Dear Friends

 

I have transcribed in full St James’ Church Magazines from 1881-1884 inclusive.  The transcription is an exact facsimile so you will be able to appreciate the quaint English used at this period.  They were however only one page in length.  They were included with an insert unconnected with St James but which formed the bulk of the magazine.  Perhaps I could point out one or two items of interest.  It is hoped some of the more interesting one scan be reproduced in our current Church Magazine for wider readership.

 

Note there are a lot of baptisms, marriages and confirmation records which may b of considerable use to family history lovers.  Note also that many of the baptised are adult because they are seen in the marriage lists at a similar time.  It seems that whole families used to get baptised on the same day.

 

There are several magazines that report information which can be directly related to our church in the present day

 

The first of these is the death of James Pearson Senior Churchwarden for over thirty years.

He was the son of Samuel Pearson owner of the Old Mill and James Pearson was the owner of Dane Mill. He also owned and occupied West House in West Road.  James Pearson was also one of the Trustees on the original committee responsible for the building of the church

 

On his death his widow and friends presented the Stained glass window (the middle one in the North Aisle dedicated to James Pearson of West House.

 

Church Magazine September 1881 records the death of James Pearson

Church Magazine October 1883 records the installation of the stained glass window in the church.  This magazine also refers to the installation of the pulpit staircase.

 

Church Magazine October 1882 records the installation of the tile pavement in the chancel.

 

It is also interesting to note the amounts people gave to the church in this period.  Scaling it up to today’s situation many of them were extremely generous.  Note how the Vicar at this time chastises the church members for poor collections Church Magazine 1884

 

I hope you find them interesting:- the bound versions will be deposited in Congleton Museum  

 

Lyndon Murgatroyd

 

The following information on the order of services applies throughout this period.  Effectively it was the back page of each magazine.

 

Sundays Morning service at 10-30  Evening Service at 6-30

 

Thursdays Evening service at 7-30

 

The Holy Communion is celebrated after Morning Prayer on the first and third Sundays of every month and at 7-45am on every other Sunday and at other times as notice shall be given.

 

Holy Baptism is administered at Evening Prayer on Thursday Evenings and on Sunday Afternoons at 2-30pm.  Notice should be given to Mr S Brown or to Mr Hitchin, of Waggs Road the day previous.

GEO A.E. KEMPSON

Vicar of the Parish and Surrogate for the Diocese of Chester

 

 

    
This is a record of St James’ Church Magazine for the years of 1881-1884.

January 1881

May this year on which we have now entered be one full of blessing to all”

 

Statement of accounts for quarter ending December 31 1880

For the Poor	Scripture Readers Fund	Special
£    s    d Oct 3………    1    6   10 Nov 7 ………   2  11    9½ Dec 5…………1    5   10½ Christmas day.3    11     2 At 7 Early Com1    13  10½	£    s     d Oct 17…….2    0     8½ Nov 21……1    17   7 Dec 19…….1     9    0½	£   s    d Oct 3 Evensong Harvest Fest….         .5   15   8 Nov 28. S.P.G.          13   8   10½ Dec 26 Evening For church expense….5    2     3½
£10     9    6½	£5     7    4	£24    6    10

 

The Vicar is thankful to observe a marked improvement in the observance of Christmas Day and he heartily thanks all those who in their several ways contributed to the tasteful decoration of the Church.

 

On New Years Eve a Magic Lantern entertainment of Dissolving Views was given to an enthusiastic audience of Sunday Scholars.  On New Years Day an excellent dinner was (by the kindness of an old friend of St James’ parish) given in the Girls School Room to 60 aged men and women of the parish

 

In the evening of the same day, the Church Choir was entertained at supper in the Boys School Room

 

In our next issue we shall have some information to give about the Young Women’s Help Society, a branch of which has been formed in connection with this parish.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

February 1881

 

