In 1750 David Taylor and a companion were travelling through the hills from Sheffield to Sparrowpit where he had started a Methodist Society in 1738, when they were caught in a blinding snowstorm. Fatigued and almost perishing they reached the cottage at Barber Booth and sought shelter. The man of the house, John Hadfield, though the visitors were influenced by evil and reached for his sword which was displayed on the mantelpiece with the other pieces of armour he had worn at the battle of Preston Pans. But his fears were dispelled when David Taylor greeted him with ‘Peace be to this house’.

Methodist services in Edale started from that time and a society was formed of which John Hadfield was the first member. In the same cottage James Ridal, a travelling preacher, was born and a farmstead across the valley was the birthplace of Daniel and Peter Eyre, both of whom became Wesleyan Ministers.

The chapel was built in 1811 with the Sunday School having been added at the end of the century. There were two chapel services, afternoon and evening every Sunday.

Percival Harvey was the Sunday School leader from about 1930-45 and classes were held in the afternoon before the service. There was also a regular choir. Horace and Bessie Dalton continued to lead the Sunday School when they came to live at Back Tor and later Ladybooth Farm. Some years later a Sunday School was held in the village hall (built 1967). It became too expensive for those who attended, the chapel Sunday School was refurbished and sessions were held there. Only a few people now attend the service, often 5 and the organist travels monthly from Marple. At harvest and Christmas it can be full.

The vestry

For many years the building was heated by a coke burning boiler in the cellar, it was stoked by the caretakers May (ne Critchlow) and Tom Nield from early 1930s to the late 1940s. After this paraffin heaters were used and when electricity arrived in 1951 heating with electric heaters made everything easier and safer.