Methodism in Hoole: Difference between revisions

It was however the Wesleyan Methodists who had by 1876 formed a Society in Hoole and rented from August 1888 a shop in which to practice, who provided the first local place for Methodist worship. At a local preachers’ meeting held on the 21st November 1888 it was reported that the shop was too small, and it was resolved to rent a site opposite All Saints Church’s new school (School Street). The site, measuring 300 sq. yds, was rented at £5 per year for 3 years with the option of purchasing it at 6s per sq. yd at the end of the lease. The vendor was J.P. Court of Liverpool who was developing the estate of the late John Lightfoot which stretched from Lightfoot Street to Faulkner Street.

 

[[File:4RHF5 Bill for purchase of Harmonium.jpg|left|thumb|308x308px|''<small>Bill for purchase of Harmonium</small>'']]

In June 1889, a harmonium was purchased for £12, paid in four instalments. The bill written on the pharmacy paper of David Dickinson states that the money was raised by subscriptions, collections, concerts and magic lantern entertainment.

1977                Rev. A. Shannahan

 

Morning and evening services and Sunday School in the afternoon on Sundays followed the established pattern for worship with extra celebrations at Easter, Christmas, and Harvest time etc. Frequently services were devoted to themes such as business, sport, civil defence, and railway workers. Whilst having a strong basis in prayer, both the Ladies Circle and the Men's Fellowship provided the stimulus and the means for the Church to be an active and outgoing organisation, participating in many local and national events.

 

A minute book of the Sunday School 1934 to 1978 records monthly teachers' meetings and reports that the Hamilton Guild of Youth was formed in September 1934, girls meeting on Mondays and boys on Fridays.

 

In 1957 there were 151 scholars (primary 30, junior 75, senior 29, young people 17 plus 41 on the cradle roll). There were 30 teachers. In 1963 minutes of the Chapel Committee note that 203 young people were involved in youth activities attached to the Church.

 

Much of the following is compiled from information gathered for the Church's Centenary Celebrations which took place in 2003.

 

A quartet of Rose Queens and their retinues

 

In the 1920s and 1930s members of the Church staged a mock auction and a mock wedding as entertainment. There was a production of Dick Whittington in 1979 closely followed by an epidemic of chicken pox amongst the cast. In 1985, Church members presented an Old Time Musical.