BAPTISMS
1880 Dec 2. –William Henry Goodwin Dec 9. –Alice Green Dec 9. –Walter Green Dec 16. –Ada Mannering	1881 Jan 2.  –Mary Woodcock Jan 2.  –Edith Lockitt Jan 9.  –George Edward Burgess Jan 18.  –William Wilson
MARRIAGES
1880  Dec 11.  Charles Level and Mary Carter Dec 25.  Jesse Mayer and Ann Spencer      Dec 27  William Kearton and Alice Kinsey            Dec 30.  Joseph Barnes and Selina Smallwood

 

It is hoped that the operations of the Young Women’s Help Society of which a branch has been formed in this parish may be extended to the whole of Congleton.  A meeting of ladies will be held on Tuesday February 8^th at the Town Hall under the presidency of Mrs Antrobus to further this object

 

The vicar is prepared to receive magazines for binding.  The cost is 1s 1d per volume which should be sent with the number to be bound.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

March 1881

SERMONS WILL BE PREACHED (DV) AS FOLLOWS:-   Sunday Mornings 10.30pm WORDS FROM THE GOSPELS   March 6.The true meaning of life March 13. The cry of faith March 20.  The strong man armed March 27.Christ the Feeder of the Hungry April 3. Wilful rejection of the Truth April 10.. A nations choice   Sunday afternoons 3-15   March 6 .The invitation of Christ March 13.. Christ the Friend of Sinners March 20 Christ the Saviour of Sinners March 27.Christ the Light of the World April 3. Christ the Destroyer of Death April 20th Christ the Lord of Light   Sunday evenings 6-30pm   March 6.  The Christians great duty in Lent The Rev R Horwood MA Vicar North Rode   March 13.  The sinners return The Rev J Penrose Rector of Gawsworth   March 20.  Continued remembrance of Sin The Rev. W.E.E.M.Bull BA Vicar of Mossley   March 27.  Impatience under trial The Rev. W Besant MA Vicar of Buglawton   April 3. The sorrow of sin The Rev. Canon Blackburne MA Rector of Warmingham and Rural Dean of Congleton   April 10… Spiritual gifts Rev. F. Bryans MA

Wednesdays at 12 noon   THE GOSPEL FOR HUMANITY   March 9 Human nature conscious of a great need March 16 Human nature powerless to help itself March 23 The Gospel remedy   All preached by Rev. J.E.Colyer MA Rector of Astbury   March 30 The Gospel the only sure guide in life April 6 The Gospel the only sure guide in death   Both reached by Rev. C.A. Fraser MA Vicar of Bosley   Thursday evenings 7.30   March 3 Gods work in the soul Rev. G Skeyne MA Rector of Bartholomey   March 10 The shut door Rev. W.B. Bryan MA  Vicar of Haigh   March 17 Indifference Rev. F.E. Hopwood MA Rector of Badsworth   March 24 Restoration of St Peter Rev. WA Sherringham MA Vicar of Alsager   March 31 The barren fig tree Rev. E.R.O.Bridgeman MA Rector of Castle Bromwich   April 7 The vanity and glory of life Rev. A P Holme Rector of Tattenhall   Friday afternoons at 5   The Vicar (DV) will give short Expositary Lectures on the Epistle of St Paul to the Phillipeans

 

April 1881

 

BAPTISMS
Feb 3 Charles Burt Gorman Feb 6 Selina Ann Lowe Feb 24 Hannah Elizabeth Stanley March 1 Minnie Worthington March 8 Esther Ann Yates	March 14 Henry B Davenport March 14 Zipporah Hall March 15 Alice Maud Lawton March 22 Thomas Maybury
MARRIAGES
Feb 27 John Probert and Annie Hancock March 6 James Spencer Brocklehurst and Sarah Wright

 

Our Quarterly statement of Accounts is postponed until next month for want of space

 

We are glad to be able to announce that the sum of £20 has been collected for the CMS by the indefatigable exertions of Miss Wilson

 

The annual inspection of the schools took place on the 17^th and 18^th of last month.  There was a marked improvement in at least one of the schools.  Miss Alice Johnson has obtained a Teachers Certificate of the second class and Mr Linley Fish, one of the fourth.  Miss A Pointon was placed in  the first class on her admission to Whitelands Training College

 

The annual tea party (DV) will be held on the Wednesday in Easter Week.  The proceeds will be reserved for the purchase of new furniture for the Girls school.

