in 1899 when a new congregation opened in Wheler Street. The nucleus of people was provided by existing members who lived in that vicinity. An iron church building was erected at a cost of £215 with the opening service taking place on 26 November. Later developments By the 1860s settlement life had changed and had a new role as an open congregation drawing its members from a wider geographical area. Few of the residents of the settlement were associated with the church. Activities like dramatic performance that had been regarded as ungodly were being accepted. The social life of Fairfield was moving to a form typical of nonconformist chapels, with a dramatic society, a musical choir and a young men's club for billiards and smoking by the 1880s. Theological College The Moravian Theological College, which trained ministers for the British Province and its overseas missions, moved to Fairfield from Fulneck in 1875. It closed in 1958 and its building was restored as a Sunday school and community centre, under the leadership and toil of Anthony Torkington, a Moravian Architect. It was opened for its new role by Bishop Geoffrey Birtill in July 1983. Ministers References: See also Listed buildings in Droylsden References Bibliography Hamilton, J T, and Hamilton, K H (1967), A History of the Moravian Church: the Renewed Unitas Fratrum 1722 - 1957, [Bethlehem, Pa.: Interprovincial Board of Christian Education, Moravian Church in America] Mellowes, F H (1977), A Short History of Fairfield Moravian Church, Fairfield: (pr. by the Puritan Pr.) Mellowes, F H (1984), Two Hundred Years of Church Service: Sketches of some notable Church Servants of Fairfield Congregation 1795-1985 Shawe, Rt Revd C H, DD (1977) The Spirit of the Moravian Church, London: The Moravian Book Room External links https://web.archive.org/web/20100208200047/http://www.moravian.org.uk/fairfield/ https://web.archive.org/web/20100217074431/http://www.billnkaz.demon.co.uk/moravian.htm http://wikimapia.org/beta/#lat=53.475197&lon=-2.149742&z=19&l=0&m=b&v=1 Moravian Church manuscripts; John Rylands Library Congregations of the British Province of the Moravian Church Grade II* listed churches in Greater Manchester Moravian churches in Greater Manchester Droylsden