Methodism in Hoole: Difference between revisions

File:4RHF14 Sunday School Mimute Book 1903 3.jpg

File:4RHF15 Sunday School Mimute Book 1903 4.jpg

All the above was confirmed in a souvenir booklet story of the Church's history so far, produced for a fund-raising bazaar in April 1924. The stone laying ceremony of the School Room took place on Easter Monday 1903, the first services were held in July and the official opening ceremony was held in September of the same year.

 

The payments and receipt book show on 5th March 1904 income of £1 from the 'Band of Hope' (Mr. Dawson, Newsagent) and on March 6th £1 2s from a Bible Centenary collection. Also in 1904 the first record of Sunday School class monies (£4 2s 7d) appears. On 26th February 1913 a tenth anniversary service raised £5 14s 6d.

 

==Building the main Church in Hamilton Street ==

In 1914 a new building fund was set up, Mr. Kennerley still being the Treasurer. Two letters to him from Edith Randles who lived at The Oaklands are in the Cheshire Record Office files; one dated 4th October 1917 enclosed £5 from Sunday School collections towards the new building, the second undated enquires on progress, since Miss Randles had provided income every month since 1901. Her father, Joseph Randles, long associated with Methodism died in July 1917 and his funeral service was held in the Chapel, which was often referred to as the School Room. A foundation stone of the new Church was laid in his name.

 

The building fund grew very slowly during the First World War years. In 1920 a donation from Councillor Dawson was acknowledged and in April 1924 a bazaar was held in George Street Methodist Church school room, seeking to raise £1,100, £100 for the installation of electric light, and the redecoration of the school room, the remainder to swell the building fund.

 

In December 1925, an Olde English Fayre was held at Hamilton Street, which raised £50 towards the £2,000 the trustees hoped would be raised to allow the foundation stones to be laid on Easter Monday 1926. This did not take place until September 1927 when a newspaper article gave an account of the cost (between £5,500 and £6,000) and a description of the proposed building.

Stone laying ceremony October 1927- The Minister was Rev. Albert Cole and the lady with the fur collar and handbag was Miss Randles.