St. Thomas’s Church, Bedford C ENTENARY OCTOBER 12th, 1940 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AND PARISH COMPILED BY The Rev. G. WILLETT, M.A. VICAR OF BEDFORD / PRICE 1 - ST. THOMAS’S CHURCH, BEDFORD CENTENARY OCTOBER 12th, 1940 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AND PARISH “Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house : and the place where Thine honour dwelleth,” – Psalm xxvi, 8 COMPILED BY The Rev. G. WILLETT, M.A. VICAR OF BEDFORD THE LORD BISHOP OF MANCHESTER THE RIGHT REV, GUY WARMAN, D.D. Foreword N November, 1922, the late Vicar wrote in the Parish Sheet of his intention, if possible, of writing a short history of Bedford Parish. Mr. Lawton was then in his 67th year, and this fact, I added to the charge of a large parish, prevented him from carrying out his wishes. The duty has fallen on his successor, the present Vicar, who has done his best at what has been a difficult but very happy task. The old Parish Sheets, written by the late Vicar, and dating back to 1894, have been a mine of information, and in addition, I have been fortunate in having easy access to the old Deeds of the Parish, the old Registers, old Minute Books, and other similar sources. I should like to express my thanks to the following: - To the Lord Bishop of Manchester for his encouraging message in this book. To Mr. Arthur Mee for permission to include his description of Bedford Church from his book entitled “Lancashire,” and to the Publishers, Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton, Limited, London. To the Editor of Crockford’s Clerical Directory for useful information. To Mr. W. Swift, Bedford Studio, Chapel Street; Mr. Albert E. Clough, Breaston Avenue; and a Friend who wishes to remain anonymous for kindly taking photographs for this book, without making any charge. To the Editor of the Leigh Chronicle for permission to reproduce one of the photographs. To Mr. S. Rowbotham, the Church House, Manchester, for presenting us with two of the blocks used. To Miss C. Hilton for typing the MSS. To Mr. W. H. Stafford and his staff who have printed this book. To several Friends for help or advice, and to many old Bedford Church people, whose memories of Bedford Church go much further back than mine do, for valuable information. Many of those whose names appear in this book have now passed to their rest. Their devoted labours should be an inspiration to us, and they have left us a great heritage in our beautiful Church. G. WILLETT. Message from the Lord Bishop of Manchester BISHOPSCOURT, MANCHESTER. VERY gladly bespeak a welcome for this little book about the parish of Bedford. I am always glad when sufficient I interest is taken in the life and work of a parish to make it worth while to put into permanent form the history, of that life and work. It tends to increase our loyalty and to encourage our family spirit, and in these difficult days when loyalty and comradeship are so desperately needed, in every department of human life, I rejoice when the Church is setting an example. I hope and believe that this little book will serve usefully to that end. I wish it a prosperous journey through life, and commend it, not only to the people of Bedford, who will read it with pride and gratitude, but to all interested Church people who are fellow-workers with the people of Bedford in the cause of the Kingdom of God. GUY MANCHESTER. Outstanding Dates November 21st, 1839 Foundation Stone of the Old Church laid by the Right Honourable Lord Lilford. October 12th, 1840 Bedford Church consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Chester (Dr. J. B. Sumner). March 12th, 1841 The Rev. Moorhouse James, M.A. licensed as Curate-in-Charge of St. Thomas’s, Bedford. October 31st, 1842 The Rev. Moorhouse James licensed as Vicar of Bedford. 1844 Crypt under old Church converted into a School. September, 1847 Diocese of Manchester formed out of the Diocese of Chester, and the Parish of Bedford passed from the Diocese of Chester to the new Diocese of Manchester. 1864 “The Town’s School” at the corner of Chapel Street and Clarence Street was let by the Trustees to the Rev. Moorhouse James as a Church School. 1867 Bedford Church School opened as a Mixed School for Boys and Girls. 1870 Boys and Girls of Bedford Church School separated into two Departments. 1874 Bedford Church Infants’ School opened. March 11th, 1879 The Rev. Moorhouse James passed to his rest. 1879 The Rev. T. Jackson Smith, B.A. became Vicar of Bedford. 1886 The Rev. T. Jackson Smith left Bedford to become Vicar of All Saints’, Patcham, Sussex. 