September, October, November 2019 Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow SK9

September, October, November 2019

Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow SK9 2BX Dean Row Chapel website: www.deanrowchapel.co.uk

Services at Dean Row every Sunday at 11.15 a.m. Meditations – Wednesday 12.30pm - 1.00pm

Hale Chapel, Hale Barns, WA15 0AQ Hale Chapel website: www.halechapel.co.uk

Services at Hale Chapel every Sunday at 9.30 a.m.

Minister Rev Jeff Gould Tel. 01625 402952 Mob.07989858963 [email protected] Harvest Appeal

This year Churches Together in Wilmslow are supporting Sreepur Village in Bangladesh for our 2019 Harvest Appeal. This is a UK based charity that runs and funds a women and children’s village in rural Bangladesh.

The Sreepur Village works with mothers (without male support) and their children to increase their chances of remaining a family, by taking a holistic, residential approach including livelihood and literacy training. The core belief is that poverty should not separate children from their family. The Sreepur Village infuses hope in the mothers and children through providing the skills and tools for ‘a better life’. The project provides a huge range of services including safety, shelter, food and nutrition, adult literacy and education, comprehensive health care, livelihood and life skill training, child safeguarding and protection and social re.

As a grass roots organisation they respond to local need and run other related programmes such as supporting vulnerable (e.g. trafficked or abandoned) children and fostering thus providing safety, a loving environment, food, clothing, education, and livelihood training so that the women can look forward to independent lives in their communities.

The project provides a refuge for mothers and children for a maximum of three years. During this period, mothers learn 2-3 income generating skills, life skills, adult literacy, etc, and their children go to pre-primary and primary school level within the Village and older boys and girls go to local schools at class 4-5 levels.

The Sreepur Village in Numbers - In 2018 the Charity

• Were able to provide a home to 160 mothers and 350 children.

• Sent 212 children to school (162 attended the SPP school and 50 attended school outside of the project).

• 5 children were placed with foster families this year.

• Rehabilitated 64 mothers and their 128 children back into the community.

Thirty years ago, Pat Kerr laid the foundations of The Sreepur Village and over these 30 remarkable years, has, with the continued support of our donors, helped to empower the lives of thousands of women, keeping more families together and giving them hope for a brighter future. The scale of the need is enormous but there is a sense that whatever we are able to give will make a very significant difference. www.sreepurvillage.org

A Prayer For Late Autumn

Walk with us God, Through sharp frosty days And bright crunchy leaves Into winter.

Rest with us By warm firesides And tell us stories Into the night.

Take us out at night And show us the stars And fill us With wonder.

Bless us and our families Our friends And our neighbours With love and with courage.

And never let us forget The stranger Who needs to share our wealth, Our shelter And our hope.

Ruth Burgess from the Iona Community

Worship services at Hale Chapel and Dean Row Chapel Services will be conducted by the Minister unless otherwise indicated September Hale Chapel 9.30am Dean Row Chapel 11.15am Sunday 1st September ‘Start-up Sunday’ ‘Start-up Sunday’ Sunday 8th September Sunday service Sunday service Sunday 15th Worship will be led by Worship will be led by September Anne Mills Anne Mills GA Vice-President GA Vice-President Sunday 22nd Sunday service Sunday service September Sunday 29th Michaelmas Michaelmas September

October Sunday 6th October Harvest Festival Harvest Festival Sunday 13th October Sunday service Sunday service Sunday 20th October One World Sunday One World Sunday Sunday, 27th October Bible Sunday Bible Sunday

November Sunday 3rd All Saints, including All Saints, including November Holy Communion Holy Communion Sunday 10th Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday November Sunday 17th Minister’s holiday: Minister’s holiday: November worship will be led by worship will be led by Trish Lindsay Trish Lindsay Sunday 24th Minister’s holiday: Minister’s holiday: November worship will be led by worship will be led by Anne Gemmell Anne Gemmell

December Sunday 1st December Advent Sunday Advent Sunday Sunday 8th December Toy Service Toy Service Sunday 15th Third Sunday in Advent Third Sunday in Advent December Sunday 22nd Christmas Carol Service Christmas Carol Service December Tuesday Christmas Eve Service Christmas Eve Service 24th December 6pm 8pm Sunday 29th Final Sunday of the Year Final Sunday of the Year December

