ln the early 1900’s the Village of Haydock was expanding and the Population Increasing and in 1904 Dr. Chavasse, the Bishop of Liverpool suggested forming a separate parish as distinct from the Mother Parish of St. James’. The coal mines formed the major industry in the Village and the majority of the early stalwarts were connected with the collieries in and around the district.
Under the leadership of that Protestant stalwart Mr. John Robinson, they undertook to pay the stipend of a Curate-in-charge and the plan to build the present church was started in 1905 when the Bishop instituted the Rev. Travers Stoney M.A., to be in charge of the newly formed “District of St. Mark’s”.
Rev Travers Stoney M.A. (1905 – 1910)
For the first Five years the services were held in the infant School Park Street and during this time £4,600 had been raised towards the £6,000 needed for the new church.
The land on which the Church is built was donated by Lord Newton and the foundation stone was laid by him on 14th November 1908. The Church was opened free from debt on St. Mark’s Day 25th April 1910. The Church was not consecrated owing to some trouble with the roof until Saturday 25th June, when the Bishop performed the ceremony at 3 p.m. It is true to say that Mr Stoney laid the spiritual foundation at St. Mark’s.
The above extract is taken from The Centenary Souvenir booklet ‘100 Testimonies’. Available from the admin staff for £1.
Here is our gallery of images collated to celebrate 110 years of St Marks in 2020.
A Poem by Eric Littler
The night the church council resolved to build a church hall
Was a momentous occasion as some will recall
We’d made a decision and couldn’t go back
But we were assured that of help there would be no lack
Bill Stockley’s the chap to take this in hand
And so Bill produces the estimate and plan
A big hall, a little hall and side classrooms too
And a tearoom for making a really good brew.
Our first need, said Bill, is a good storage hut
To store the cement and tools and such
So ‘twas decided to move the football cabin
And cart it away on Jack Case’s wagon
And so the men started to take down the hut
Which had housed many a footballer down on his luck
Vicar says “now chaps look sharp and be nippy,
Jack Case’s wagon will be here in a jiffy
The chaps took a breather after much toil and struggle
And the ref from the field came over the stubble
Ref says, “if you fellows have nothing to do, it would be fine
If one of your number could just run the line!”
Jack Lyon’s lorry was hired to cart it away
With Bill Stockley driving and that was no play
Chuck it on boys, he shouted with a grin,
So Eric obliged and knocked the back window in
The hut was re-erected on a cold windy day
Jim Jervis and others in the thick of the fray
George Potts stepping round with light fairy feet
Put a foot through the window, now wasn’t that neat.
The site for the hall was in a rough shape
With trees, bricks and tiles and slate
But the spade brigade stood undaunted there
As the vicar raised his voice in prayer
After the short service, the vicar took a spade
And out the first sod with its hefty blade
Then to work with much vigour and bustle
Bill McColl with tree roots had a bit of a tussle
Very soon the chaos started feeling quite dry
And weren’t they happy when they heard the cry
Tea up boys, now please don’t rush
The vicar’s first without even a blush
Wilf Peplow arrived at 11.30 sharp
Just in time for the tea and a piece of tart
Been washing the nappies, said Wilf with a grin
We threatened to tell Irene and that quietened him
Pegs were driven in to mark out the site
And without Joe Pilling’s hammer we’d have been in a plight
Just a light heavy tapis all we require
Check, shouts Bill and we hold our fire.
The sewer pipes now we had to lay
Some nine feet down though sod and clay
As we toiled and boiled with sweat running down the chin
Joe Pilling stood there saying, “them sides are baint faw in”
“experts will be laying pipes I suppose” said a woman one day
Our expert was Mr Fairclough up to his knees in clay
And as we gradually fill up the deep trenches
We breathed clean air again after all the stenches
A man we admired for the way he did work
Was Mr John Watkin, no task did he shirk
Digging, concreting, bricking and drinking tea
Were taken in his stride, in fact relished with glee
We must now make a mention of the ladies, who
With strict regularity made us a good brew
They kept us supplied with drinks and mince tarts
Mrs Pilling, Mrs Cartwright, and Renee played their part
One day a big lorry arrived on the scene
Loaded with cement bags, about one hundred and sixteen
Bill Whittle unloaded them all on his own
Poor Bill the next day, all he could do was groan
We now turned our thoughts to the inside floors
No mixer now to help with out chores
And though some mixings were wet and others dry
Chief mixer George Hilton always had some reply.
Soon the site was cleared of sod and rubbish
And filled with hard core, a job we did relish
Bill Stockley made sure that we had the right level
By using a theodolite and a plank with no bevel
The concrete mixer now arrived on the scene
It sounded like music to the concrete team
For if that monster had not stood on the land
We had visions of mixing it all by hand
One night Albert Peplow said he’d stop the engine
And went to the mixer with every good intention
But the next night there was the very deuce to play
The mixer was silent, he’d turned lever wrong way
Sometimes things didn’t go just as we’d have liked
But we’d confidence in Bill that it would work out right
And as concrete was mixed and barrowed and tramped
The raft took shape and our spirits could not be damped
The night the raft was finished we ne’er will forget
We started in earnest until it turned out wet
The wet faithful few carried on through the rain
And sand the Doxology with all our might and main
The site was now ready for the service of Dedication
With Archdeacon White and a large congregation
And as we stood there on that sturdy concrete raft
We viewed it with pride though it had been hard graft
We were very grateful for the help of some joiners, who
Did a good job of work as only joiners can do,
During the break Fred Yates and Bill Whittle could do nothing better
Than discuss which of them would be Clem Atlee’s successor
The womenfolk by this time were greatly distressed
They hadn’t realised until now how their men could be missed
Said Mrs James to Les in a bit of a huff
That hall doesn’t need blessing, it’s been blessed enough
‘Twas rumoured that Ethel Stockley was starting proceedings
For Bill’s away so often looking after his screedings,
And even in his dreams he’s been heard to shout
Another mixing George, before lights out
We have with us tonight, some boys at this our treat,
Who certainly helped, though sometimes under our feet
But I’m sure they will remember their work in years to come
And look back with joy and pride on a job well done
By this time the electrical fittings were being installed
By Tom Turner and his team as all with recall
Whilst Bill Stevens, Jack Littler and others spent awhile
Painting the coiling in Draught board style
Three weeks to go before the official opening
Lots to be done and our hearts were failing
But gradually the jobs were tackled and done
And the hall was ready for the bishop to come
There’s a tinge of regret as I recite these lines
Because George Hilton isn’t with us to join in our smiles
But I’m sure that workers and wives one and all
Will join in sending him best wishes from this our hall
Before I close these few short verses, I would venture
To thank the leader of this great venture
For we fellow workers owe so much to the leadership of Bill
His example and fortitude inspired us all through good and ill.
(C) St Mark’s Haydock 2022. Brought to life by MASTERPIECE CREATIVE DESIGN
