History

A Potted History of St Mark's Church

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. 

A Visual History of St Marks

Here is our gallery of images collated to celebrate 110 years of St Marks in 2020.

A Timeline of St Marks Church, Haydock

1904
A new parish creation suggested by bishop (Dr Chavasse)
1905
1st Ordained Minister Appointed (Rev Travers Stoney) of new DISTRICT Meeting in infant school (park street) for 5 years and raised £4600 of £6000 Sunday school of 470
1908
14th Nov 1908 - foundation stone laid by lord newton who donated the land
1910
25 April 1910 - Opened debt free but roof issues.

25th June 1910 - Consecrated 3pm with confirmation service there 3 hours later for 92 men and women
1914
Vicarage built and ready for occupation.
1917-1918
April 1917 decide to buy Methodist Chapel as mission hall - opened 20th Feb 1918 by bishop and used daily for many meetings.
1921
14th Jan 1921 - War memorial unveiled and dedicated
1922
Support starts for bible churchmen’s missionary society (now Crosslinks)
1923
‘Mothers Meeting’ since renamed ‘Women’s Meeting’ started.
1924
14th sept 1924 1st Gift Day
1925
St marks officially a separate parish on 31st Aug 1925

Graveyard consecrated by bishop of Warrington 14th Nov 1925 (1st interment on the 19th Alice Middlehurst age 71)
1926
9th oct 1926 sent off 1st missionary Miss G.V. Simm to India where she has spent 34 years at 50th celebration!

Boys brigade formed in 1926
1933-34
1933-34 consider church hall being built (tango now)
1936
1936 electric lights installed
1954
1954 building of church hall – much of the work by voluntary labour.
Service of dedication by archdeacon of Warrington and later opening ceremony by lord bishop of Liverpool on 1st Dec.

Hot pot supper to thank workers one of the 1st events held.
1957
1957 - Sold mission hall after 40 years
1978-87
Between 1978-87 small kitchen in back corner and toilet in porch, stone font moved to front of church and bookshop with sliding doors. Old vicarage sold and land halved to make new vicarage.
1988-2008
1988-2008 reorder and extend the church, cell church introduced.
2000
T.A.N.G.O set up.
2008
Purchase of Richard Evans school renamed St Mark’s Centre.
2010
Purchase of council land to create the community garden opened after anniversary celebrations 25 April 2010

Watch Our 110th Celebration

Our Church Hall

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.