Champness Hall
| Thomas Champness never got ahead of God. He was ever saying "we must see if the way opens" And he was never afraid that God would fail him. His friends smiled to hear him repeat "we shall be guided". This strong simple faith was shared by his old friend Charles Heap, and is the only explanation of the present position. Rochdale was in danger of becoming a byword in Methodism – always talking of and hoping for a Central Hall. AT LAST THE WAY OPENED – from an unexpected quarter came information of a desireable site and also a delightful promise of £15,000 if the scheme matured. THEN the door was roughly CLOSED ; the site proved unobtainable.. |
But, THE WAY OPENED AGAIN – More surprisingly we were led to a better site. It had been vacant for many years – surely kept for us by God. Hidden by shops and just the right distance form the street, it was discovered to us at the eleventh hour. A day later we should have missed it. EVEN SO THE WAY WAS NOT CLEAR – The purchase of the existing shops and the site behind meant a big initial outlay. And when plans were prepared affording adequate accomodation for Sunday School as well as for a Hall the financial undertaking was obviously too great for us to face – and the door seemed to be CLOSING AGAIN | YET FAITH DESTROYED FEAR and kept repeating ‘we shall be guided’. And so it proved/ Men whose judgement would be accepted in any Methodist Council examined the scheme and pronounced it sound, Moreover the anonymous donor of £15,000 said "I think it should go forward, I will give another £10,000. Put it down as from a friend of Thomas Champness; he was the best man I ever knew". Champness Hall Opening Brochure : Summer 1925 |