YEARS GONE BY event

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ZION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Peel Street / Stockport Road

Gee Cross, Hyde

Are hosting a "YEARS GONE BY" event.

Craft Stalls and Refreshments

On  Saturday 20th June

(  11am  -  2pm  )

Come along and share memorabilia you may have. Family Records are being made available to view. Also a display of photographs for over the years.
We would love to see you and Share memories, or just pop in for a cuppa and chat.

All Welcome

Posted On Behalf Of the Church

UPDATED 9TH JUNE 2015

I received an email this evening which I think needed adding to this weeks posting. Over to Andrew.

I recall the old chapel and its adjacent hall and did manage to visit the place in the early 90s. The reason was because Woodley Methodist Players (a local amateur dramatic society now known as Woodley Players) purchased some redundant lighting equipment formerly used at Zion and is still in use today. I remember the stage and the

men's snooker room down below. The buildings hadn't been modernised to any great extent and was a very interesting place to explore. I wish I had visited more often whilst it was still in use.

Anyway, I have a few of the shots of the buildings during the latter stages of later demolition. I do recall there used to be a vintage cast iron sign on the chapel wall which directed you to Hyde Hospital. Sadly it disappeared when the initial stripping out began. I hope it still survives.

Although it was a shame the chapel and hall had to go, (such places are a rarity these days), I'm sure the new

facilities would have been a big improvement in terms of maintenance and upkeep.

Kind regards, Andrew

Zion whit walks

Here is a photograph showing the Whit walks circa 1966. 

More specifically it shows the Zion Congregational group of walkers including yours truly and my sister standing outside Middletons shop on Market Street.:) There are many old familiar faces on here... including the lady to the right who was a much loved teacher at Zion Sunday School called Gladys. Another favourite was Margaret who can be seen to the back of the group.

Some names I can remember

Martin Wilson, Philip Park , Linda Shepley, Jacqueline Heathcoat, Janet Shepley, Jean Nohas, Ann Lofthouse, Howard Whittingham, Shaun Taylor, Linda Easter, Russell Hamer.

If you are on this photo but not listed please let me know and I'll add your name to the list.

A Sketch of Zion Church

Here is a fantastic drawing of the old Zion Congregational 

Church building by Barbara Sole. 

It is as it appears on the front cover of the book 

"The History of Zion - 1847 - 1996" which was written by 

my Mum, Doreen Morris.

I loved the old building - It was full of nooks and crannies to play hide and seek in which me and my sister did frequently when we went over with my Mum 

when she practised playing the organ.

Thanks to Barbara Sole for use of the Picture and ,of course, Doreen Morris for writing the book.  :)

Silver Hill House

Yesterday we posted a photo which prompted a question from Susan J. 

 "On the other corner of Osborne Road, where the pair of semis now stands, there use to be a wall about a metre high with stone gateposts which surrounded waste land, as though something had been demolished. I remember the houses on that corner being built but never knew what stood there before, apart from the wall and gateposts - maybe someone else will know...." 

 Here is a photo of those gateposts. 
They belonged to Silver Hill House and stood opposite the Zion Chapel.They stood at the entrance to the drive to the house. The two semi detached houses that stand there now were built in the mid 1950's I believe so the photo will date circa late 1940's to early 1950's. My dad remembers when there was an air raid shelter which stood next to the wall behind the gate posts and also some large concrete items which were to be wheeled into the middle of Stockport Road if ever the Germans invaded ! 




 

Below is a map showing the area which Silver Hill House stood circa 1831-56
Zion Chapel was to stand/stood (depending on the date) on the area marked 257.

 

 

Above is a map showing the area today.

   

A view looking down Stockport Road. 
The gateposts are visible, just lower down than the garden gate on the left

Thanks to Jack M for the photos and Cheshire.gov.uk  for the maps.

View from Zion

Todays photo was taken from upstairs at the old Zion Chapel.

It shows the corner of Osborne Road before the entrance to the Trans Pennine trail was put in. Note the bench on the corner. Most of these resting places have now been removed to dissuade gangs hanging around. A shame really as a lot of people used to use them on their way up from shopping in Hyde.
Redferns building can be seen in the background.

The photo is circa 1982. Hard to believe that is 30 plus years ago !



Many thanks to Jack M for the photograph.
Much appreciated ! :)

Pastor Bryant

The following obituary was for Pastor Arthur Bryant who was the Minister at Zion Congregational Church for 24 years.

