Editing Stalybridge (section)

==Religion==
Until the 18th century the Manor of Staley formed part of the parish of [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Mottram|St Michael and All Angels, Mottram]]. The first church to be built in Stalybridge was Old St George's Church, Cocker Hill which was consecrated by the [[Bishop of Chester]] on 25 July 1776. The church collapsed on 15 May 1778. After the Industrial Revolution, the rising population and the settlement of people from various parts of the country meant that Stalybridge became a centre for a wide range of denominations and sects. The history of these churches in the town is complex, with some churches having occupied many different sites. The influence of the churches in the town remained strong well into the 20th century and formed part of the basis of Stalybridge's sense of identity.

The first [[Methodist]] chapel was erected in 1802 on the corner of Chapel Street and Rassbottom Street. The Baptist chapel on King Street, was opened by the [[Particular Baptist|Particular (Ebenezer) Baptists]]. This chapel was subsequently occupied by the [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]] on 3 October 1830. The Particular (Ebenezer) Baptists moved to a new chapel on Cross Leech Street on 28 October 1828.

===Churches===
[[File:Stalybridge - Holy Trinity and Christ Church.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Holy Trinity and Christ Church]]
;Church of England
[[St George's Church, Stalybridge|St George's]] is the parish church on the Lancashire side of the river in the [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]]. It is known as New St George's and its foundation stone was laid on 24 June 1840. On the Cheshire side, the parish church of Holy Trinity and Christ Church, [[Diocese of Chester]], is on Trinity Street in the town centre, beside the former market hall. The foundation stone of the parish church of St Paul's, Staley, was laid by [[Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere]] on 2 February 1838. It is in the Diocese of Chester, as is St James', Millbrook.
St Paul's Church is on Huddersfield Road and is an active parish church.
<gallery>
File:St Pauls exterior view.jpg|St Paul's Church
File:Interior St Pauls.jpg|Interior of St Paul's Church
</gallery>
;Roman Catholic
There are two [[Roman Catholic]] parishes – St Peter's, Stalybridge, the foundation stone of which was laid on 8 June 1838, and St Raphael's, Millbrook. In 2011 an estimated repair bill of £250,000 led to a decision to close St Raphael's; a final Mass was held on 14 July 2011, and although it was Grade II listed in 2011,<ref>{{NHLE |num=1406451 |desc=Church of St Raphael the Archangel |grade=II |fewer-links= |access-date=21 November 2023}}</ref> its future is now "uncertain".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-20 |title=Report: Church of St Raphael, Millbrook - May 18 {{!}} Other Sites |url=https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/church-of-st-raphael-millbrook-may-18.113598/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=28DaysLater.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2023}} Both parishes are in the [[Diocese of Shrewsbury]].
;Methodist
The octagonal Stalybridge Methodist Church on High Street opened in 1966.<ref name="S+D"/>
<gallery>
File:Stalybridge MC Exterior.jpg|Stalybridge Methodist Church
File:Stalybridge Methodists Interior.jpg|Stalybridge Methodist Church interior
</gallery>
;Congregationalist
Stalybridge [[Congregational church|Congregational]] Church is to be found in a modern building on Baker Street, just off Acres Lane, behind the Organ public house. Its original building, which opened for worship in 1861 and was demolished around the turn of the 21st century, was between Melbourne Street and Trinity Street in the town centre.
;Unitarian
The [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] Church on Forester Drive was established in 1870 and is part of the East Cheshire Union of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
;Evangelical/Non-denominational
Stalybridge Revival Church, on Mount Street, formerly known as Stalybridge Evangelical Church, was established in 2009. The church has since moved to Millbrook but retains use of the building on Mount Street.<ref name="Ref_ar">{{cite web|url=http://www.revivalchurch.org.uk/locations/stalybridge|publisher=Revival Church|title=Revival Church Website|access-date=8 January 2014|archive-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423030209/http://www.revivalchurch.org.uk/locations/stalybridge|url-status=dead}}</ref>