100 years of Champness Hall

Inaugurated on 8th September 1925 by the mayor of Rochdale, Champness Hall was named after Thomas Champness (1832-1905), a Methodist minister. It has been designed to combine religious functions and to encourage social meetings and had an important role in the life of the community. The aim of the Hall was: ‘to provide a spiritual home for those people who were outside all churches’. The Hall was built at the location of a former Methodist Chapel exiting in 1851 as shows the map.

Champness Methodist Hall was designed by Mr. A. Brocklehurst and Co architect. He was an interwar architect based in Manchester. Brocklehurst designed a number of chapels and central halls for the Methodist Church such as the Central Methodist Hall in Carlisle built in 1922. One of Brocklehurst’s partners was Alan W. Hornabrook, whose father the Revd John Hornabrook (1848-1937) was President of the Methodist Conference and Chairman of the Wesleyan Chapel Committee.

The building has a secular almost ‘cinema’ character quite unlike a church. This was a deliberate design approach of the time, as Methodist halls were meant to appeal to both believers and non-believers alike. The large windows are one of the most impressive Art Deco features characterising the Hall. 

Thomas Champness Memorial Hall was built to house the Methodist mission in Rochdale. This was not only a place of worship but also the headquarters of several organisations which served the community as a whole, because the strategy of the modern Church was to create a public building for contemporary use (also with modern features such as heating and ventilation).

The 2,000 seated Art Deco auditorium is the centre piece of the Champness Hall. It was available for use for free and was used for Christian worship as well as for public meetings like concerts or festivals. It was used daily by local people and welcomed visiting preachers. Champness Hall is a precious heritage building testifying to the history of Rochdale. The building was erected by R. & T. Howarth, the principal Rochdale building company of the time with a high reputation for quality. They also built the nearby Rochdale Fire Station on Maclure Road.

Fast forward to modern times, Champness hall has been a staple in the community, housing live music events and local theatre productions. The infamous Sex Pistols gig which was scheduled on the 22nd December 1977 at Champness Hall before being cancelled by the council. With threats of court action and panic from Rochdale’s Methodist leaders, who said the gig was an ‘insult to decent folk’, councillors in the town banned the legendary band from performing here. However, despite this, Champness has still remained championing local talent and being a venue for the community.

To commemorate their 100th year anniversary, Champness Hall are hosting a Centenary Cabaret! On 20th September, join the team for an evening celebrating legacy and community with a line up packed with Rochdale's remarkable charities and community groups. For full event details, please click here.

The team at Champness Hall would like the venue to be a community space which celebrates everyone and are open to ideas, so if you have an event you would like them to host, please contact 07519 114197.