In 1720 John Crewe, Lord of the Manor, declared his intention of restoring the Ringey (Ringway) Chapel to the Established Church. By 1722 the Dissenting congregation and the Minister, Nicholas Waterhouse, were turned out of Ringway Chapel. After this event 13 of the dissenters bought a piece of land known as ‘Buttsfield’ lying between Hale Barns and Warburton Green for £5, and a new building was erected for the congregation.
On 16th July 1723 the new Meeting House was registered as "intended for a place of divine and religious worship" and a formal opening was conducted in October 1723. The building had two entrance doors in the south wall, long since walled up and replaced by the present single entrance in the east gable.
On 22nd June 1723 Hale Chapel was put in trust. Future trustees were to be "elected and chosen by the majority of the communicating members attending divine worship at the Meeting House". The congregation then drew up a written code of regulations determining the roles of minister and congregation.
In 1740 a Day School was founded on land purchased in Hale Barns village, a forerunner of the Sunday School.
On Sunday, 3rd February 1788 a Sunday School was opened, and the scholars met in the Day School premises.
In 1821 a gallery was added to the Chapel with an outside brick stair case with stone
steps and a handrail. Also erected in the south eastern corner of the chapel yard was a schoolroom with stabling below. The scholars used the gallery and then later is was
used by the choir, with a violin accompaniment.
In 1860 this gallery became unsafe and was dismantled, along with the outside staircase,
and the doorway was blocked up.
At this time a harmonium was installed in the Chapel, followed by an organ in 1882.
In 1880 a new schoolroom was built next to the Day School in Hale Barns village, and this was enlarged in 1886 and 1910. The old Sunday School building in the Chapel yard, which had become unsafe, was demolished by 1885.
The Meeting House, amid the scattered farms of a thinly populated area, was the only
place of worship within Hale and Hale Barns for some 150 years, until the arrival of the railway, when the locality changed to suburban and attracted church building of other denominations.
In the 19th century the Chapel provided virtually all the community facilities in the village of Hale Barns, eg: a Penny Bank, a library, a singing class, a Band of Hope, a cricket team and a club.
In 1852 the Chapel was registered for marriages. Interments also began in the graveyard.
In 1906 a new belfry, to the design of Mr. P.S. Worthington, was donated to the Chapel by Mr. Wolff.
The Lych Gate dates from the 1890’s and was refurbished in 2001.
In the 20th century the Sunday School flourished, with an annual May Queen Service, drama society and youth club.
In the 1970’s the Sunday School declined and eventually closed. The schoolrooms are still used for social functions for the present congregation and the local community.
The Chapel continues to flourish and in 1994 the vestry was enlarged and modernised, which enables meetings to be held and coffee served after services.
In 1993, due to deterioration and expensive repair costs, the organ was removed and replaced with a Viscount Electronic.
In 1999 a new sound and loop system was installed. Another improvement in that year was the purchase of new pew cushions with legacy funding.
The Chapel is a member of the local HASTYDE group of churches; comprising Hale and Dean Row Chapels
