rel 20 Penkhull Marriages. 1845 – 1891

Shortly after Stoke was conveyed with the title of City in 1925, there was a move to create a Potteries Cathedral. It was Rector Crick of St. Peters in Stoke (1924) who expired such enthusiasm for a new parish church in Stoke, to become the Cathedral of the Potteries. It was his wish to lay the foundation stone on October 6th 1930, the centenary of the present parish church dedicated in 1830. The pictures here of the proposed new cathedral were published in the Sentinel in March 1928. Rector Crick was convinced that if our city could catch a vision of the possi¬bilities of our great church, the dream could be realised.
The plans for the cathedral were prepared by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, R.A. The estimated cost was £150,000 (less than the cost of two old, terraced houses in Penkhull today) £50,000 was needed in five years. The Free Churches of the Potteries also offered their support in the campaign.

However, the war followed on following the depression which finally ended any hope of a Potteries Cathedral. The 1834 parish church of Gothic architecture still stands but sadly creates a huge financial burden to every subsequent generation that comes along.

Two pages with pictures of the original design by Sir Giles

If you are interested in the background of religions in particular the Anglican and Methodists and their origins this 5,000 ples words is a good start in understanding the growth of two quite opposing religions of the time. The early nineteenth century, an age of mechanism, seemed to muster that unimproved concern at the death of the spirit that was the parent of romanticism. The Anglican Church, conscious of decline, made stringent efforts to reverse the situation by the provision of new churches. The urban working classes, largely alienated, became increasingly apathetic to churchgoing. In many cases people who had been uprooted from their country parishes, by coming into new urban centres in search of employment, became indifferent to religion. Social mobility and demographical increase often left them outside the scope of the established church, a situation made worse by the emergence of the dissenting sects.
After the war with France and the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the British people of all classes expected a period of prosperity. Times were hard however as there was no improvement in conditions of employment for the next seven years. K.S. Inglis attempts to put churchgoing into perspective. During the nineteenth century, the habit of attending religious worship was not normal among the working classes. From the beginning of the century, the spiritual destitution of the lower orders was a commonplace of discussion.

This is a brief outline of the essay but sets the picture of what follows. A great read for all keen to learn of the issues seperating two churches in the village of Penkhull.

Ten pages with 5,000 plus word content.

It was in 1832, when the first move was made to provide an Anglican Church in Penkhull, a village ion the top of a hill. The parish church of St Peter-ad-Vincula was situated around one mile away in the valley below. It was used weekdays as a school and Sundays for worship and situated in what is now the north side of the present churchyard. In 1842 the present church of St. Thomas was built to accommodate and expanding congregation.
Probably as a direct result and with the predominant number of working people in the village, the first Primitive Chapel was erected within a stone’s throw from the one in the churchyard although many were worshiping in houses by that time. The new chapel was opened in 1836 (still standing) but there were serious financial issues almost from day one to finance the building.
Following the establishment of the church in 1842, by 1844 the church established a National School just across the road. Then in the 1850’s because of the high number of children wishing to attend the Primitive church, an additional separate but attached Sunday School was built.
The story continues to include the parish registers and many different views between the two denominations which went on for years. This twenty-seven-page essay places both church/chapel within the national framework and far much more. This is an important essay for students of religious worship and community relationships of the time.
twenty-seven pages with photos