On this day … 23 September 1848

The Rev William Walling stepped into his pulpit at Preston’s new All Saints Church, commonly known as the Poor Man’s Church, for the first time. According to the Preston historian Anthony Hewitson, the church had been built with the purpose of tempting the Rev Walling back to Preston.

Hewitson tells the story in his book, Our Churches and Chapels.

The Rev Walling, who had been born the son of a yeoman in Silverdale, came to Preston for the first time in 1841 as minister at St James’ Church. He stayed only a year, moving on to a church in Nottinghamshire, but in that short time he clearly endeared himself to his congregation.

As Hewitson writes:

‘Mr. Walling was a man of quiet disposition; during his stay in Preston, he was exceedingly well liked; and when he left the town, a vacuum seemed to have been created. He was a missed man; his value was not found out until he had gone; and it was determined – mainly amongst a pious, enthusiastic section of working people – to get him back again if possible.’

Those in the congregation who were seeking the Rev Walling’s return felt it would be unfair to turf out his replacement at St James’ to make way for him. Nor could they see a vacancy in any of the town’s Anglican churches.

So, they decided to build him his own church:

‘They were only poor men; but they persevered; and in a short time, their movement took a distinct shape, and the building, whose erection they had in view, was prospectively called “The Poor Man’s Church.”

‘In time they raised about 200 pounds; but a sum like that goes only a little way in church building … a number of wealthier men, who appreciated the earnestness of the original promoters … came to the rescue, and what they and divers friends gave justified a start, on a plot of land between Walker-street and Elizabeth-street.’

The foundation stone was laid in September 1846 by the mayor, Thomas German, and the building, which cost about £2,600, was completed two years later, and the Rev Walling returned to Preston and to his new church. He remained minister at the church until his death in 1863.

Hewitson was not so kind in his description of the Rev Walling’s successor, the Rev George Beardsell, who was still minister at the church when Hewitson published his book.

The Rev Beardsell had previously been at St Saviour’s, where, according to Hewitson, ‘He drew many poor people around him; he repeatedly charmed the “unwashed” with his strong rough-hewn orgasms’. [?!]

Here is Hewitson’s description of the man:

‘Mr. Beardsell is not a beautiful, but a stout, well-made, strong-looking man, close upon 40, with a growing tendency towards adiposity. He has a healthy, bulky, English look; is not a man of profound education, but, makes up by weight what he may lack in depth …

‘… is an Orangeman, with a holy horror of Popery; can give deliciously passionate lectures about the Reformation; considers money a very important article, and is inclined to believe that all people, particularly parsons, should stick to it very firmly; will have his own way in church matters; likes to fight with a warden; has had many a lively little brush over sacrament money; might have got on better with many of the officials if he had been more conciliatory; is a man of moderate ability, of fair metal, of strong endurance, but would be more relished if he were less dogmatic, were given less to wandering preaching, and threw himself heart, soul, purse, and clothes into his own district.’

It is a wonder that Hewitson avoided a beating, or at least a suit for libel, from those of the town’s clergy whom he cruelly caricatured.

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Sources
Our Churches and Chapels: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10479/10479-h/10479-h.htm