 

During Holy Week there will be a daily evening service at 7.30 except on God Friday when the hours of service will be as on Sunday

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

 

May 1881

 

The Easter Day services were bright and hearty and well attended.  The church was decorated in excellent taste chiefly with primroses.  The Communion table was adorned with an exquisitely embroidered figured silk cloth presented by Mrs W Williamson

 

At the Easter Vestry Messrs J Pearson and J May  were reappointed Churchwardens.  Messrs Brook, Forster, H Oak and T Fisher were appointed Sidesmen.  Messrs J Wilson and H.L.Reade as lay representatives

 

The Easter tea party took place on the Wednesday and there was a very good muster to enjoy the excellent entertainment provided for mouth and ear.  The choir acquitted themselves very well and were heartily applauded.  Charles Tomkinson an old member, now a chorister at St Asaph Cathedral sang some songs with excellent taste and Mr Wilson made a genial and characteristic speech.  The following ladies gave trays: Mrs Kempson, Mrs Pearson, Mrs J May, Miss Norbury, (the late) Mrs H L Reade, Mrs Garside Mrs Condor, Miss Reade, Miss M Reade, Mrs Troutbeck, Mrs Woolley, Mrs Chaddock, Miss Beales, Mrs Hall, Mrs Solly, Mrs A Solly, Miss Wilson and Miss Parrot.  About £15 was realised.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

June 1881

BAPTISMS
April 2   Mabel Oswell April 4    Ellen S Boothby April 5    Fanny Stapleton April 5    Luke Dale April 11   Thomas Bailey April 11   William Henry Bailey April 11   John Edward Bailey April 12   Ellen Barlow April 12    Fredrick Barlow April 17    Ernest Hitchins April 17     Mary Goodall April 17    Christopher J Kearton April 17    Frederick J Bates	April 17 Harry Todd April 19  Emma Littlemore April 28  Martha Newton May 8     Frederick Briggs May 8     John Briggs May 8     George Alfred Briggs May 19   George Cliffe May 19   David Stockton May 22    Gertrude Poole May 26     Samuel Ridgeway May 26     Edwin Mayer May 27     Alice Brown

 

The collections on Sunday May 29^th on behalf of the schools amounted to £9-10s-0 d

 

During the vicar’s absence in the month of July the church services will be conducted by the Rev. St John F Mitchell Consular Chaplain at Christiana

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

 

July 1881

 

ZENANA MISSION –About £11 was realised at a Sale of Work held at the Vicarage on the 18th day of June on behalf of this interesting mission.  This is a very satisfactory result from the efforts of a monthly working party

 

The Sewing school is now closed for the summer months.  During the past year there has been an average attendance of 45 and the amount paid by members for materials amounted to £26-15s-1d

 

A Penny Savings Bank has been opened at the Girls School on Monday evenings at 7.30.  During the next two months Miss Kennerley will receive deposits

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

THERE WAS NO AUGUST MAGAZINE

 

September 1881

 

IN MEMORIUM   On the 1st day of July passed away, one, who was well known in this parish – James Pearson for many years Alderman of the Borough of Congleton and JP for the County of Chester.  As senior Churchwarden of St James’, an office which he held continuously for more than thirty years, (ever since the church was built) he was assiduous and exemplary in the performance of his duties.  BY his removal the parish has lost a friend who took a lively interest in its welfare.  Many can testify to his private hospitality; but he was never better pleased than when throwing open his grounds at West House for the entertainment of the parish schools

 

The report of the Diocesan Inspector on the results of the examination in religious knowledge held last June is in the main satisfactory.  “The knowledge of Scripture is creditable throughout”.  The following children were selected for special commendation

 

In the Girls School; Group 1 Annie Leech and Eliza Cook Group 2 Frances Barton, S A Wood, Louise Cook, Bertha Gee, Harriet Ann Cook and Sarah J Bailey. Group 3 Anne E Child, H Knapper, Annie Smetham, Alice Forster, M L Wood, A Snelson and Alice E Gee

 

In the Boys School; Group 1 William Dale, Frank Brown, Frank Adams, Arthur Worth, J W Bellfield, J Dykes, James Stubbs.  Group 2 Thomas Austen, John Slack and W Tatton.  Group 3 R Court, George Gibson, F Cook and M Carney.