During his time at Zion, Pastor Bryant baptised 279 people. 

I remember him as a kind, patient man who had time for everyone.

He died on the 3rd  March 1991.

Zion Church

Thanks to Susan J for the newspaper cutting  and Jack M for the photograph !

Postcard from quieter times.

Here is a postcard sent to us by Elsie D.

It shows where Market Street meets Stockport Road. The Ring 'o' Bells pub is on the left and the old Zion chapel in the mist on the middle right.
Four out of the Five shops shown are still with us in some shape or form !

Note the distinct lack of vehicles on the road !!


Postcard view circa 1910


The view as it looks today, courtesy of Google maps..

Many thanks,  Elsie
Much appreciated.  :)

The old Zion Congregational Church building

 The old Zion Congregational Church, Stockport Road, Hyde.
What an imposing building it was in its day !




This photo was taken in the late 1970's/ early 1980's.
Note the old waterboard building in the background, too.


Thumbnail for bigger view.

Zion Congregational Church Organ.

This was sent to us, via email, by Susan who is a regular contributor to this site.
She has sent us some more in the email but I felt this one deserved its own post.

My Mum used to play this organ for the church services and the photo brought back so many happy memories of me sitting with her whilst she practised. 
This is the first time I have seen a photograph of it, too!



 

I have supplied a thumbnail so you can the organ in all its splendour.

Thanks so much, Susan. Much appreciated as always !!

Rev. D R Jacobs - Zion Congregational

Today we received this wonderful email and newspaper clipping from Mary-Helen Crowe....

Over to "Mary-Helen,

"Hello:  
 I thought you might be interested in the attached clipping of Rev. D.R. Jacobs who was the Pastor at Zion and married my Grandparents in August, 1885.  He came to Manitoba in 1889 and my Grandparents came out to them in 1898.   When Rev. Jacobs retired they lived near us in Winnipeg and I remember him very well.  John Black Church they mention was my family Church and I was there when he preached  in his 90th year.  He was a great old man.

I was visiting my Granddaughter in Manchester in September, 2012 and went to Zion Congregational and met Pastor Hardiman.  He showed us archival books and I found a number of my great aunts and uncles baptismal records.  My great-grandmother was a Member of Zion, Violet Birch.   It was such a wonderful occasion for me to actually tread the spot my Grandparents did in their young years.

All the best,

Mary-Helen Crowe (age 84)"

What a lovely story !  
Many thanks Mary-Helen for sharing this with us !

A first for 37 years !

The last time there was a wedding at Amy Fuller’s local church, Harold Wilson was prime minister, the Bay City Rollers were in the charts and petrol cost 16p a litre.

Now 37 years on, Amy  and Des Whendero have become the first couple in a generation to say ‘I do’ at Zion Congregational Church in Hyde.

The ceremony also marked a number of other firsts.
It was the first wedding at the Peel Street church’s new building, and the first at which Pastor David Hardiman had presided since becoming a minister three-and-a-half years ago.
Payroll clerk Amy, 24, said: “We wanted to get married there as we go to that church and I have done since I was 12.
“At first, we didn’t know it had been so long and although I knew there had never been a wedding in the new church building it was only when they looked at the church records that we found out it had been more than 30 years.
“It was a great day, wonderful, with about 100 to 120 people at the church and David did really well!” It’s unlikely that the last wedding, back in January 1975, was much like Des and Amy’s.

Des, 32, who works at the Manchester College, is originally from Zimbabwe so the ceremony included some African traditions – including a few which were a complete surprise to the bride and groom.

Following the vows the minister addressed the congregation in Des’s mother tongue, Shona, to the delight of the groom and his family.
Pastor Hardiman said: “It was a complete surprise and it was all done by friends. My daughter asked a friend of hers from school whose parents are from Zimbabwe and they translated it for me and then another friend helped with the pronunciation.
“Listening back to the tape, Des’s reaction was ‘oh man!’ and his family went wild and no one was expecting it!”

Pastor Hardiman added: “I was surprised when I realised it had been so long since the last wedding, but in a way I understand as the old building, which was demolished in 1997, had fallen in to disrepair.
“We’re only a relatively small community but we do hope that there will be more weddings in the years as we have some active younger members like Amy and Des.
 
I don’t think we will have to wait another 37 years for one!”

Written by Kate Weir.

Zion Congregational Church....

