Elland, Victoria Road, Bethesda Methodist New Connexion chapel

Bethesda Methodist New Connexion Chapel was built in 1880. The architect was William Hill FRIBA of Leeds and the contractors Armitage and Hodgson of Leeds. The building was in the Gothic style and cost £4000. At the same time the school was enlarged at a cost of £1800. The chapel was situated on a site bounded by Victoria Road on the north and Savile Road to the west. It was rectangular building with the north side abutting the highway and the entrance up a short flight of steps in the west end, The burial ground was situated behind the chapel with the Sunday school to its east. By 1901 £8,030 had been spent on the original construction and the subsequent enlargement of the chapel, school, and manse. A further £75 had been spent on purchasing an organ. The chapel seated 620 and the school 500. In 1940 the chapel seated 734 and there were two school halls and fourteen other rooms. By 1970 there was only one hall seating 395 and seven other rooms. The chapel continues to be used as a Methodist place of worship.
Sources
Building News 19.3.1880
Methodist New Connexion: Returns of Trust Estates as presented in Special Schedules, January 1901, Halifax South Circuit
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson, Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940/590 Elland, St Paul’s and Bethesda Circuit
OS Town Plan Yorkshire CCXLVI.2.16, 1888
1970 2/8 Elland and Greetland Circuit
Bethesda Church Information