 

In the Infants School; Jane Worrall, Thomas Jackson, Rosa Tilley, Frances Dakin Allen Sherratt, Walter Taylor and Charles Stapleton.

 

The Harvest Festival will take place on Michaelmas Day (Sep 29^th) The sermon will be preached by the Rev. W J Knox Little Rector of St Albans Manchester

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

October 1881

 

BAPTISMS
June 5   Ernest William Pointon June 26 Mary Ann Capper July 20  Harriet Foden July 25  John Thomas Sherratt Sept 4    Ada Hassall	Sept 4   Anthony James Cooke Sept 16  Charlotte Elizabeth Badger Sept 16  Annie Badger Sept 17   Ad Simms
MARRIAGES
July 30  George Henry Austen to Emma Shaw Aug 7 John Bainbridge to Elizabeth Gaunt Aug 10 Edward Thomas Bennet to Elizabeth Goodwin Aug 14 Job Harding to Jane Dodd Aug 14 George Parr to Harriet Ollier Aug 30 John Riley to Elizabeth Hawkins Oct 4 Herbert Pulman Riley to Emily Lomas

 

On Michaelmas Day Sept 29, the Rev. W J Knox Little Canon elect of Worcester preached a most eloquent and useful sermon on the occasion of the Harvest festival.  The church was tastefully decorated with ears of corn & and the general interest of the people was testified by the large number of gifts of fruit and flowers.  The collection amounted to £10 19s 3d and was placed to the church fund.

 

On the following Sunday two sermons were preached in aid of the Church Missionary Society by the Rev. E A Kempson vicar of Claverdon.  The collections amounted to £12 7s 10d.

 

On Friday September 30 the first of a series of lectures and entertainments was given at the girls school when Mr M Kempson who has been long resident in the East gave a most able lecture on ‘The Great Pyramid’  Though much of the lecture was devoted to abstruse mathematical calculations which demanded a high degree of culture and close attention on the part of the audience, Mr Kempson was able to thoroughly interest his hearers who left the room well pleased with their entertainment.

 

A concert will be given on Wednesday October 19.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

November 1881

 

CLOTHING CLUBS &c

 

The Vicar is happy to report that there is a considerable increase in the savings of this year compared with last as will be seen from the following table

Girls School CC Boys S. School CC Infants S School CC The Church Choirs                                   Totals

1880 £      s       d 66    8       1 53   10      4 13   19      4     133   17     9

1881 £        s         d 74       2        3 62     10        0 17       4        9      9      12      11 163        9      11

 

In addition to this there is a Penny Bank at the Girls school open to all comers on Monday evenings at 7 o’clock which might be more generally useful

 

On Nov 2^nd the Vicar gave a lecture on what he saw in Norway last July.  There were some capital illustrations shewn by Mr Hawkins of Bridge Street by the aid of a Magic Lantern and also some interesting drawings of the old Viking ships lately discovered in the neighbourhood of Christiana lent by Mr J H Stone who lectured on this subject before the British Association.

 

The Confirmation will take place on Advent Sunday at 3 pm.

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

December 1881

 

At a Confirmation held on November 27^th 1881 by Bishop Kelly the following candidates from St James Congleton were presented:

Christina McLean Anderson Emma Whitehurst Elizabeth Minshull Hannah Maria Fisher Catherine Hunt Kate Lucas Harriet Shaw Ann Twemlow Elizabeth Worthington Eliza Brown Emily Green Ada Wych Annie Barlow Maria Cook Susan Dale Alice Knapper Ellen Lindop Fanny Emily Maxfield Mary Mottershead Mary Shaw Annie White