1886 The Rev. J. T. Lawton, M.A. became Vicar of Bedford. May 11th, 1891 The present Butts School opened. May 31st, 1902 Foundation Stone of the new Church laid by Mrs. William Charles Jones. October 31st, 1903 Chancel and two Eastern Bays of the new Church opened. 1908 Site for Mission Church in Manchester Road acquired. October 10th, 1910 Dedication of the new Church by the Lord Bishop of Manchester (Dr. Knox). January 26th, 1930 The Rev. J. T. Lawton passed to his rest. May 1st, 1930 The Rev. G. Willett, M.A. inducted as Vicar of Bedford. 1932 Bedford and Butts Church Schools became Junior Mixed and Infants’ Schools under the Reorganization Scheme. November 24th to 27th, 1937... Bedford Church Bazaar raised the sum of £2,040. October 29th, 1938 All Saints’ Church dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Manchester (Dr. Guy Warman). October 12th, 1940 The Centenary of the Church. Dated 12th day of October 1840 Saint Thomas’s Church, Bedford. Sentence of Consecration. JOHN BIRD by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Chester. To all Christian People Greeting. Whereas it hath been duly represented unto us that the Inhabitants of the Township of Bedford in the Parish of Leigh in the County of Lancaster being very much in want of a Convenient Chapel for the Public Worship of Almighty God according to the Liturgy of the United Church of England and Ireland, this New Church has been erected and built on part of a piece or parcel of Land situate in the said Township of Bedford in the Parish of Leigh aforesaid and duly conveyed for the said purpose, and the residue of the said piece or parcel of Land hath been enclosed as a Cemetery for the Burial of the dead which said last mentioned piece of Ground contains ‘Three thousand six hundred and fifty superficial square yards. And whereas the said New Church has been finished and prepared for performance of Divine Service and of Holy Offices therein And we are now petitioned to consecrate the same accordingly. We therefore proceeding in the Episcopal authority belonging to us by Law and usage and first calling upon the Most High God of Heaven and Earth Father Son and Holy Ghost for a blessing upon our present purpose do hereby dedicate this building to the Worship of Almighty God according to the Liturgy and Usages of the United Church of England and Ireland and we also set apart the Ground attached thereto as a Cemetery or place of Burial for the dead. And we consecrate this Church by the Name of Saint Thomas’s church Bedford in the Parish of Leigh in the County of Lancaster and separate it from all common and ordinary uses to remain from this time Holy Ground by virtue of this, our Sentence. And we further decree that the maintenance of the Minister of the said Church the appointment of Wardens and other Officers, the Regulation of Pews and Pew Rents shall be in accordance with the rules laid down in the Schedule hereto annexed. J. B. CHESTER. This Sentence of Consecration was openly read and promulged upon Monday the Twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty. In the presence, of HENRY RAIKES, Chancellor. JACOB ROBSON, Perpetual Curate of Tyldesley. FELIX KNYVETT CHESTER, Secretary to the Bishop. THE OLD CHURCH 1840 TO 1902 THE OLD CHURCH (INTERIOR) THE OLD AND THE NEW BEDFORD CHURCH AS IT APPEARED FROM 1903 TO 1909 BEDFORD CHURCH THE PRESENT BUILDING THE ALTER AND RERODOS THE FONT AND THE WAR MEMORIAL THE LECTERN BEDFORD CHURCH THE PRESENT BUILDING – INTERIOR THE PULPIT AND LITANY DESK Saint Thomas’s Church, Bedford hen Bedford Church was consecrated 100 years ago, Bedford was in the Diocese of Chester, and remained so till September, 1847, when the new Diocese of Manchester was W formed under Bishop James Prince Lee. THE OLD CHURCH. The first Church at Bedford, built on the site where the present Church stands, was consecrated on Monday, October 12th, 1840, at 11-0 a.m., by the Lord Bishop of Chester, Dr. John Bird Sumner, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of Lord and Lady Francis Egerton and a large congregation from the parish and neighbourhood. The prayers were read by the Vicar of Leigh, the Rev. James Irvine, and the Bishop of Chester preached from the text, Isaiah Chapter xxxv, verse 1, “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” The collection at this service realized about £100 which went towards the cost of the Church. Admission to the Consecration Service was by ticket, which could be had from the Rev. James Irvine, Vicar of Leigh, or from members of the Committee, Mr. Marsh, Westleigh; Mr. Selby, Atherton; Mr. Samuel Young, Bedford; and Messrs.