LETTER FROM THE MINISTER

The autumn begins at both Hale and Dean Row Chapels with the news that both congregations are to serve as ‘teaching chapels’. Together, we will welcome Rory Castle Jones, who begins his training for the Unitarian and Free Christian ministry this September under the auspices of the newly-instituted Unitarian College. Rory will spend six extended weekends with me from October this year through April of next year, observing my own ministry, taking part in and leading Sunday worship, conducting pastoral visits alongside me and assisting with rites of passage (baptisms, weddings and funerals), and reflecting with me on the many facets of professional ministry. He will be assesed by external tutors on the occasions when he conducts worship, so that I am able to guide him without being part of the assessment process. Rory’s first Sunday with us will be to celebrate our Harvest Festival, on 6 October. He will join us for our special luncheon in the Dean Row Chapel hall, when he will have an opportunity to meet members of the two congregations socially.

Rory was asked to provide his own introduction, which I share with you:

“Hello! My name is Rory Castle Jones. I am a 32-year-old Welsh Unitarian from a small village called Craig Cefn Parc in the Swansea Valley. I grew up in Derbyshire and Somerset in an English-Welsh family and have lived in the Swansea area since I was eighteen. I studied history at university and worked in Higher Education until October 2018, when I was appointed Communications Officer for the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. In September 2019, I officially begin my ministry training with the Unitarian College. Outside of Unitarianism, I spend time reading, walking, tackling a very overgrown garden, learning Welsh, and spending as much time as possible with my three nephews: Jimmy (4), Xavier (2) and Arlo (2 months).

I became a Unitarian in 2016, having found Gellionnen Chapel when my husband, Rhys, and I were looking for a chapel to get married in. As for many people, discovering Unitarianism felt like coming home. I consider myself a liberal Christian, whilst also drawing on other religious and secular traditions for wisdom and inspiration. I have already had the pleasure of visiting Dean Row Chapel once, but I do have another connection. During the Second World War, my grandfather was evacuated from Liverpool to live with his older sister, in Dean Row! He has many happy memories of his time there. I look forward very much to my student placement at Hale and Dean Row Chapels, and to getting to know you all. Thank you in advance for giving me this wonderful opportunity!”

I am confident that both congregations and I will benefit from hosting Rory in the course of his placement with us, as we are required to reflect on our own shared ministry, and as we find ourselves involved in the activity of preparing him for service in our denomination. My own student placements were extremely formative in my preparation for ministry, and I am keen to offer Rory a variety of experiences that will inform his own future.

JEFF

Autumn Fires by Robert Louis Stevenson

In the other gardens and all up the vale, From the Autumn bonfires see the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over and all the summer flowers, The red fire blazes, the grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons! Something bright in all! Fires in the summer, fires in the fall!

DEAN ROW

Dean Row Chairman’s Letter - Chrissie Wilkie

First of all, sorry for saying that we were going to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Chapel Hall in the last Newsletter. Of course it is the 25th Anniversary, and if you do not already know, the big day will be the 8th September. We hope that the word has spread and we shall be visited by past members of the Family Group to help us to celebrate. There have been so many families over the years and of course it is sad that we no longer have children in our congregation. That is except for the lovely grandchildren who visit us from time to time. I expect that some of our children might even now be parents and it would be such a joy if they could come along with their offspring.

We do have our new curtain rails, so we are no longer in danger of being hit on the head. I do hope that you have noticed our new chairs in the Hall porch. I think that people are finding them attractive and they have been purchased because some people who are very disabled find it very difficult to rise from our usual chairs. Please be mindful of this when you come into the hall and ask if you need one.

As many of you know, my big son is a jeweller and pawnbroker. He was telling me about one of his customers who came into the shop, hoping to sell some old bits of jewellery. It was mostly broken bits of gold chain and other assorted pieces of gold jewellery that she no longer needed. He managed to get a good price from a local bullion dealer - £400.00!! When she returned, she told him that it was for the church charity they were supporting. She came in again a few weeks later, having told her friends who then contributed and raised another £300.00. Of course this got me thinking about our Women’s League charity, Smile Train, so having discussed this with Anne, we thought it would be a good idea if we could raise some money this way. So, ladies and gents, if you would like to help, please rifle through your drawers and secret cubby holes and let us see how much we can raise. I can assure you that Mark will take no commission on any money raised and with his connections will get the best price possible.