Eliza Axon Laura Capper Clara Dale Lois Forster Hannah Minshull Annie Pass Sarah Ellen Perkins Eliza Slater Edith Stanhope Agnes Davenport   Raymond Solly Walter Bailey John Hopkins Charles Prickett Edward Williamson James Booth Alfred Hodgkinson Albert Lawton Thomas Lownden Samuel Salt

In all forty one.  There were also presented twenty four from five other Parishes in the town and neighbourhood  The collections for the Sunday Schools on the same day amounted to

£13  10s  4d

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

January 1882

 

My dear friends and Parishioners

 

Another year has passed full of God’s mercy and our unworthiness.  It has gone with all its record of good and evil and we cannot recall it. God give us grace so to use the year which commences this day as not to abuse His forbearing mercy.  Let us trim our lamps and be watchful that He may not find us sleeping when He visits us whether it be in mercy or judgement.

 

That our merciful God may be with you during the coming year to bless you as well ‘in the market and the store’ as with all spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus is the earnest prayer of your friend and pastor

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON

 

By the liberality of Mrs Chaddock of Old House Green an excellent dinner was provided for the old people of the parish on St Stephen’s day. About 50 sat down

 

Subscribers wishing to have their magazines bound are requested to send them to the Vicarage together with the sum of 13d

 

February 1882

BAPTISMS
1881 Oct 6  Ann Rowley Oct 9  Ernest Hulme Oct 9  Charles W Knapper Oct 9  Henry Knapper Oct 9  Mark Knapper Oct 16  James William Brocklehurst Nov 6    Ellen Bromley Nov 13   Hope Farr Nov 17   Emma Bainbridge Nov 24   Eliza Slater	Dec 1   William Thomas Dale Dec 1    Rosa Jackson Dec 4    Ada Kearton Dec 13   Albert Bailey Dec 15   Eliza Bason Dec 18    Robert Harding Dec 19   Louisa Balckshaw 1882 Jan 12   Mary Wood Jan 12   Eliza Ann Swindells Jan 15   Rosa Davenport
MARRIAGES
1881 Nov 12 Joseph Thursfield to Mary Green Jones Nov 28 RichardHough to Eliza Rowley Dec 24 Thomas Everitt to Mary Dodd Dec 25 George Whitehurst to Sarah Jane Calvert Dec 26 John Biddulph to Susannah Rider 1882 Jan8 Jesse castle to Sarah Court Jan 16 John Charles Hallworth to Elizabeth Hagley Jan 30 William Woof to Mary Ann Holman

 

Many of our readers will miss Mr Fowler’s monthly visit with the magazine and if there is for the present a little irregularity in its delivery it is owing to the loss we have sustained through his illness. The Vicar will be glad of any information as to failure of supply and will try to ensure the punctual delivery of our parish periodical for the future.

 

Notices for baptisms and marriages should now be left with Mr Smith Parsons Street

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

May 1882 ( No March or April magazine)

 

There was a large muster at the Easter Vestry on April 18^th.  Messrs J.A. May and Charles Lowe were appointed Churchwardens, Messrs H.L. Reade, J. Wilson, John Forster, W. Gee, J Fisher and H Porter were appointed Sidesmen.  It was agreed to clean and repair the interior of the Church during the Summer and steps have already been taken with that view.

 

The visit of the Rev. E. Warren will be long remembered by many in this place.  He Preached four times on Sunday April 30^th and gave a special address to women on the following day.  There was a large congregation of attentive hearers.

 

The SPG sermons will be preached on Sunday May 14^th by the Rev W.W. Burton Phillipson.  A public meeting will be held in the Town Hall the following Wednesday, T G Sheldon Esq., Mayor in the Chair when Bishop Kelly and the Venerable Archdeacon Chiswell are expected to address the meeting.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

June 1882

 

ST JAMES SEWING SCHOOL

 

May 24 – The close (for the summer months) of this popular and useful institution was marked by a Tea Party at which about ninety members were present.  Some of the elder girls.  Some of the elder girls took the opportunity of expressing their esteem and affection for the Misses Kempson by presenting them with two useful and elegant Work Baskets.  These appropriate gifts were most highly appreciated and will ever be valued by the recipients as a token of good-will on the part of the girls in whose welfare they feel so much interest.

