The Presbyterians had state backing and held power during the Commonwealth, support for the Puritans was strong, a local martyr being George Marsh.

The power of the Church of England was re-asserted through the Clarendon Code after the English Restoration in 1660 by persecuting Nonconformists to force them to conform to use of the Book of Common Prayer in services, requiring prayers for the King, resulting in the Great Ejection on "Bartholemew Sunday" in 1662 when 2500 Ministers left their Churches.

[5] William Anderton was an early benefactor to the chapel leaving funds in 1670 in his will for Ministers John Walker and Samuel Newton.

Newton gained a licence as a Presbyterian Teacher in 1672[6] and returned to preach at Rivington Church in 1674, his name appears on the list of ministers.

In the same year Mr Hill of Rivington, a Presbyterian teacher was also granted license to preach in any place allowed.

[10] and Hugh Willoughby was one of the first trustees and benefactors of the chapel,[11] which was built in 1703 on land named Goosehey[12] given for a peppercorn rent on a 2000-year lease by John Andrews of Rivington Manor, with the stipulation it should only be used for religious services of Protestants dissenting from the Church of England.

[21][14] In 1760 four men, Hugh Makinson, Moses Cocker, Thomas Anderton and John Ashworth, rallied support to build the Presbyterian Lee Chapel in Horwich, in opposition of Unitarianism at Rivington.

In this way the Horwich and Rivington chapels were "rent in twain", to quote the local historian Thomas Hampson writing in 1893.

The Methodist preacher was overcome by the noise from the banging of a silver tea tray by the occupant of New Hall, who like other villagers was annoyed at the intrusion.

[1] The manse is now a private residence; money from the sale was used to create a garden of remembrance in 1970 with surrounding wall containing niches for crematorium ashes.

[3] The building is surrounded by a drystone wall and the chapel's original bell and its cast iron gates dating to 1816 survive.

[28] On the north wall between the windows is a raised five-sided panelled pulpit with carved frieze and moulded cornice, one of few remaining in its original position, most having been moved in the Victorian era.

The Willoughby pew by the south wall has a large ornate canopy with paneled reredos and a moulded and carved cornice in the classical style.

The Norris memorial was created from a brass plaque that was unearthed during maintenance work in the 1990s in the oldest part of the chapel yard.

Some graves at ground level were surrounded by decorative wrought iron railings, the ironwork was removed in World War II by government for use in munitions production.

[33] A plaque commemorates Walt Whitman, celebrated on 31 May 1913 by the minister, Samuel Thompson and the Eagle Street College.

Until the 20th century young females would attend carrying poseys of lad's-love, Thyme, Pink's, and roses, the Preacher arrived directly into Chapel, in plain clothing, no gown and prior to arrival of the organ in 1843 music was by way of a Bassoon and violoncello, hymn numbers were given to the congregation by writing them on a slate with chalk, there is now a hymn board.