The next Committee meeting will be on the 3 October, so if there is anything that you would like the committee to consider, please let Anne or me know. Love to you all – Chrissie Warden’s Comments Submitted by Ian Booth

This is my first report as Warden having taken over from Ian Harrison, not an easy act to follow but here we go!

Various repairs and improvements have taken place. The new curtains and curtain rails have been fitted in the hall courtesy of the Women's League and Craft and Chatter group. The failed double glazed units have been replaced and new lights installed outside the hall.

The re-levelling of the paving will begin at the end of August. Thanks go to all who have taken on various tasks. It is important to maintain the buildings and grounds so any help in notifying the committee of any problem is appreciated.

The Thursday morning club continues to keep the grounds in excellent condition and anyone wishing to help will be welcome. Must enjoy tea and biscuits though!

Women’s League – Anne Gemmell - Secretary Women’s League

We have had a quiet couple of months, but our activities start up again this September. Do please try and join us for an afternoon visit to Stalybridge Unitarian Chapel on Thursday 26th September. Sue and Len Elias have invited us for afternoon tea and to meet with some of their congregation. This visit is open to all and we plan to take members over in our own cars, so there will be no added expense of a coach etc. We do hope you will be able to support us on this outing, and it’s a good way of keeping in touch with Len and Sue and making new friends with members of Stalybridge congregation.

I have also now arranged a speaker for our afternoon meeting on Thursday the 7th November. Chris Warham from the North West Air Ambulance Charity will be joining us to update us on the work carried out by this charity which is completely reliant on public and corporate donations to keep the helicopters operational and helping to save lives. This should be a very interesting talk, and again, it is an ‘open’ meeting and all members of the congregation are invited.

October is shaping up to be a fairly busy month for me, as I will be attending – and taking part in, the Women’s League Rally at Whalley Abbey. There is also the Harvest Lunch and a Manchester District WL Meeting at Cross Street Chapel. Our own Women’s League Committee will be holding a meeting sometime in September to try and discuss fitting in an outing during October, but it is possible this may have to be postponed. However, watch this space and we will keep you advised.

Love from Anne ------Mike’s Musings – Mike Heale

Most Unitarians would subscribe, (I believe) to the belief that God has intervened in history with the emergence of great religious leaders. Thus we have the Buddah (Buddhism); the prophet Mohammed (Islam); Abraham (Judaism); Krishna (Hinduism); and of course Jesus (Christianity).

I quote from the writers of the Buddhist Tradition:-

1) We must discover and re-discover spiritual values.

“Should we carry on spending a fortune building Buddah images of gold on high pedestals while the majority of people are starving or lack access to the most rudimentary healthcare, not to mention suffering from human rights abuses?”

2) “Mindfulness should be practised beyond the meditation hall, in places such as refugee camps or outside of military bases, or even in shopping centres, so that we could bring out the seeds of peace and critical self-awareness, cultivated within ourselves, and engage with the world through non-violent social actions and networking. Bangkok – 2009 3) Buddhism offers us practical self-discipline:-

a) Beings are numberless – I vow to save them b) Mental defilements are inexhaustible – I vow to put an end to them. c) The teachings are boundless – I vow to master them. d) The buddha’s way is unsurpassable I vow to attain it. Jonathan Landaw – ‘A Buddhist Practitioner’ 2011 For everyone who has ever had an evaluation – just remember, it could have been worse. These are claimed to be actual quotes taken from employee performance evaluations.

Borrowed from Brook Street Knutsford’s September/October Newsletter

“Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig”. “I would not allow this employee to breed”. “This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won’t be”. “Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap”. “When he opens his mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet”. “This young lady has delusions of adequacy”. “He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them”. “This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot”. “This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts the better”. “Got a full six-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together”. “A gross ignoramus – 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus”. “He doesn’t have ulcers, but he’s a carrier”. “He’s been working with glue too much”. “He would argue with a signpost”. “He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room”. “When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell”. ______

Meditation on All Souls by Elizabeth Tarbox

Who are my people, where are you who birthed me to play in summer's circle? I think I see you out of the corner of my eye, gone before I can look again, working, talking, engaged, and alive.

My ancestors are all about me in the ragged edges of memory, like partially developed film, the details are sketchy now. No princes and ladies among them, but scullery maids and journeymen. I know their faces, but not their voices, not the way their clothes smell, not the soft hands warm and red from a day of washing sheets. Did they smile at me? Did they notice the little gifts I brought? I don't remember.

Bits of pieces of my people remain in memory's attic, hardly enough to make a tribe. Forebears in small brick cottages with sooty chimneys and outdoor toilets. Women with wrap-around aprons and men with cloth caps. Brown teapots and doilies and unheated bedrooms. My grandmother's slippers, my mother's bone-handled hairbrush. Just memories, without the power to haunt.

So I seek a new tribe, other meanings. The little girl at the shelter shows me a toy, her creased fingers cannot yet turn a key, but there is still strength in her hand as it touches mine. Though she doesn't know my name, she would come with me if I would make her toy work and protect her from a world that has roughened her skin, bruised her heart, and given her only broken toys. She is a needy child; therefore, is she not my child?

The old man who hardly knows me says he loves me because I bring him a bowl of food and sit there while he eats it. He is a hungry old man, therefore, is he not my father?

At home I listen to a tape of sacred music and I weep in my chair, and I cannot say if I weep for the child in the shelter or for the child I used to be. The spirits have no power to haunt, I claim, so why do I weep in nostalgia and regret my forgetfulness?

I look at the faces around a meeting table, across the sanctuary, in the candlelight of a meditation group, and I think: these are my people now, we belong to each other, I pour out my soul in trust to a new tribe. These are my people, who touch my hands, who invite me to come along, who make room for me to sit in the shadow of the candlelight and listen to their songs. Submitted by Subvert

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MIXED RESULTS IN MENSWEAR by Dr Leslie Davies

There comes a time when one's womenfolk make suggestions about one's appearance that any loving husband, dad and granddad feels obliged to consider seriously. I personally was well satisfied with my winter anorak: it was warm and commodious, the only hole was in an inner pocket for which I rarely found a use, and. in any case I remain an admirer of certain later twentieth century fashions. But my daughter (herself of 1960 vintage) said it would no longer do, and there was restrained but effective support for her viewpoint from elsewhere in the assembly. So I took myself off to what I have long regarded as the best menswear shop in Manchester, where one can actually find a helpful and knowledgeable assistant, instead of being left to ferret among crowded racks and then seek, in an area reminiscent of Lord's cricket ground, the half-pitch length at which one may wait to make payment

I went to buy an anorak - I fancied fawn, the man said black. When I said no, the man said: "Oh- That's all we have upon the rack."

"Dear sir," said he, "think it not strange- We really do have quite a range In weight and length, some gloss, some matt." I said: "Debs and M & S do that!"

I tried some coats and the fit seemed right, But dear me, they looked like moonless night. Still, I could see nought else to do To try to please my loving crew.

A quest for shirts - my other theme. "Of course, sir, yes, perhaps a cream?" He could not know, this friendly fellow, My hope was for a sunny yellow.

I mentioned this. "Oh dear;" he said, "What about a nice plum-red? It will go well with your pale grey suit." He could see it's old but it was a beaut.

The boy is right, I inward said, So what about a tie that's red- With subtle shades, can that be done? He seemed to think I spoke in fun.

Oh, subtle, sir, that's very droll- The fashion's like a barber's pole! But sit awhile and I will see If we can stretch to colours three."

And yes, there was, white, grey and red. "That's very you," the young man said. I thought if this gives some street cred I'd better quit whilst I'm ahead.

So if you see this aged fellow In dark red shirt instead of yellow With pitch-black coat and shiny suit Please smile and say "Hello, old fruit!"

It isn't what I meant to do But I can't win 'em all Can you?

