On this day … 11 October 1836

Christ Church was consecrated. It was erected on Bow Lane looking towards Fishergate, and all that now remains of it is the south façade with its octagonal towers, the rest being demolished in the early 1970s. The story of its Victorian congregation and clergywas told by Anthony Hewitson in his book on Preston’s churches and chapels.

It was one of four churches that a former vicar of Preston, the Rev Carus Wilson, planted in his parish, three in the town (the others were St Thomas’s and St Mary’s) and one in Ashton, to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population. All, as Hewitson points out, were built in a distinctly Norman style.

It was patronised by John Horrocks junior, the son of the cotton magnate, who not only contributed generously to the thousand-pound cost of the church organ, but for many years after played it at church services. He also gave ample sums to meet the choir expenses.

He was among the many members of the town’s carriage folk in the congregation. The church also provided free places for the poor, who gathered in the two galleries, looking down on their wealthier neighbours in the pews in the nave below.

The church’s first incumbent, the Rev Thomas Clark, formerly curate at the parish church, ministered to both groups among his congregation, according to Hewitson, happily visiting the homes of the poorest in the neighbourhood.

Hewitson provides one of his pen portraits of the minister:

‘… a kindly-exact, sincere, quiet-moving gentleman, who did much good in his district, visited poor people regularly, wasn’t afraid of going down on his knees in their houses, gave away much of that which parsons and other sinners generally like to keep – money, and was greatly respected.

‘We shall always remember him–remember him for his quaint, virtuous preciseness, his humble, kindly plodding ways, his love of writing with quill pens and spelling words in the old-fashioned style, his generosity and mild, maidenly fidgetiness, his veneration for everything evangelical … and his courteous, accomplished, affable manners.’

In 1864 he moved on to become vicar of Poulton-le-Fylde and rural dean. He was succeeded by his son-in-law and curate, the Rev Raywood Firth, who fares less well when Hewitson takes up his pen:

‘Mr. Firth … likes visiting folk who are well off; wouldn’t object to tea, crumpet, and conversation with the better end of his flock any day; visits fairly in his district, and says many a good word to folk in poverty, but would look at a floor before going down upon it like his predecessor; thinks that flags and boards should be either very clean or carpeted before good trousers touch them …’

Hewitson suggests that he, ‘… might advantageously mix up with the poor of his district a little more; needn’t care over much for the nods of rich folk, or the green tea and toast of antique Spinsters …’

Elderly women come in for mention again when Hewitson turns to the attendance at services, noting that, in addition to the two Sunday services:

‘… on a Tuesday evening there is another service, attended only slenderly, and patronised principally, we are afraid, by elderly females, whose sands have run down, and who couldn’t do much harm now if they were very solicitous on the subject.’

He finds the congregation generally rather cliquish and observes that the class divide is carefully observed:

‘The superior members of the congregation, as a rule, gravitate downwards, have seats on the ground floor – it is vulgar to sit in the galleries. They are all excellently attired; the “latest thing” may be seen in hair, and bonnets, and dresses; the best of coats and the cleanest of waistcoats are also observable. A cold tone of gentle-blooded, high-middle-class respectability prevails.

‘Much special adhesiveness exists amongst them. Small charmed circles, little isolated coteries, fond of exclusive devotional dealing, and “keeping themselves to themselves,” are rather numerous.

‘Many good and some very inquisitive and gossipy people attend–individuals who know all your concerns, can tell how many glasses you had last week and where you had them at, and like to make quiet hints on the subject to others.’

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Sources
Hewitson’s Our Churches and Chapels: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10479
Hewitson’s History of Preston