A SHORT HISTORY OF ST.HILDA’S CHURCH, PRESTWICH
Church life in St.Hilda’s Parish began with a Day School founded over two hundred years ago. The School stood on the present site of the Station Lodge entrance to Heaton Park and was removed to St.Margaret’s district when the park wall was erected in 1811. It was under the direction of a master and served a large and scattered area, the children coming long distances. Steps were taken in 1816 to provide the present National Schools, and in 1817 the scholars were transferred from St.Hilda’s – or Rooden Lane as it was then called – to Prestwich.
Some twenty years later an Infants’ School was considered necessary for the growing district, and one was provided and opened in Infant Street during 1840. The Earl of Wilton was its main supporter until 1871 when he handed over the control to the managers of the National Schools. It continued to provide for the educational needs of the district until 1879 when, on account of the lack of accommodation for both Day and Sunday Scholars, it was found necessary to build the present School in Whittaker Lane. The new building was opened by Isabella, Countess of Wilton, on 29th November 1879, and had been designed for both School purposes and Sunday Services, the eastern end being fitted up as a Chancel. The former premises then began to be used as a Reading Room and later became the Heaton Park Social Club until closure in 1970.
The Rev’d Thomas G. Davies was appointed to the curacy of Prestwich in 1869, and when he came to reside in Bent Lane he soon found that the children were almost totally neglected in the matter of Religious Instruction except in the Day School. He at once began to use the Infant Street building for a Sunday School and soon had upwards of 60 scholars. By the end of 1870 there were 183 scholars and 23 teachers, and the Sunday School grew steadily until 1879 when it transferred to the new Whittaker Lane School.
In June 1884, Lord Wilton offered the benefice of Prestwich to the Rev’d W.T.Jones, Rector of St.Nicholas, Guildford, who was inducted as Rector in the Parish Church on 3rd October 1884. The coming of the new Rector marked a turning point in the history of the Parish. In January 1887, The Rector made an important suggestion, “that a great deal might be done with an iron Church”. He thought that if funds were not forthcoming to buy one, then it might be desirable to adopt the more extravagant method of hiring one. So keen was the Rector to acquire an iron church as quickly as possible, he took out a loan of £400 upon his own individual responsibility, hoping that the weekly offerings might be sufficient to meet the current expenses and to pay at least the interest on the loan.
11.00 a.m., the Rector being the preacher; Holy Communion at 12.15 p.m., a Flower Service at 3.30 p.m. when a large number of flowers were offered by the children and an address was given by the Rev’d H.Bury, former curate. However, the congregation proved much too large for the building, despite there also being Evensong at 6.30 p.m. when Rev’d H.Bury again preached to a crowded congregation. So, the structure had only been erected a short time before it became necessary to enlarge it, and seats were provided to accommodate a total of 260 worshippers.
The Iron Church served the needs of the time very well and was looked upon as the spiritual home of the people of the district, but eventually a permanent Church was considered a necessity, and the first steps towards providing one were taken on Saturday 27th February 1897, when a meeting was held to formulate a scheme to raise the necessary funds. The outcome was the election of a committee, the members of which set to work immediately to canvass the district for donations. The larger portion of the sum required was subscribed by the wealthier members of the Parish Church congregation; but the amount provided in the Whittaker Lane district showed very plainly that the desire for a permanent church was very strong and widespread.
Canon Jones was succeeded as Rector of Prestwich by Canon Cooper in February 1900, and Rev’d W.M.Hope was appointed to the charge of Whittaker Lane district. In spite of these somewhat sudden changes, great enthusiasm was maintained and efforts were redoubled and encouraged by the new clergy. Plans were prepared by Mr.F.P. Oakley, of Manchester, and a church to accommodate 580 people was estimated to cost £5,500. However, as such funds were not yet available, it was decided in 1901 to build a first portion to seat about 313 for £3,000 with the remainder to be added later. The New Building Fund stood at £2,000 and so greater efforts of fund-raising including a Sale of Work and Jumble Sales were held and in May 1903 tenders were invited for the building of the new church. Some difficulty was experienced in the selection of a suitable name and it was the Rector who suggested the dedication to St.Hilda. The Foundation Stone of the present church was laid by Canon Cleworth, Rector of Middleton, and Rural Dean, on 3rd October 1903. It bears the inscription:
