Having a Sense of Purpose

Welcome to, what I hope will be a regular mix of storytelling and updates. This week coincides with Heritage Open Days, so the church building has been open every day for visitors to come inside, take a look, and learn about its history. It has been lovely to meet visitors from Saddleworth, different parts of the country and the wider world. Interested to explore the architectural merits of our larger than expected moorland parish, and suprised by the rich heritage that the church holds within its walls.

Open days are a great opportunity to discover old stories that have shaped the community of Saddleworth. It’s a wonderful chance for everyone to connect with the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to the future with a renewed sense of appreciation for the heritage, culture, and traditions that surrounds us.

This reminds me of the purpose of this website, which is to capture the rich and diverse history of Saddleworth Church. With the vast resources available on the internet, much can be discovered, but valuable information becomes scattered and assets split amongst various organisations such as the National Archives, Oldham Archives, Saddleworth Museum, and the Saddleworth Historical Society, to name a few. A repository that gathers and organises this dispersed knowledge, the website provides visitors with an alternative way of accessing the fascinating history and heritage of Saddleworth. Through the art of storytelling, the website offers a way to get to know about the people buried in the churchyards and/or immortalised within the fabric of the building, whether it’s stories of resilience, innovation, or everyday life.

That said, it is a monumental task, although much of the research has already been done by others. The process involves carefully sifting through a wealth of existing information, and identifying the key insights, whilst maintaining a direct link with our parish history. Historical research requires meticulous attention to detail and an understanding of the subject matter; this skill set demonstrated by others is astounding and their knowledge of the subject bewildering. This is why, vistors and volunteers are so important to this project.

With the groundwork laid out by previous researchers, it allows us to focus our efforts on refining the information and presenting it in an insightful manner and enriching the narrative with historical context and cultural significance. Moreover, the process involves consulting with those in the know, to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the final narrative. A collaborative approach is central to our approach.

The churchyards and church building need to be looked after, if we are to safeguard our legacy for the next generation. It is crucial to ensure that these historic sites are properly maintained, preserving the beauty of their architecture and the stories they hold within their walls. Protecting the cultural and historical significance of these sacred places, ensures that they remain for the enjoyment and contemplation of future generations. By taking proactive steps to care, we can honour the past while creating a meaningful sense of place and community.

Radio Interview

In July, I took part in an interview with Oldham Community Radio with Vincent Hewitt. Check it out by clicking the link. Like a true professional, I have not, so please let me know what you think. The interview begins about 10 minutes in, and finishes at about 50 minutes. I do remember being very nervous and mixing up some stories. Anyhow, the shout out being that we would like to know what the interest would be, if we introduced a geneolgy group, to help people research their family. You do not need to have family at Saddleworth Church, but we can help you research. We are proposing a few talks and classes.

Churchyard Clearance

The inclement weather notwithstanding, we managed to make some progress in uncovering more of the memorials this Wednesday in the lower yard. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the then rector Cannon John Sykes assembled a group of scouts to write down inscriptions, partially successful, many memorials were overlooked.

From a heritage standpoint, it is imperative to undertake the photography and a transcription of the memorials for posterity. Nevertheless, we are capturing photographs and using the details from the inscriptions to add names to our digital index. An electronic index not only aids in locating individuals buried in the yards but also facilitates advanced searches, such as correlating historical events with spikes in burials. Additionally, it allows for the creation of family trees and the pinpointing of settlements on maps.

As a whole (4 Churchyards) we have almost indexed the names of 22,000 people, and mapped as best we can their locations in the yard(s). Cross checking records and researching individual names and family names helps us to get a real appreciation of life in Saddleworth. The Church dates back to the 1200s, so its a great place for genealogists to trace their family lineage, a place and a sense of community.

Clearance is also important. We aim to provide safe access for visitors for which we get many. We must stress, that the churchyards are situated in an upland location, appropriate footwear and clothing is essential. We have uncovered many buried structures and we are tasked with doing a condition survey. These things take time, resources, volunteers and donations.

On that note, take a peek at the short video below, made by Emily who helps us with the clearance. We have posted a few others before.

Happy Memories

Margreeth and Richard Marsden visited the church this week, to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. They had got married at the church but had since moved abroad, to the Netherlands. They kindly said they would send their wedding picture, to add to our gallery of weddings. If you have any wedding pictures, please send them on.

Memorials of Significance

(edited 17/9/24) During the week, I had the pleasure of meeting Maureen Geraci, and her two sisters visiting from the USA. I include the quote from Maureen’s correspondence.

