Our History: the building
Thomas Lomas was a Manchester cornmodity dealer who moved to Handforth in 1857. As a devoted Weslyan Methodist, he felt that the village, which had a population of 629, needed a chapel to compare with the the most fashionable Wesleyan chapels in the suburbs.
In 1871, he commissioned the construction of a stone church in a Gothic style, specifying that it should be built free of debt. He donated the land for the site of the church, which adjoined his own house and garden. No expense was spared in constructing the quality building. The final cost was over £2,300 which included stained glass windows in memory of his late wife and two daughters. The seating capacity was 200. He named the chapel St Mary's after his late dear wife.
In 1965, the building to the rear of the chapel was built at a cost of £15,000. This was originally used as a Sunday School and is now used by community groups, organisations and for church activities. (See Groups & Organisations)
Further updates to the building have been undertaken in more recent years, including the creation of a children's area at the back of the sanctuary in 2013 and the refurbishment of the vestry area in 2014. The church hall toilets were refurbished in 2014 with the addition of a toilet for the disabled and the roof was renewed in 2015. In 2022 we celebrate our 150th. Anniversary.
In 1871, he commissioned the construction of a stone church in a Gothic style, specifying that it should be built free of debt. He donated the land for the site of the church, which adjoined his own house and garden. No expense was spared in constructing the quality building. The final cost was over £2,300 which included stained glass windows in memory of his late wife and two daughters. The seating capacity was 200. He named the chapel St Mary's after his late dear wife.
In 1965, the building to the rear of the chapel was built at a cost of £15,000. This was originally used as a Sunday School and is now used by community groups, organisations and for church activities. (See Groups & Organisations)
Further updates to the building have been undertaken in more recent years, including the creation of a children's area at the back of the sanctuary in 2013 and the refurbishment of the vestry area in 2014. The church hall toilets were refurbished in 2014 with the addition of a toilet for the disabled and the roof was renewed in 2015. In 2022 we celebrate our 150th. Anniversary.