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I have found out that a number of my relatives died in the First World War. I’ve got a couple of Charles Moulster’s medals.
Robin Moulster
Kate: that’s interesting about the book. I don’t know if you can upload images to here, but it would be interesting to see the actual certificate,
Thank you for your interest. The baptismal (and administrative) records for all the three Mountsorrel churches (Primitive, United, Wesleyan) are all deposited in Leicestershire Record Office. None of them had a burial ground. Mounsorrel has a municipal cemetary, and one of the reasons these were created was to allow Non-conformists to be buried according to their own religious rites. I would have thought it was likely that your ancestor was buried there. The cemetery is run by Mountsorrel Parish Council, so I think it would be worth your while contacting them at https://mountsorrelparishcouncil.co.uk/contact-us/
Many thanks to everyone, especially Kate for such a detailed series of recollections.
Hello Mr.Thornborow, I wonder if you can help us. We are trying to find where the burial service of our Gt.Gt.grandmother Sarah Ann Thornett (nee Bailey) took place.She died in 1899 in Mt.Sorrell, her death being registered at Barrow. Our friend John Do yle of the Mt.S. Heritage Group has informed us that she wasn’t buried at either of the Anglican churches in Mt.S. and as we know she had connections with the Wesleyan Methodist church in Cherrington where the family originated, we were wondering if she attended the MtSorrel church. Her son John Edward Thornett was killed in WW1 1.5.16 and is listed on the Mt.Sorrel Memorial and in St.Peters Church but he was also mentioned in the records of the Cherrington W.M.C. which is now closed and is a private house. I know this is a long-shot but I am hoping you can shed some light on this mystery. Her husband James Alfred Thornett died in 1921 and we are assuming they were re-united somewhere! Thank you in advance.
Hello Michael, I would be interested to see your find, my Great Grandmothers brother was one of the soldiers from the Folly who is on the window. I’m also extremely interested in local and military history. my email is kristian.schug@gmail.com I also live just along from the Folly Look forward to hearing from you
Thomas Lauchlan is the correct spelling
In the summer of 1939 my father Henry Townsend Wigley, became minister at Lodge Lane, just as war broke out.
I have just been googling to see what became of the various chapels where he worked. I see that ‘Ian’s’ article says ‘ Little is known of the years between 1935 and 1950’. I remember a good deal of those years. I was only ten in 1939 but by the time we left in 1945 I was sixteen. Perhaps you will be interested in my memories.
My father had for six years been secretary of Christian Endeavour, with an office in Leeds and weekends spent preaching all over the country. I learned much later that he had had an invitation to the rather struggling Lodge Lane and to a flourishing church in another city. He said he felt called to Lodge Lane. He said that he had begun by removing from the list of members all those who had died or moved away. He believed in home visiting and was out most evenings, home for cocoa, parkin and the nine o’clock news on the BBC Home Service. He liked to visit when the men might be at home.
I remember II o’clock morning service, children at the front with a teacher who led them out after a children’s address and before the sermon. I sat in the back pew with my mother. Holy Communion was never the main service but monthly straight after the morning service. The PSA used the chapel in the afternoon.
There was a six o’clock service and then Mr. Edgar Bateson, who had a fine voice, conducted community hymn singing in the big hall. Someone played the piano and people called out for their favourite hymns. I only went a few times and I don’t know how many winters he did this. It was quite popular in the boring blackout.
There were quite a lot of rooms behind the chapel. A small one next to the door was occupied by the ARP. There were the usual Sunday School arrangements: beginners in one room, infants in the next, all the rest in the big hall.
One afternoon a week there was the Women’s Bright Hour, a short easy service with a talk and a solo and then tea and a bun. It attracted mainly those with neither young children nor war work, the lonely old. One evening was the Men’s Fireside, mostly discussion. My father ran this and was grateful for the presence of one or two who opposed religion. He loved an argument.