 

The School has now been at work two years and some idea of its usefulness may be gathered from the fact that during the last six months the members have bought and made up for themselves more than thirty pounds worth of clothing.

 

Miss E Broadhurst, Miss Stockdale, and Misses Moorhouse were present all of whom together with Misses Reade have taken an active interest in the work.  A very pleasant evening was spent, enlivened by some excellent music in the rendering of which the girls displayed much dramatic talent.

 

May 25 – A meeting took place at the Vicarage in behalf of the Zenana Mission Mrs Greaves who has been occupied in the work in Bengal for upwards of ten years gave a most interesting and encouraging account of the work.

 

CHURCH CLEANING FUND

The following subscriptions have been promised:-

                                         £        s     d                                           £      s      d

The Rev J C Reade……     10     10     0               Mrs J A May………5      0      0

Mrs W Williams……….    10      0      0               Mr C Lowe………   5      0      0

The Vicar & Mrs Kempson  5      0      0               Mr & Miss Wilson...5      0      0

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

July 1882

BAPTISMS
Feb 2   John Fareham Feb 9    Marcus Kennerley Feb 9    Ada Emma Kennerley Feb 9    Sarah Ann Hookey Feb 9    Emily Murray Feb 16   Mary Ellen Wright Feb 19   Helen Bason Feb 27   Hannah Maria Gibson	Feb 27     Harriet Dale March 7    Thomas Smallwood March 12   Minnie Cook March 13   Florence Andrew March 26   Charles William Matthews March 27    Alice Hancock March 28    Mary Ann Mainwaring
MARRIAGES
Feb 6 William Henry Owen to Ann Skellern March 5 John Lowe to Sarah Ann Butters March 25 William Mellor Shufflebotham to Sarah Ann Davenport

 

        Subscriptions promised or paid to the church cleaning fund (Brought forward from last month £40 10s

 

£        s        d Mr H L Reade          5         0        0 Miss Reade               5         0        0 Miss J Reade             5        0        0  Mrs May                    1        0        0 Mr H May                           10       0 Miss May                            10       0 Mrs Lowe                            10       0       Miss Lowe                            2        6 Mr A Shaw                 1         0        0 Mr T Fisher                          10       0 Miss Hall                              10       0 Mr J Cooke                           10       0    Mr L Clare                             5        0 Miss Moorhouse          3         0       0          Mrs Pearson &             5         0       0  Miss Crouch                 5         0       0 Mr W Davenport                     5       0 Mr W Gee                     1         1       0

£        s      d Mr E Leach                          7      6 Mr J Porter                          10     0  Mrs Chaddock            2        0      0  Rev. E Clayton           1        0      0 Mr C Bagnall                       10     0 Mr J Norbury             10        0     0 Mr G Blackshaw                    5     0 Mr H Porter                           10    0 Mrs Lea                                 10    6  Mr H Barlow (of Chester)       5    0 Mr S Blackshaw                      2    6 Mr Geo Brook               1        1     0 Dr Beales                       1        1     0  Mr Hilditch                              5     0 Mr R Wilbraham            5        0     0 D Bradwell Esq.              3        3     0 Miss Acton                     1        0     0

 

The annual sermons on behalf of the schools were preached on the 18^th June by the Rector of Astbury and the Rector of Gawsworth.  The collection amounted to over £9.

 

GEO. A.E. KEMPSON Vicar

 

August 1882

 

YOUNG WOMENS HELP SOCIETY

The various branches of this flourishing association met at Eaton Church on Saturday afternoon July 22^nd for their annual commemoration service The sermon was preached by the Rev. G E A Kempson.  After the service they were entertained by the lady president Mrs Antrobus, in the grounds of Eaton Hall. About two hundred sat down to tea.

 

THE CHURCH CHOIR

By the kindness of our generous Churchwardens Messrs May & Lowe, and another parishioner, the choir passed a very pleasant day at Buxton on Saturday July 29^th.  The day was exceptionally fine and the drive was much appreciated.

 

CHURCH CLEANING FUND

The following additional subscriptions have been received:-