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TABLET By Grace MacDougall

I was making tablet one day, And I thought it’s like this: The sugar is the sweetness of the Lord; The milk is the nourishment of his word; The butter is the oil of salvation. It’s all put into a vessel - which is us – And warmed by God’s love. Then it has to be laid out, like the life of Jesus. And then of course, it has to be shared. Chrissie’s Dad’s Tablet recipe

1lb Granulated sugar Scant ½ pint water, 2 oz butter, 5 tbsp. condensed milk, 1 tsp. vanilla essence

Dissolve sugar in water on low heat. Add butter and milk and dissolve in the sugar syrup. Boil and continue stirring gently to soft ball stage. Add vanilla essence and pour into greased swiss roll tin. When setting mark into squares with an oiled knife. Break into squares when cold.

Beware – very calorific and very very moreish ______

Sidesman’s Rota for September, October, November, December 2019

1st September Mrs E Earp Mrs A Gemmell 8th September Mrs P Wood Mrs B Robinson 15th September Mr P Weigh Mrs M Weigh 22nd September Mr K Upham Mrs S McFadgen 29th September Mr A Cupper Mrs M Cupper

6th October Mr I Briscoe Mrs S Briscoe 13th October Mrs D Salthouse Mrs A Smith 20th October Mr A Earp Mrs E Earp 27thth October Rev P Johnson Mrs A Slade

3rd November Mrs C Best Mrs E Godfrey 10th November Mr J Wenham Mrs H Shaw 17th November Mr I Booth Mrs B Booth 24th November Mrs E Earp Mrs A Gemmell

1st December Mr K Upham Mrs S McFadgen 8th December Mr A Cupper Mrs M Cupper 15th December Mr I Briscoe Mrs S Briscoe 22nd December Mrs D Salthouse Mrs A Smith 24th December Mr A Earp Mrs E Earp 31st December Rev P Johnson Mrs A Slade

If the date allocated to you proves to be inconvenient please try to exchange it. If you are unable to do so, please inform Elizabeth Earp so that an exchange can be arranged (0161 439 3079)

Dean Row Events for September, October, November, December 2019

Thursday 26th September Visit to Staybridge Chapel for Afternoon Tea details from Anne Gemmell.

Thursday 7th November Afternoon 'Open' Meeting in the Hall. Speaker from North West Air Ambulance

Saturday 23rd November Christmas Fayre and Coffee Morning

Saturday 7 December Laurence Singers are offering a concert in the chapel.

Craft and Chatter Group – Wednesdays at 2.00 4th Sept, 18th Sept, 2nd Oct, 16th Oct, 30th Oct,13th Nov, 27th Nov, 11th Dec.

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The Poor Boy

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to carve out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of." And that he did.

In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London , and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Submitted by Subvert

HALE CHAPEL

Hale Chairman’s Letter – Alastair Brown

Jeff efficiently reminded us in Chapel on Sunday that Chrissie now needs contributions for the Autumn newsletter – so here goes!

Autumn of course brings visions of leaves falling, the days shortening, and curtains being drawn at ever earlier hours. At least last year we could look back on the long glorious summer – but how different this year has been. I think the summer of 2012 was the worst that I can remember but 2019 has surely run it close. It seems to have rained pretty well every day since the beginning of June and as I write this mid-August it is pouring down yet again. Oh the joys of the English climate! No doubt some sage will say global warming will bring warm wet summers to the UK but that wouldn’t explain last year. That’s the beauty of our climate – you just never know what to expect.

Over the last months – indeed since February – I have not been able to attend Chapel here at Hale as much as I would have like to. As my fellow Chapel members here know this is due to illness issues with members of my wife’s family which have led to us being up and down the M6 and M5 at weekends to Worcestershire to offer our support. This has also led to me have less time to concentrate on Chapel affairs so I must thank my fellow committee members for all their hard work this year. As with any charitable organisation there is so much hard work that goes on ‘behind the scenes’ and we are fortunate to have a full and committed committee here.

The silver lining for me is that I have at long last retired! This after forty-six long years in the legal profession. I am still adjusting but hopefully when the dust settles I will have more time to devote to Chapel matters.

So as I said at the outset here comes Autumn – and then it will be Christmas before we know it. I believe that at least one local garden centre has already arranged for Father Christmas to be in place. We at Hale Chapel will have our usual Harvest service and another musical concert is being arranged so we have lots to look forward to.

