The ‘newest church’ to stage special history heritage event

The two-day event will comprise an exhibition featuring many historic photographs and documents, illustrated talks, and a session of community singing (The Big Sing), focusing on the work of Charles Wesley, England’s most prolific hymn composer.

Cornerstone Church will be supported by Westhoughton Local History Group, whose members, led by vice-chairman Garth Ratcliffe and committee member Pam Wood, have been working busily away, in liaison with church members, to produce what promises to be an interesting and informative range of exhibition displays.

The local heritage group, which is one of the largest and most innovative of its type in the north-west, will have its own information stand, outlining its regular schedule of activities, and offering the opportunity to purchase its merchandise, including a number of popular publications focusing on aspects of Westhoughton’s fascinating history.

But reference to the town’s ‘newest’ church requires a little explanation, as it results from a formal merger of two long-established churches in Westhoughton, which boast a truly remarkable combined history of 365 years!

Westhoughton United Reformed Church (originally Westhoughton Congregational Church, and long known locally as The Bethel) can trace its roots back to 1811, whilst Westhoughton Methodist Church (originally known as Grove Lane Primitive Methodists) had its origins in 1868.

In common with innumerable places of worship throughout the land in the 21st Century, both entities have needed to face the challenge of ever diminishing congregations, but following the much lamented closure of The Bethel last year, an optimal way forward has been found, in a so-called Local Ecumenical Partnership, which resulted in the two non-conformist denominations formally joining together in a memorable inaugural service on June 5.

Signalling optimism for the future, the new name was carefully selected, and bright new signage erected outside the former Methodist Church, which, with its adjacent historic schoolroom – the original chapel – constitutes the base for the new partnership.

Focus on the heritage weekend will include talks on the histories of the churches by Margaret Curme and Duncan Kyle, as well as one by David Kaye, chairman of the history group, whose presentation will be entitled “Wesley’s Westhoughton Legacy and The Wesley Stone Story”.

By happy coincidence, David recently researched and published the history of arguably Westhoughton’s most iconic historic artefact, a large stone upon which John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, famously preached alfresco to ‘the good folk of Wingates’ in 1784 and 1785, and in doing so planted the seeds of Methodism locally.

This ultimately led to the building of no less than eight Methodist Chapels in Westhoughton, only two of which survive, those at Chew Moor and the newly named building at Wigan Road.

Whilst the Wesley Stone originally stood for generations at the entrance to the long-demolished Barnaby’s Farm at Wingates, following a rather circuitous journey, since 1968 it has lain outside the Methodist Chapel in Wigan Road.

There, in a simple but powerfully symbolic ceremony, when the two churches merged in June, a Congregational minister and a Methodist minister joined hands in prayer whilst standing together on the stone, as John Wesley himself had done 238 years previously!

More information on the programme and timetable for the heritage weekend can be had by contacting 07962 225224 or 07970 131460.

Westhoughton Local History Group meets on the third Thursday of every month (10:30 am to 12:30 pm) on the upper level of Westhoughton library, and new members are always most welcome.