Tottington is a town in Greater Manchester close to the West Pennine moors and the Rossendale Valley. The only Methodist denomination to get a foothold in Tottington were the Wesleyans. Around 1820 there were three house prayer meetings in the town and from 1822 the Wesleyans met in a room above a smithy in Market Street. The Society was led by Richard Booth (1794-1836), supported by his wife Lois, (1799-1881). With the increasing size of the congregation, in 1828 Society unanimously agreed to raise money to build a chapel. Land was bought in Market Street and the chapel was opened in 1829. The Sunday school which started in 1822 was transferred to the new chapel. New day and Sunday school premises were built in 1868-69 and a larger chapel was opened in 1905.

Among those who taught in the Tottington Sunday School was the temperance lecturer and vegetarian advocate William Hoyle (1831-86).

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Place
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