Churchgate - conclusion

 

In my article on Churchgate in the February Newsletter, I did not include the former Parish Hall, and a church member kindly reminded me of this omission.

 

The old Parish Hall of St Peter, Bolton-le-Moors stood grandly on the site which is now occupied by The Bolton News offices. As a child, I well remember attending Sunday School classes in this old stone building. No doubt other readers will have their own remembrances of events held in the old Hall.

 

I also remember that Saturday night dances were held there, and going along to them sometimes, with my future husband in the mid-1950s. What different times they were for Churchgate, it was so well-patronized then. I have always had a soft spot for the Haulgh area and Churchgate in particular, as they formed a large part of the first ten years of my life.

 

As I remember, Copples took over the old Parish Church Hall, and it became a retail outlet for carpets and floor coverings. This did seem rather unusual in those days, but it could well have marked the beginning of other uses for Churches and halls.

 

I did call in to the excellent Archives and History Department, at Bolton Museum to find out more about the Parish Hall. they did turn up information about The Parish Church itself, but not for the Hall, unfortunately. I did not come away empty-handed, however, but left with the knowledge that The Bolton Evening News moved into the new building which replaced the old Parish Hall in 1974. prior to that, the new premises had been used by a television rental company.

 

I do hope this completes the picture accurately about the former Parish Hall.

 

Freda Rothwell

Do you like a good read?

 

No, the Social Committee is not suggesting a day trip to Sweeten's or Waterstones.... it's this magazine that I am referring to!

 

I am sure I am not the only one to be grateful to the small number of people who are writing regularly for the magazine.  Some months it seems that they are the only ones with things to say, and certainly we all know that they do it well.

 

But let's go back to the title of this article.  Are there any other things that you would like to read about?   Stories about the lives of church members, or of times which have helped someone in their faith, reports of church based events, book reviews, poems, interesting anecdotes,  the possible list is endless, and really quite exciting.

 

But of course there is going to be another 'But..'  Can you also think of someone who could write some of these extra articles?  And is it possible that you could be one of them?  If you have an idea but need help in writing, or just have a suggestion that you would want someone else to write, then please let someone know.  Then we can give our  Editor something to truly edit, and send out into our community a Church Magazine which will be a better read than ever.

 

IJP

Left to Right: Tony Johnson, Bolton RSPB Conservation Officer, PC Diane Riley, Bolton WLO and Stephen Mort, Parish Church Administrator

Photo: A. Judith Smith, County Bird Recorder