A worthwhile trip, for many reasons. We were able to visit a place that has so much history and connection to our family. I only wish we had more time to explore the area further.  We passed by the Hare & Hounds, which was kept by our cousin in the 1860’s (George Radcliffe 1811-1875). We sisters (and our brother Bill) were born in Chicago, Illinois USA.  It was our 3x great-grandfather, Ralph Radcliffe (1827-1900), who emigrated to the states in 1856. Ralph was born in Stalybridge and lived at Granby Row, Carr Hill, Lydgate before he “crossed the pond” with his brother James. They settled in Illinois and became farmers, although they had worked in the cotton mills before leaving. Eventually, they gave up farming and moved to the city of Chicago. Ralph and his wife Mary Riley had 8 children. 5 were born in Mossley and emigrated with their mother a year after Ralph arrived. Ralph returned to England twice to visit family. In 1899, their other 2 brothers, Seth and William, came to America to visit.   We have 7 Radcliffe great-grandfathers and many aunts, uncles, and cousins who were either baptized, married, or buried at St. Chad’s. I felt a very strong connection when I visited, and was very happy to see the church that meant so much to them (Maureen Geraci)

The Radcliffe’s in Saddleworth have their lineage back to the 1600s. Saddleworth Historical Society amongst others can provide additional research. For the time being, this story will have to wait. It was a pleasure to help this family to find and see their place in the past. Take a look at some of the items that we discovered below.

Of note, historically, the family did donate (in part or fully) towards to the cost of windows, chairs and to the suprise of the family, an oak table which turned out to be the alter. We located multiple graves and memorials, inside the church, in the Old yard, the Lower yard and the resting place of our Warden, John Radcliffe (in the New yard). He was responsible for printing the registers 1613-1800, instrumental to preserving the information contained within them. The actual registers are stored at Manchester Archive.

Another visitor named Charles Bourne, from Uppermill also astounded me with his breadth of knowledge and understanding of two significant military memorials within church. Thankfully allowing me to video graph him as he discussed their merit. I look forward to finding out more about these interesting characters of our past. Excuse the wobble.

the next video is about Lt. John Winterbottom, who was the son of Joseph and Sally Winterbottom in 1781 and baptised at St.Thomas, Friarmere (Heights Chapel) in 1785.  The Winterbottoms were a poor family and young John worked as a weaver to support them.  It was during a period of distress in the woollen trade that John enlisted into the 52^nd Light Infantry in October 1799, aged 18. (Lily Hopkinson).

Succession is too underrated a word to describe Pam Byrnes’s visit. A modern day person of Saddleworth nobility, she described the monumental research that she and others had done, in their heyday, to protect the history of the church. As a mere novice, I am learning all the time. The largest hurdle is knowing the right questions to ask and to whom. Pam’s visit was wonderful, followed by Janet Chard. I now have some research material, to explore and digitise. Collectively they and Lily Hopkinson have a rich archive of knowledge on the individuals who fell in the World Wars, and of much more on the place and community of Saddleworth. It will be exciting to put together exhibitions in church. Building on the foundation laid by these remarkable women, a journey of discovery, piecing together narratives that shed light on the unassuming yet extraordinary people who have contributed to the fabric of Saddleworth. The task ahead is daunting.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission(CWGC)

We hosted a talk this week by Ray Withnall a spokesperson for the CWGC. Saddleworth Church has 14 individuals that it commemorates, situated in our New Yard. He explained why some have a commissioned stone whilst others do not. He discussed the global efforts of the commission to protect the archive, the architecture and conservation work that the commission undertakes to preserve the memory of those that had fallen in the World Wars.

It was very interesting, and we look forward to working together again. On that note, the commission has appointed a new volunteer local to Saddleworth, who is tasked with maintaining the graves. Some of you will remember when the yard was impassable, but there was always a path to the Commission Graves. Understandably, they are one of many people that appreciate the work that we have undertaken.

Below is a less than perfect map of the 13 Commonwelath graves, and where to find them. Note that the actual yard is much longer than the map depicts but stick to the paths and you will find them.

Florence Buckley’s name is the recent add on to the commission list. If you remember a past article In from the Cold she can be found in the Buckley grave.

RSPB

For those that remember last year, Dave Speller set up a stand to talk about the importance of the work at Dove Stones. Given our upland location, we recognise the importance of protecting our local biodiversity (flora and fauna), seeking their advice as we go along. However, Dave gave a talk this week about his role as Fire Ranger and it was informative, delivered fabulously, with lots of questions from the audience. Dave shared fascinating stories about his experiences, and highlighted the significance of community involvement in preserving the natural beauty of the area. His passion for environmental conservation was evident throughout the talk, inspiring us all, to appreciate the work and effort that goes in to conservation of deep peat bogs.

Wildlife Cameras

We have finally installed some wildlife cameras, although some of them are not working as they should. We have however, some pictures to share. Spot the Sheep, Deer, Badger and Magpie.

Until Next Time

Saddleworth is a picturesque area with a rich history and a strong sense of community. The contributions of those who have preceded us have laid a solid foundation, and their efforts have fostered a vibrant environment for all. Whether it’s by actively participating in local events, volunteering for community initiatives, or making charitable donations, everyone has the power to shape the future of Saddleworth. By taking part, we not only ensure that Saddleworth remains a wonderful place to live, but we also create a legacy that can be passed on, providing them with a magnificent heritage to cherish.

On that note, please get in touch if you can help in the churchyards, would like to do some research, or are equally handy at creating video interviews.