St Mary's Church Choir July 1910

I came across this Photographic Postcard on Ebay last week.. not a picture I've seen before. Shows what a hundred years can do to people's attitude. Church going is not as important to a person or a community as it once was. There must be many congregations in Hyde that could not muster 50 people in the congregation, never mind attached to the choir. St Mary's is still going where others have closed and gone for good, St Stephen's on Bennett St is awaiting demolition and it's sad to see the vandalism that has occurred.. and which is still going on. 

I look at the chaps on this picture below and wonder how many were lost to the  WW I and WW II. If you have information about anyone on this image that looks back in our towns history please let me know and if you'd like I will add it here so all can see.

Request From St. Mary's

We have been contacted by Reverend Richard Lamey, Priest in Charge of St. Mary's Newton.  The request is for a bit of personal information concerning the men mentioned on the war memorial inside the church. We have been able to gleam information concerning their rank and number, and where they are buried from The Commonwealth War Grave Commission.   

If anyone has any personal memories of any of the people mentioned above, or knows which street they lived on, or school they went to, place of work and so on that information will be well appreciated. 

Adverts from St. Mary's Magazine. No.3

Adverts from A 1948, St. Marys Magazine. No.2

Talbot Road

Adverts from St.Marys Church Magazine No.1

I showed this church magazine from St. Mary's a few days back, it dates from September 1948. I thought I'd show you a few of the adverts... all of which relate to Victoria Street, Newton.

When I first moved up Newton around 28 years ago this shop was still open for business

There is not one shop now on Victoria Street

St. Mary's Church, Newton.

Parish Magazine 1948

My friend Jack Cheetham called around the other day, to pick up a book and some pictures he'd left for me to scan. Anyhow over a cup of tea he was telling me storys and memories of Hyde and Newton. It's always a pleasure to have Jack call around.... before he left he pulled out a little booklet concerning St. Mary's Church, it's dated September 1948... Jack as been a member of this church as long as I've known him.... and I know it means a lot to him. Anyhow he asked if the booklet was of use to me for the blog... I had a quick flick through the few pages and told him it was perfect.. the cover below is worth showing for the date and price alone... but the adverts inside... which there are many of are well worth showing in future posts.. so watch out for them coming up soon.

Why we find this of interest... the date 1948, and the price being threepence (3d), the names, and the phone number. HYD 448... and thats what you had to dial then. Also of interest is right at the bottom of the page... J. Andrew & Co. Ltd., "Herald-Reporter," Hyde.

Anything printed like this is just the thing we need to turn up and look at... there must be such stuff at the back of draws going unnoticed... anything like this is of interest for the Social History it hold.

St. Mary's Church

The parish church of St. Mary's, Newton, was built in 1839, chiefly through the munificence of the Ashtons of Newton. It is a neat edifice in the Norman style, consisting of nave and chancel, the latter having been enlarged since the original building. The first vicar was the Rev. G. W. Bowers, who held the post about 40 years..

From The History Of Hyde