Best wishes to you all

Alastair Brown

Ringway & Hale Barns W.I. Gift. Margaret Taylor.

In a countrywide effort to encourage people to plant more trees, the Woodlands Trust asked the Women’s Institute to give their support by offering to supply a tree to a local group in recognition of the importance of the project, and to enhance the garden of the recipients.

I’m delighted to report that the Ringway & Hale Barns W.I. voted to donate a tree to Hale Chapel. We were offered either a flowering cherry tree or an Acer. As we already have eight Acers in the garden it was decided to request a flowering cherry.

Gwen Lewis, the W.I. Chairperson has spent a lot of time and effort in selecting an appropriate tree for us and arranged for it to be delivered from Fryers yesterday. It’s a beautiful one year old Prunus and the following specification, supplied by Denise, indicates that the darker times of future years are certainly going to be improved at Hale Chapel by this beautiful tree and this generous gesture.

PRUNUS ‘AUTUMNALIS ROSEA’ is a small deciduous tree that features pale-pink, semi-double flowers that appear in autumn and last over winter. This ornamental specimen also boasts ovate, dark-green leaves and glossy fruits in spring.

Each autumn, usually in November, a profusion of bell-shaped, pink, semi- double flowers appear all over the tree. The pale pink flowers open from dark pink buds and then add a real burst of colour as the dark nights close in. From November to March, the blooms appear intermittently and they look stunning in a snow-covered garden. The flowers later become small and glossy fruits, which make a great natural bird feeder, but the fruits are soon overshadowed by the spring foliage.

The leaves, which are ovate in shape and dark-green in colour, cover the spreading branches and make a great foil for lighter-leaved varieties. Come autumn, just before the flowers appear, the leaves produce a final show of colour: they turn to shades of rich red, orange and yellow before falling.

It is planned to clear an area of the front border to the left of the lych gate (behind the notice board), to plant our new tree. This is an area which will be prominent and welcome people as they arrive (or pass by) the chapel.

Our sincere thanks and gratitude go to the Ringway & Hale Barns W.I., and the Woodlands Trust, for such a generous and meaningful gesture which will certainly enhance our beautiful garden.

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Unitarians and the Peterloo Bicentenary Commemoration by Helen Wilson

On August 16th 1819 a peaceful, pro- democracy, anti-poverty demonstration took place on what is now St Peter’s Square in Manchester. The 60,000 strong crowd was ordered to disperse and the Yeomanry were called by the magistrates to remove the assembled group. It is estimated18 people including women and children died from sabre cuts, and trampling. 700 were injured in the crush when the Yeomanry on horseback armed with sabres and clubs charged. The Peterloo Rally was presided over by the radical orator Henry Hunt who advocated Universal Suffrage. It was a demonstration of discontent and urged parliamentary reform, only 2% of the male population could vote, women had no right to vote. No-one was armed, and the event was peaceable with families in holiday mood walking from surrounding villages e.g. Oldham, Middleton, Bolton, Saddleworth, Stretford, with children present dressed in their Sunday best. Banners were carried stating ‘Reform, Universal suffrage, Equal Representation, Love.’

The event was hugely influential in ordinary people winning the right to vote. It is highly probable that members of Cross Street Unitarian Chapel witnessed the massacre and the event would have been discussed in the pulpits of Hale and Dean Row. Many cotton manufacturers and merchants had become seriously rich, and in Unitarianism they saw a freedom of religious thought and so were attracted to Cross Street, Hale and Dean Row and Altrincham. Unitarians were becoming politically active and involved in reform.

In 1815 a group of liberals met regularly to discuss social and electoral reform and to question why Manchester did not have representation in the House of Commons. The group known as The ‘Little Circle’ had a core membership of Unitarians led by cotton merchant and Cross Street member John Potter and his sons Thomas (1st Mayor of Manchester), Richard (MP for Wigan), Joseph Brotherton (1st MP for Salford), John Shuttleworth (Reformer) and John Edward Taylor (Cotton Merchant). Brotherton, Shuttleworth and Thomas Potter founded the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

