Blackrod Methodist Church

SUNDAY WORSHIP

Our services are of the traditional sort. and are held on Sunday mornings at 10.15am. 
On the first Sunday of the month only, there is an evening service at 6pm.

Our minister is Rev. Laurence Potter (tel. 01257 421299)

Blackrod Methodist Church, New Street, Blackrod BL6 5AQ map

THE UPPER HALL
The hall has a stage and a fully-fitted kitchen.  There is a stairlift as well as a ramp at the entrance to the building. The hall is available for hire for both regular or occasional use. Current regular users include Blackrod (Age Concern) Luncheon Club, Blackrod Art Group, and the Kathleen Berry School of Dancing (ballet),

Any enquiries please telephone 01204 468427.

HISTORY
The earliest record of Methodism in Blackrod dates back to 1796, though in those days worship took place in a rented room behind a public house, the first chapel not being built until 1816. In those days, Blackrod was part of the Bolton circuit, but joined the Wigan circuit sometime during the 1820's, and is mentioned in the earliest recorded Wigan circuit plan from 1832.

The present building opened in 1900, next to the Methodist day school, the foundations having been dug by the members to save money. It was built along the lines of a typical Methodist church of that period, with a gallery and a high pulpit, but did not have a pipe organ until 1922.

In 1980, the Methodist school closed, (the LEA having built a new Anglican-Methodist school on Vicarage Road West) and the building was handed back to the church.  Unfortunately it was riddled with dry rot, and the decision was taken to demolish the building, sell the land for housing and make significant alterations to the church building, mainly the removal of the gallery and the creation of a hall upstairs.  This necessitated lowering the pulpit, and also, to the regret of many, the removal of the pipe organ, (which was sold to St. Benedict RC church, Hindley) to be replaced by an electronic one, which has itself since been replaced by a Yamaha clavinova, a digital piano which can recreate the sound of any instrument you can think of, (and several more as well.) This has been very well received, and has the added benefit that hymns can be recorded on the instrument and played back on those occasions when there is no "organist" present.

Unfortunately, in recent years attendances at Sunday services have declined, the membership now being only about 28 and we struggle to pay our way, but having the hall has been a great help and we look forward to the future with optimism.