rel 16 St. Peter’s Church Stoke burial records 1701-72.

Following the end of the First World War every village, town and city in the land discussed a memorial to those who had given their life in the Great War. Some created civic memorials in front of town halls some were erected in Parks and Churchyards and others took other forms of remembrance. At Penkhull it was agreed that this should be in the form of a Rood Screen.

It waas this national movement to remenber those who died that prompted Penkhull Church to consider which was an appropriate  memorial and worthy of the sacrifice of so many lives and the desire to express thankfulness to Almighty God for allowing Britain to achieve victory.

Plans were drawn of the proposed designed and distributed to every household within the parish. The scheme costing £950 well over £275,000 in today’s money. A Mural Tablet, it was said would be situated near to the Rood listing the names of those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. The plan also included new choir stalls. It was thought that if every household promised to contribute just one guinea that the scheme would become a reality. The project was ‘to the Glory of God, in memory of the brave fallen and as a thank-offering’. As a result volunteers would visit each home to collect their weekly donation of just 3d a week for twenty weeks, such was the poverty in the 1920s.

The first production entitled Snow White, and the Seven Dwarfs was staged in 1958, and was presented almost in a makeshift theatre in the upper schoolroom of the Sunday School. Because of its huge success and public praise, it was decided to present the panto in what was then called Penkhull Senior School the following year. The new venue had a large stage and many schoolrooms that could be used for dressing and props. The next production, Cinderella, surpassed all expectations and the mould was set for an annual pantomime to be presented the week after Christmas. Mrs Buxton continued to produce for three years and was followed in that important role in 1962 by Mrs Betty Powell, by which time the organisation drew in many helpers to build the props, install the lighting, and paint the scenery from both chapel members and the local community. My mother-in-law, Meg Palmer, took charge of the costumes; Dennis Cotterill the lighting and electrics. Other helpers in those early days were Mrs Marjorie Prophett; Mr and Mrs Tom Rowley; Frank Adams; and Jim Powell who helped to produce the props. A story that will bring back so many wonderful memories both of the pantomimes but the people involved.

Three pages with loads of Panto photographs.

The history of St. Peter’s Church, Stoke-upon-Trent dates from at least the sixth century as a Saxon Cross still stand high in the churchyard. In fact, it was the wealthiest parish in the UK in 1296 because of all the glebe land it owned. Not only was there a Saxon church but also a Norman Church, the arches of which were rebuilt in the late 19th century exactly on the spot of the original Norman Church.
By the late 17th century, the population of the pottery towns started to expand with workers coming in from the countryside. Slowly it became impossible for the church at Stoke to serve such a large parish. As a consequence, the church was divided into a number of separate Rectories with Glebe to support the Rector of the new parishes.
By the early 19th century, the old church in Stoke became totally inadequate to accommodate the demand, and the decision was taken to erect a new church on glebe land to the north of the existing churchyard. It was dedicated in 1834 with a capacity to seat over 2,000 worshippers.
This essay continues to expand on the churches origins near to the Trent and Fowlhey Brook and covers subject like the Rectory water Mills on the Trent, the list of rectors from the 12th century although the church was listed at the time of Domesday in 1086. A number of rectors were appointed by the Crown for services rendered, in fact, one never set foot in England but was in receipt of the church tithes. Interesting facts are also discussed from the church registers and the In Memory of tiles that surround the church interior walls which make fascinating reading.
Thirteen pages packed full of information and photos