The Peterloo Massacre was a catalyst for the founding of the Manchester Guardian. John Taylor interviewed witnesses and was shocked. The ‘Little Circle’ started its own newspaper as a mouthpiece for their liberal views. The first edition of The Manchester Guardian appeared on 8th May 1821. John Edward Taylor (1791 -1844) became the editor. The new publication proclaimed it would ’Zealously enforce the principles of civil and religious liberty’. J. E. Taylor believed education in the form of balanced, honest, well-researched reporting could create change. Members of the ‘Little Circle’ pressed for an independent public inquiry into Peterloo which was refused. A petition signed by 5,000 Mancunians was also refused. In 1831 Absalom Watkin (1787-1861) drew up a petition asking government to grant Manchester 2 members of parliament. In 1832 the Reform Act was passed which granted seats to large cities and increased the electorate making 1 in 5 adult males eligible to vote.

Later Taylor’s nephew Charles Prestwich Scott (1846-1932) a politician (Liberal MP for Leigh) transformed the Guardian from a provincial paper into a newspaper of national and international standing. His Grandfather Russell Scott had worked with Dr Joseph Priestley to establish the Unitarian movement. In the chapel archives we have a letter from the Minister Timothy Priestley his younger brother addressed to William Whitelegg, Trustee of Hale Chapel about ministerial issues. The Unitarians of this area were at the fore front of reform.

Ten out of the first twenty–eight Mayors of Manchester were Unitarian and associated with Cross Street Chapel and often worshipped at other chapels. From Margaret Taylor -Whilst reading ‘Growing Old Disgracefully’ I came across the following recipe which I thought might appeal and raise a longing for the physical ability needed in the method. Ingredients: A lot of laughter A few tears Much love Warm friendships Large amounts of fun and frolic

Method: Take a group of women, well seasoned. Add all the above ingredients in appropriate quantities. Mix well, stirring with vigorous song and dance. Stand back! The resulting joy, humour, delight, energy and chaos is guaranteed to lift your hearts.

FLOWER AND COFFEE ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2019 DATE COFFEE FLOWERS SEPTEMBER

1st September L. Wilson/J. Allcock S. Cobb 8th September B. Ellis/J. MacDermott 15th September E. Taylor//S. Cobb E. Jones 22nd September H. Wilson/E. Jones E.P. Bradley 29th September M. Gallagher/A. Hart OCTOBER 6th October L. Wilson/J. Allcock 13th October B. Ellis/J. MacDermott E. Taylor 20th October E. Taylor/S. Cobb B. Ellis & S. Cobb 27th October H. Wilson/E. Jones B.A Waller NOVEMBER 3rd November M. Gallagher/A. Hart L. Wilson 10th November L. Wilson/J. Allcock 17th November B. Ellis/J. MacDermott 24th November E. Taylor/S. Cobb

If you would like to donate flowers or give a small donation for the purchase of flowers to enhance our beautiful chapel for the Sunday services, please contact Margaret Taylor. 0161 980 3813

To all contributors and helpers THANK YOU

Do you have a special date in the year when you would like to have flowers placed in the chapel in memory of a loved one? Many people like to do this, and Margaret will be happy to add your name to the diary if you contact her.

Hale Chapel Diary Dates for June, July August, 2019

Thursday Coffee Morning - Join us in the vestry 10.30 -12 once a month for cake, conversation and fellowship. Future dates – 13th June, 11th July, 8th August, 12th September.

Hale Chapel Book Club – Continues to meet regularly and has planned the book list until November. The meetings will now be on a Tuesday morning at 11am. Please look at the plan on the notice board in the vestry. Ring Sheila Cobb 0161 941 3173 for further information.

Coffee Mornings- It is proposed to hold a MacMillan Cancer Care coffee morning on Thursday 26th September at Hale in the vestry at 10.30. The usual coffee morning held on the 2nd Thursday in September is cancelled. You can help by attending the coffee morning, making a donation, bringing a cake or savoury.

Coffee mornings in future months will be held as usual on the 2nd Thursday. 10th October, 14th November, 12th December, in the vestry 10.30-12noon.

Harvest Service- 6th October- Harvest refreshments will be served after the service in the vestry. Harvest donations given at the service of tinned/packet foods will be given to Wood Street Mission, Manchester.