....and as it used to look

 

We would like send Amy and Des Many Congratulations and wish them a very happy life together.

Zion Whit Walks

Here is a  photo showing the Zion Church Whit Walks circa 1966.

Me and my older sister Jane are the little girls in matching dresses, Linda Shepley is the little girl next to us and she is walking with her Mum, Aunt and little brother John who is in the pushchair. Gladys Hodgson is the lady in the hat at the front leading us. A lovely lady, who was one of the Sunday School teachers.

Williams Glyns Bank can be seen on the corner next to Greenwoods Mens Outfitters and the Town Hall is to the right of the picture.

Zion Whit Walks

 The following email and photos were recently sent to us by Susan Jaleel.
They show the Zion Congregational Church Whit Walks.
The photos were taken on 2nd June 1968.

"The attached photos were loaned to me earlier this year and I've just got round to scanning them!  They belong to my lifelong friend, Margaret Gilson, who appears on two of them as the [then] young lady in the pink dress.

Pictures 1 & 3 are taken at the corner of Croft Street and Market Street, and clearly show Bradley's the outfitters.

Pictures 2 & 4 are taken further up Market Street near the Union Street junction and we can see two posh kids' clothes shops Bo-Peep and Bentley's.  In Picture 4 we can just about see Timothy White and Taylor's, Chemists, which was next door to Bentley's.

Pictures 2,3 & 4 are of Zion Chapel members.  On Picture 2 the two ladies walking just in front of the men are Mrs Marion Yates and Mrs Jessie Mateer [Barlow as was], both aunts of Margaret Gilson."

 


 
 Bo Peep was next door to the Cheshire Cheese pub on Market Street

 

Thank you so much, Susan.  :)

Zion (hikes)

Easter Hike From Zions





Another great photo from Fred Booth... Fred told me these hikes were very popular and enjoyable. Can you put names to any not mentioned.

Another Photo from one of the many hikes.
Maybe someone out there can help  us with the location and date ?

The Stage Builders ( Zions)

This is the team who helped to build a stage at Zion's in the 1950s, picture supplied by Fred Booth.. far right.

Albert Clithero with Fred Booth



Walter Beaumont

I wonder if there's anyone reading this that might know any of the others who are not named.. and maybe a picture of the stage from that time would be a nice addition to this post.

UPDATE
Here is a photo from one of the many pantomimes at the Zion circa 1950's
Any help on when and what the production was would be welcomed :)

Zion Rose Queen 'Marian Wilkinson'

Another great photograph from Fred Booth... he says this one was taken around 1938.. and the Rose Queen is Marian Wilkinson. I hope someone reading will recognise themselves or their relation. 

Doesn't she look proud



I hope we find the people on this picture

Fred tells me that he is the little boy seen here, what a great picture this as been to work on... more so as I have been able to scan it myself which as allowed for the close ups to be so clear.

Zion Christmas Nativity review.

Here is a review from North Cheshire Herald of the Nativity play that was performed in the Zion Church in 1969.
My sister Jane and I were two of the "little angels".... nothing changes ;)



I even remember part of the verse despite being one of the younger children...

"When the Christmas Angels
Came flying down to earth.
They flew to fields in Bethlehem
and spoke of Jesus' birth.

But one of them was smaller
and couldn't fly so fast
Her little wings were not so strong
and so she got there last "

I remember being very proud doing the poem as both my Nanna's were on the front row watching us! The Christingle service afterwards was magical and something that will stay with me forever!


The Zion Sunday School on Peel Street circa 1990's

Various Zion Church photos.

The following photos were kindly sent to us by Sean Mayall.

The first one  shows the Zion Whit Walks on their way down King Edward Road circa 1974.
Pictured is Phyllis Kempster ,who was a lovely lady, and Sean and Ian.




Zions Sunday school outing, Aug 1976, place unknown.
(Possibly Blackpool,looking at the Pier).
 
from left to right, Unknown, Andrew Wilson, Janice Wilson, Alan Mayall, Jackie Slater, Darren ?, Linda Wilson and Gary Wilson.

This next one shows  Zions 1974 whit walk, up Lilly St / Backbower. Unfortunately, its difficult to make out who's who, due to poor photo quality ... an evocative photo nontheless!


I love how the children are holding on to the ribbons surrounding them :)


Karen Mayall playing snooker at Zions youth club.
She made a 50 break and the Reporter heard about it and came and took this photo !

Thanks Sean - brilliant photos, as ever!