HYDE CHESHIRE

Harry Rutherford's
Festival of Britain Mural




Sunday 4 September 2011

Union Street Congregational Sunday School

Laying of the foundation stones of the Sunday school on 4th July 1914..

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There were three foundation stones laid, but you can only see two of them clearly in these pictures. You can just see part of the third one (or first one to be exact, reading from left to right) in the last picture. You can just see the 'E' of Elijah Roebuck, JP, the other two being laid by A Milne Fletcher, JP and Thomas Brownson, BA. The Union Street Congregational Church has now been demolished, but the Sunday school survives in the form of The United Church adjacent to the library on Union Street.

Thanks to Dave for the excellent (as always) information supplied.

Grateful thanks to Steven and Winifred Pickford for the above photos.

9 comments:

Dave Williams said...

There were three foundation stones laid, but you can only see two of them clearly in these pictures. You can just see part of the third one (or first one to be exact, reading from left to right) in the last picture. You can just see the 'E' of Elijah Roebuck, JP, the other two being laid by A Milne Fletcher, JP and Thomas Brownson, BA. The Union Street Congregational Church has now been demolished, but the Sunday school survives in the form of The United Church adjacent to the library on Union Street. I'll email you some photos I've taken today of the foundation stones.

Hydonian said...

Thanks Dave, I shall add your info to the post!

Alex Cleverley said...

My great uncle Philip Marshall was a unofficial patron of the Hyde Union Street Congregational Church, he left the church £250 in his will of 1941. He was the manager of Slack Mills and appeared to be a very highly respected man in the community having worked his way up from a 'Little Piecer' aged 10 up to Manager. His obituary mentions his interest and dedication towards the church and the Sunday School. The former minister Rev W A Powicke M. A. attended his funeral.

Tom said...

Hi Alex
Great comment, and excellent information. If you have a picture of your Great Uncle, and a few words to share about him I would be honoured to feature him in a post.

Simon Pickford said...

My 3 x great grandfather Joshua Pickford was one of the founders of the original church in 1843 and the family remained connected for the next 130 years. My father Steven Pickford contributed the pictures which I have inherited. I have a copy of the Centenary Memorial Volume dated 1914.

Joshua Pickford was manager of Greenfield Mill and built Barnfield House which was on the corner of Market Street and Dowson Road.

Simon Pickford
Birmingham

Tom said...

Simon thank you for your comment.. it makes the post come alive when we get feed back such as this... if you have anything you'd like to share and see featured here please send it in by email.

Simon Pickford said...

My great uncle George Pickford was Secretary of Union Street Church until shortly before he died in 1971 maintaining a family connection with the church for some 130 years. The family played the organ there throughout that period as well as they were musical. I have a little correspondance re the closure of the church which I will lodge with the record office with associated papers.

Anonymous said...

In 1871 my ancestor the rev elijah pickford came to Bournemouth ,he was sent out from Union street in the 1850s after marrying a lady called Mary Robinson.He was sent to Little Lever,and then to worksop, finishing his ministry in Pokesdown.He became a much loved pastor and member of the community.I wonder if he was related to Joshua Pickford? Michael Pickford.

Michael Pickford said...

In 1871 my ancestor the rev elijah pickford came to Bournemouth ,he was sent out from Union street in the 1850s after marrying a lady called Mary Robinson.He was sent to Little Lever,and then to worksop, finishing his ministry in Pokesdown.He became a much loved pastor and member of the community.I wonder if he was related to Joshua Pickford? Michael Pickford.