Remembrance Service- Sunday 10th November- Join us for this special service

Concert at Hale Chapel- Sunday 20th October 6pm-7pm. The evening will feature a Harpist and a Flautist ‘The Juniper Project’. Tickets £10 including refreshments.

Flowers for the Chapel- Donations are needed for a sustainable fund to provide flowers for our weekly Sunday services. Any donations will be gratefully received by Margaret Taylor or donations can be left in the flower fund jar.

Food Bank- Thank you for all the food donations. Biscuits, puddings, tinned vegetables are always needed. Keep donating if you can. From Margaret Taylor - Some good ideas here for our new shed!

Actually the old one was falling to bits so, when our lovely member Wendy Bailey died suddenly last year and Hale Chapel received over 30k in her will, I suggested to the committee that we should buy a new shed and call it our 'Wendy House'. Wendy was a valuable hard working lady who spent a lot of time working in the garden.

Helen kindly took over the task of finding suitable people to visit the chapel to advise about a replacement with a new base etc. etc. The old shed and loads of inclusive rubbish was removed several weeks ago and the site prepared for a new base - which was done last Monday. Helen tells us the new shed will now be built to our specification and erected in about 6 weeks time.

All this work has involved a lot of time and effort for Helen and Liz, so I'm sure they can't wait for the project to be completed and all the items, dumped in the back pew from the old shed, to be sorted and returned to their new home. So I am sure that we all will thank Helen and Liz for all their hard work.

Chrissie heard about our shed and has some suggestions about what we might use it for -

What will it be used for? Could it be a prison for those who do wrong - perhaps breaking a Lenten fast, or will it just be a plain ordinary shed with all the mundane uses we find for these edifices, could it be a resting place for our Minister if he comes to a Hale event and is too much in his cups to drive home? Could it be a holiday let? There, you can give Helen some ideas to exercise her mind. – Love Chrissie

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The Poor Boy

Peterloo Poem The Masque of Anarchy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

This is a political poem written in 1819 by Shelley following the Peterloo Massacre. It is thought to be the first modern statement of the principle of nonviolent resistance. The work has many verses- here are just a few

Stand ye calm and resolute Like a forest close and mute With folded arms and looks which are Weapons of unvanquished war

And if then the tyrants dare Let them ride among you there Slash, and stab, and maim and hew What they like, that let them do

Rise, like lions after slumber In unvanquished number! Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you Ye are many- they are few

Note that Mary Wollstonecraft was mother of Mary Shelley who married Percy Shelley in 1822. From 1782 -1785 Mary Wollstonecraft worshipped at the Unitarian Chapel, Newington Green. She was a revolutionary advocate of equal rights for women. She was a member of a group of intellectuals and radicals which included Joseph Priestley, Thomas Paine, and William Wordsworth.

Submitted by Helen Wilson

Dean Row Chapel Officers:

Chairman Chrissie Wilkie Tel. 0161 439 8262; Email [email protected])

Treasurer: Peter Shaw Tel. 01625 584881 Email [email protected]

Secretary Anne Gemmell Tel. 0161 637 5347 [email protected]

Warden: Ian Booth 01625262819

Women’s League Secretary: Anne Gemmell Tel. 0161 637 5347

Flower Secretary: Bridget Wenham Tel 01625 820772

Honorary Life President Tony Cupper

Minister Emeritus Rev Penny Johnson

Items for Newsletter to Chrissie Wilkie

Hale Chapel Executive Committee

Chairman Mr. Alastair Brown Tel.01925 262332 email: [email protected]

Secretary Ms. Averil Hart Tel. 0161 980 2811 email: [email protected]

Treasurer Mrs. Margaret Taylor Tel. 0161 980 3813 email: [email protected]

Chapel Fabric Dr. Jean Ormerod Tel 0161 929 7945 [email protected]

Junior Church Mrs. Jo Turner Tel 0161 928 0406 [email protected]

Mrs. Jane MacDermott 0161 928 0201 email: [email protected]

Miss Helen Wilson 0161 962 9661 email: [email protected]

Mrs Elizabeth Wilson 0161 980 4629 email: [email protected]

Hall Bookings Co-Ordinator Mrs Sharon Kupusarevic 07801 140809 email: [email protected]