Westwood Moravian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westwood Moravian Church |
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Westwood Moravian Church viewed from Middleton Road
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Moravian Church |
| Year consecrated | 1869 |
| Location | |
| Location | Westwood Oldham Greater Manchester England |
 Location in Greater Manchester
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1869 |
| Direction of façade | South |
The Westwood Moravian Church was started in 1865 in Westwood, a part of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. The first church building quickly became too small. So, a new, bigger church was opened in 1869. This church was used by the Moravian community until 2005. That year, the church members sold the building and moved to a new place in Royton. The original Westwood building is still standing today.
Discovering the Church Buildings
The Main Church Building
The first stone for the Westwood church was placed on August 5, 1865. This first building was on Main Road. It is now where the Sunday School stands. Soon, the chapel was not big enough for everyone. So, work began on a new church on Middleton Road in 1868. This new church opened on May 12, 1869. It was used by the Moravian Church until July 2005.
In 2005, people described the outside of the 1869 church. They said it looked grand from the road. It had tall, pointed pillars around a main entrance. This entrance had round-topped doors and windows. On each side, there were sections with stairs. These stairs led up to the church galleries.
A drawing from 1882 shows what the inside of the church looked like. The organ was at the north end. The pulpit, where the speaker stood, was in the middle. It had stairs on both sides. The communion table was in front of the pulpit. Rows of benches faced the table from all directions.
The inside of the church was changed a lot in 1924. New rooms were added for the Minister and the choir. The front of the church got beautiful oak furniture. This included choir stalls and a communion table. There was also a special screen to remember those who died in war. A new pulpit was placed near the Minister's room. All these changes cost over £3,000. In 1932, a special font for baptisms was given to the church. It was given in memory of a church member. When Westwood church closed in 2005, some items moved to the new church in Royton. These included the communion table, the memorial plaque, the Lamb and Flag symbol from the pulpit, and the font.
The Church Organ
In 1873, an organ was bought for the church. It cost £100. It was first played on Palm Sunday. In 1903, a new organ replaced it. This one was designed by George Benson from Manchester. It had many parts and sounds. Robert Jackson, the organist from St Peter's Church in Oldham, installed it. At first, water pressure powered the organ's bellows. Later, in 1923, an electric blower was installed. In 1965, the Benson organ was worth about £3,000. When the Westwood church closed, the organ was taken apart.
The Manse (Minister's Home)
In August 1872, a Manse was built next to the church. This was a home for the Minister and his family. It was a large house with a big hall, staircase, and landing.
The Sunday School Building
After the 1869 church was built, the first chapel on Main Road became the Sunday School. In 1896, this school building was made longer. A three-story part was added. This work cost £650. The new building could hold 500 students. However, on April 7, 1906, new foundation stones were laid for a brand new Sunday School Hall. This was on the same spot as the first chapel. Bishop C E Sutcliffe and others laid the stones. The architect was C T Taylor. The building cost £1,850. Its beautiful front on Main Road is very noticeable.
Life and Activities at Westwood Church
The Moravian Community
Church Services and Sunday School
Westwood Moravian Church started in 1865. Before that, Reverend Bennett Harvey and Reverend Frederic La Trobe had been working in homes. The Westwood mission was in a new industrial district. It was set up by leaders from Salem Moravian Church in eastern Oldham. They wanted to help their members who had moved to Westwood for work. Some members from Dukinfield Moravian Church also moved there.
The first public church services were held on November 12, 1865. Forty adults came in the morning, and seventy in the evening. At the first anniversary, over 150 people came in the morning. In the evening, the chapel was too full to hold everyone. In 1900, the Sunday School had 31 teachers and 537 students. About 197 students came in the morning and 377 in the afternoon. In 1906, the church had 173 full members and 83 others who attended. About 120 people came to morning services and 200 in the evening.
In 1958, the church had 94 full members and 15 others. There were also 183 children in the Sunday School. They had 32 teachers. In October 1965, "Family Church" started. About 170 people attended morning services then.
Learning and Work Opportunities
From the very beginning, the Minister at Westwood taught children. He held evening classes for reading, writing, and math. Sunday School teachers also taught lessons in the morning and afternoon. Back then, children could work up to twelve hours a day in factories. They had only short breaks for meals. Public education did not start in England until 1870. Even then, there were not enough school places. Many children could not go to school. In 1870, about half of the 18,085 school-aged children in Oldham actually attended school. Records show that the Westwood Sunday School building was rented by teachers for private lessons. The School Hall was also used as an Employment Exchange from 1922 to 1957.
Fun Social Activities
Westwood Moravian Church was a busy place for everyone in the area. It was not just for church members.
In 1900, there were many groups. These included the Band of Hope, the Boys Brigade, the Women's Guild, and the Men's Institute. The Men's Institute even had two full-size billiard tables. The Boys Brigade closed in 1931.
A drama group started around 1897. The Westwood Glee Club formed in 1931. In 1934, it joined with the drama group. This group was still very active in the 1970s. They put on plays and comedies.
After much discussion, dancing was allowed from 1921. The church and Sunday School groups decided that only six dances could happen in one night. Special nights like Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve could have more. So, dancing happened for the first time at the Christmas Eve Social that year. However, some leaders resigned because they disagreed. The rules became more relaxed in 1931. Dancing was then allowed for up to ninety minutes at any social event.
The Westwood Moravian Cricket Club started in 1883. It was still active in 1965. A recreation club for football, cricket, and tennis began in 1922. The Girl Guides started in 1932. The Minister, Br Edward Barker, started the Boy Scouts during the Second World War. In 1953, a Wakes Club was set up. This helped people save money for holidays. Youth clubs were also active at Westwood from at least 1943.
Ministers from Westwood
Four men from Westwood went on to become Ministers in the Moravian Church.
In 1904, Br Harry Lloyd was accepted for missionary training. He sailed to the West Indies. He died in Antigua in 1941. His son, Ronald, was Minister at Westwood from 1945 to 1954.
Br Handel Hassell trained to be a Moravian Minister. He joined the British Army when World War I started. He was very brave and won the Military Cross. After the war, he continued his ministry. He died in 1953.
Br George Harp was ordained at Westwood on June 21, 1925. He had worked in a mill before his training. In July 1925, he sailed to work as a missionary in Labrador.
In 1947, Br Fred Linyard started his training. He was ordained at Westwood in 1953. After serving in England and the West Indies, he became a member of the Provincial Board. Later, he became the editor of The Moravian Messenger, the church magazine.
The Church Closes
The church building on Middleton Road was used until 2005. Then, the community moved to St Luke's Anglican Church. Later, they moved to a smaller place in Royton, about six miles away. They moved because the number of people in Westwood changed. Also, it was getting harder to keep up the old buildings.
It is interesting that in 1881, the Minister at Westwood, Br H Reichel, had suggested Royton as a place for a new church.
Ministers Who Served Westwood
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What Happened After the Moravians Left?
We do not know what the site was used for right after the Moravians left.
The church building is now used by Firwood Church. This is a free evangelical church.
