Update July 2026
Over the years, sadly our congregational members have significantly declined. From what was thriving just 20 years ago boasting Sunday attendees at around 40. As our valued members have passed away, despite the efforts made by our committee and remaining congregation, nowadays, we are lucky if have 12 people in the congregation on a Sunday Morning.
Sadly, due to the relocation of two of our valued committee members who are now planning their retirement and as our chairman and room manager will also be stepping down due to his own and his wife’s ill health, this now left us no option but to look seriously at the future of the chapel.
As a charitable organisation, we cannot function without the vital roles of treasurer, chairman and secretary and due to having insufficient congregational numbers and committed volunteers to undertake these roles, whilst we have examined all possible avenues to try and remain open, on Sunday 26th July 2026, we held an extraordinary congregational meeting in which we voted for the future.
Whilst every effort and reasonable approach has been examined, The majority of the remaining congregation voted that we should now after 150 years of Unitarian Heritage in Denton, we will finally close our doors.
We aim to wind up by 31st December 2026, holding our last Sunday service on Sunday 20th December at our annual Carol Service.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the committee both past and present who have ensured that our heritage has survived 150 years, and of course, thank the members of the congregation, again, both past and present for not just attending on a weekly basis, creating a true community but also for attending our much loved social events. Of course everyone that has ever come to one of our services, whether that be Rites of Passage or regular worship, we hope has been inspired to think openly and freely about their faith.
Obviously we are sad to see the building close, but faith is enduring, so whilst we invite people to continue to seek their own spiritual path through life maybe by attending one of our other chapels within the district, may I also remind you of my favourite quote which is an adaptation from the Gospel of Thomas, believed to be the sayings of the living Jesus;
“The Kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, not in a mansion made of wood and stone, split a piece of wood and I am there, lift a stone and you will find me. “