Todmorden Unitarian Church

Todmorden Unitarian Church is a redundant Unitarian church located in Honey Hole Road, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, England. Built in honour of John Fielden, a local mill owner and a social reformer, the church was completed in 1869. It was declared redundant in 1987 and came under the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. Since 2008, regular services have been held in the building, but it remains in the care of the Trust. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building,Early historyThe Unitarian movement originated in Todmorden in the early 19th century, and one of their prominent members was John Fielden, a local mill owner and a social reformer, who later became a Member of Parliament. Because of his work, Fielden has been nicknamed "Honest John". The Unitarians built their first chapel and school in 1823 and the congregation steadily increased in size. Fielden died in 1849. After his death the Unitarian community continued to grow and the chapel became inadequate for their needs. In 1865 building of a new church started. This was built in memory of John Fielden and paid for by his three sons, Joshua, John (junior) and Samuel. It was built on land they owned at Honey Hole. "Money was no object to these brothers" and the resulting building, costing over £35,000, was large and splendid, and was built using the best quality materials. The church was completed in 1869 and at its opening service in April of that year the first sermon was preached to a congregation of 800 by William Gaskell, widower of the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. A lodge (or gatehouse) was built at the same time as the church.