The founder of the chapel was Benjamin Firth of Oakenshaw born in 1776. Despite humble beginnings and no formal education, he secured a piece of land for the church and eventually became its minister. The church opened in 1826 as an independent chapel. The chapel was structurally damaged in the Low Moor Explosion of 1916 and another munitions explosion the following year. Repairs were needed before it could re-open in 1920. It is now a United Reformed Church.

Burials records begin in 1843 and baptisms records in 1846

The graveyard has been cleared of most monuments but Blackburn visited in 1929 and his records appear on the site.

There are also Grave Books giving grave owners names and sometimes their address. Ages often appear in the Grave Book which are not mentioned in the Burial Registers