashire and Cheshire began to move away from orthodox views and practices and by the end of the century, in common with most other 'Presbyterian' churches, Platt Chapel had become largely Unitarian. Mr. Whitelegg who was appointed minister in 1810, became an avowed Unitarian and his successors were likewise. The views and opinions of the congregation remained in accord with its ministers.
In 1868, a group of Scottish Presbyterians who were engaged in building a new chapel in the neighbouring Withington challenged the congregation's legal title to the chapel and certain endowments in view of the wording of the trust deed that the minister should be Presbyterian.
These papers are largely concerned with re-establishing the congregation's legal ownership of the chapel. Members of the Withington Presbyterian Congregation were appointed to vacancies on the Trust, the former Platt trustees then retired and left them in possession. The Chapel Committee were then in a position to negotiate to buy back the Chapel having gained the approval of the Charity Commissioners to its conveyance in trust for use 'as a place for the celebration of public worship of almighty God ... in such a manner ... as the Congregation meeting therein should from time to time direct or allow 'with' such minister or ministers of religion as might from time to time be appointed by such congregation.'
Source:
Purchased in June 1967. Additional deposit in March 1975 by G Head, Honorary Secretary, Manchester and District Association of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (Incorporated). Additional deposit on 15 August 1975, from new occupiers of chapel. Additional deposit in February 1984 by Rev J M McGillivray. Additional deposit in January 2001 (Acc 2001/01) by the Friends of Platt Chapel.
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
Topics:
Record types:
Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Language:
English
Record number:
7188346