A local school was evacuated and the army requisitioned the building and billeted soldiers there. They would stay for some weeks and then the next lot would come. The church set up an evening canteen for them: tea and buns in one room, tables, chairs and a coal fire in a quiet room for reading or writing letters and ping pong in the big hall. My father was very conventional in appearance, clerical collar, dark grey worsted three piece suit. He would occasionally take off his jacket and surprise the lads by beating most of the challengers at ping pong. One batch of soldiers were Conscientious Objectors, ‘Conchies’, perhaps a bit suspect to some whose sons were in danger, until they volunteered for bomb disposal, picking their way through the precarious jumble of bombed houses. Liverpool is said to have been second only to London in the amount of bombing. They put extra supporting beams in our cellar and we slept down there for some time.
We left in 1945 to go to London, where my father became national secretary of the Free Church Federal Council. His primary vocation was to the ordinary ministry and he was glad to have one more such posting before he retired. My memory of Lodge Lane then was of the body of the church being quite well filled. I suspect that maintenance of the fabric was not high priority during the war.
My dad was Ralph Rogerson and also had a B.A. even though this is not attached next to his name. Prior to becoming a Methodist Minister he was a RAF Commando where he spent time in Malaya at the end of the 2nd World War , along with a colleague he started a Women’s Hospital as there were no facilities there at that time. He was an amazing speaker for God and the churches he ministered to all thrived. My dad died in Whitchurch , Hampshire 6 weeks before retiring home to his loved WIDNES in 1989. He is sorely missed by everyone who knew him ,especially by his wife Elsie who remained faithful to him until she died last year 2017 and by myself.
I went to London twice with the Leicester trinity circuit in the late 80’s . The were great times .
I was delighted to find this information on the web: thank you so much for making it available. I am doing research into family history, and managed to track down defining details for (my great uncle) Rev William T Groves (1880-1936) who was a Primitive Methodist Missionary in Nigeria (Ikot Ekpene) from approx 1910 to approx 1929
The people of Stockton are remembering their 1245 dead on a website 1245 Sunflowers , and further details of the men from Brunswick may be found here http://www.1245sunflowers.org/
I am looking for Dabou hospital picture since 1965 and youth Methodist England picture MAYC.
Delighted to see this photograph (I also have a copy) on the website. My father was Arthur Edward Breeze. I also have a picture of what I believe was the college football team and will submit this in case anyone else is able to identify a family member
I never had a chance to meet my beloved cousin who I fondly called Uncle Victor. I had an extremely close relationship with his brother Aston who was for me not just a cousin but Uncle Aston. I’m truly blessed to be a member of this clan- special in too many ways to mention. RIP Uncle Victor.🙏🏾
My father was C Raymond Smith. I’m writing his ‘story ‘, starting with a timekeeping. He left for college 1948 and his first ‘post ‘ was Manchester Central Hall as assistant industrial chaplain with papers and pictures dated 1951. How long was the training for ministers then? Any more info gratefully received. I have pictures from Kinver and press cuttings about a bowls game!?
I was Miss MAYC in 1976 as Sue Foster and have many happy memories of going around the other youth clubs as part of year in office. Have many pictures of that and previous years. We had so much fun.
Many happy memories of the London Weekends in the 1970s. I had the huge honour of being Chairman of the National Members Committee about ‘78/79. Coming from a tiny village youth club (Waltham in NE Lincs), this really was a huge thrill.
Plaque one appears to be from The Quay Wesleyan chapel, Chapel Street. The last but one name is Rev. W.C. Wilks M.C., who is the subject of another page (in the Chaplains’ section).
Plaque two lists the men from St. John’s Primitive Methodist chapel, in St. John’s Road.
This is the memorial for the chapel in Church Street. The Roll of Honour for Wesley chapel, Wilton Road, has just been added.
great article Andrew, great memories.
Hello I’m hoping someone can help me. I’m currently working at number 12 at the Folly Fields And I have come across a WW1 medal which I found underneath the old wash house shed base that used to be in the back garden. I have also found some old intact bottles believe to be from 1901 /1920 I would be grateful if somebody could get in touch as I can only imagine this medal belongs to one of these lads on that window.
Moor Lane was the Primitive Methodist chapel in Lancaster.
Further research has revealed that three men baptised in the Wesleyan Chapel served, but returned. These were Walter Croson (born 1.3.1880 and baptised 23.10.1881) Thomas Baden Hardstaff (born 20.4.1900 , baptised 1.7.1900) and Albert Pidcock ( born 7.3.1881, baptised 10.4.1881).
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