St Marie’s Heritage Group are very proud to present a Heritage Talk at St Marie’s by Bob Roach entitled “Local Legends. – the Story & the Song”.

Saturday 6th February 2016 starting at 14.00 prompt.

Legends are an important part of our heritage, not least because they often merge with established history. Using photos, images, description & song, this presentation will illustrate three of our local legends & the history related to them. Whilst the main focus will be on John the Bold, the village blacksmith, who killed the fearsome griffin, the Childe of Hale & the Ghost of Speke Hall will also be featured.

Bob is a very entertaining speaker and this is sure to be an entertaining afternoon full of interest and debate set in the historic and beautiful St Marie’s on Lugsdale Road.

Places at this event are FREE, but only a limited number are available.

To book your free place at the event, please visit https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=222

Alternatively, you can contact Matthew Roberts via mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or (01928) 592 405.

The St Marie’s Heritage Group were delighted to welcome 36 visitors on Saturday afternoon (14.11.15) to hear an entertaining and enlightening talk from Arthur Whimperley on The Childe of Hale, John Middleton.

We were very worried that the rain would put people off from making the journey, but thankfully, nearly everyone who had booked places still came along.

Personally, I really enjoyed the talk. Especially Arthur’s explanation of the context we need to view his nickname “The Childe” through. Arthur was engaging & humourous and I was delighted to see that he sold so many copies of his new book afterwards!

A big thank you to Jane, Christine, Tony, Maeve and Peter for helping out on the day. You’ll notice in the feedback below that Jane & Christine’s sterling work behind the bar has not gone unnoticed.

Arthur delivers his talk on The Childe of Hale.

Here’s some of the Feedback we collected after the event:

Was there anything you particularly liked?

– Very warm welcome and really enjoyed it. Thank you.
– I was very pleasantly surprised by the beauty of its church. The restoration is amazing. So wonderful it has been preserved.
– Very good presentation.
– Very interesting talk. Well presented.
– Lovely coffee.
– Interesting topic in an interesting building.
– Very enjoyable. Thank you.
– I’ve really enjoyed the talk. I was unaware that there have been others. I would love to hear from anyone of future Heritage Talks or future events. Thank you.
– I particularly enjoyed re-visiting St Marie’s as I used to attend the school. And I was very impressed by the up-keep of the building which is very impressive & breath taking. Thank you for a very warm welcome and a very interesting talk.
– Most interesting.
– Very enjoyable lecture. Will come again.
– Timing was about right. Very relaxed and informative delivery. Enjoyed it very much.

Was there anything you particularly disliked?

– I was hoping to learn more facts about John Middleton.

Any ideas for future Heritage Events at St Marie’s?

– Talk on Pugin.
– Social History of Chemical Workers in Widnes.

Thanks to everyone who’s signed up for tomorrow’s Heritage Talk at St Marie’s.

We look forward to welcoming you.

2pm prompt start. The doors will be open at 13.30 so there’ll be plenty of time to grab a drink and seat before Arthur’s talk begins.

We were delighted to welcome former parishioners, Terry and Marie Grace into St Marie’s this morning.

Rather wonderfully, Terry found a photo of himself as a young boy (dressed as a Herald) from one of the May Parade’s in the 1940’s.

Terry also found pictures of his school friends from his time at St Marie’s Primary School.

If you would like to visit St Marie’s, you’d be very welcome to pop in (Monday to Friday, 9am till 4pm) and have a look around.

Places are still available for Saturday’s Childe of Hale talk with Arthur Whimperley. Please e-mail mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk to reserve your place.

Terry & Marie Grace look for old school friends on the St Marie’s Community History Timeline.

Hello everyone.

Just a quick message to say that we still have 20 or so place left for the free Heritage Talk (at St Marie’s) on Saturday 14th November.

Please see the article below for full details of the event.

To book your free place, please contact me via mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or (01928) 592 405.

Many thanks.

Matthew Roberts

St Marie’s Heritage Group are very proud to present a Heritage Talk at St Marie’s by Arthur Whimperley on The Childe of Hale.

Saturday 14th November 2015 starting at 14.00 prompt.

Arthur has recently published a magnificent hardback book about the local legend, “The Childe of Hale”.

In this talk, Arthur will be explaining how the book came about and why he felt this was an important story. We’ll be looking at the legend and mythology behind The Childe of Hale and answering the questions: How much is fact? How much is fiction?

Arthur is a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker and this is sure to be an entertaining afternoon full of interest and debate. Come along and enjoy a heritage talk in the wonderful atmospheric St Marie’s on Lugsdale Road.

To book your free place at the event, please e-mail Matthew Roberts on mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or telephone (01928) 592 405.

Arthur will be selling (and signing) copies of his superb new book on the day too.

The St Marie’s Heritage Group were delighted to host a “Day of Discovery” on Saturday 12th September. It was one of the many free events that were being held under the banner of Heritage Open Days across the country.

59 people visited St Marie’s on Saturday afternoon and as well as enjoying the hand written parish Mission Logs (which stretch back to the Church’s opening in 1865), attendees listened to beautiful vocal performances from The Knights Choir and soloist, Amanda Hayes.

There are brief videos of the two performances below.

First up we have The Knights Choir singing “Fields of Athenry”

Here is Amanda Hayes singing “You Raise Me up”

Guests enjoying a good look at the Mission Logs

Jane, Christine & Maeve from The St Marie’s Heritage Group

Sunlight pours through the windows of St Marie’s whilst The Knights Choir performs

The audience really enjoyed Amanda’s performance

Here’s the Feedback we collected on the day:

Was there anything you particularly liked?

– Fab afternoon
– Liked everything
– I liked the way the Church has been well looked after. I feel like I’ve never been away
– What an honour to see all involved. Lots of memories. Choir & soloist absolutely fantastic. 
– Good condition of the building with modern glass partitions. Enjoyable Knights Choir.
– I loved the church
– Enjoyed the visit. Lovely to see the Church again.

Was there anything you particularly disliked?

– Unless you are aware of actual dates the books do not show enough info. Found the visit a bit disappointing.

Any ideas for future Heritage Events at St Marie’s?

– History groups and social evening lectures
– like to see more events

Many thanks to everyone who attended the event and to Maeve, Jane, Christine and Roger for all their efforts.

If you would like to contact The Knights Choir, please call Roy Warburton on (0151) 424 1924.

For more information on Amanda Hayes, please visit www.amanda-hayes.webs.com

If you have any thoughts about this event, or future heritage events that could be held in St Marie’s, please e-mail Matthew Roberts on mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

From Midday until 4pm.

St Marie’s Heritage Group are very proud to be part of this year’s Halton Heritage Open Days.

We’re one of several voluntary organisations opening our doors and inviting you to come inside and explore some of the wonderful heritage sites that are on your doorstep. The event is free for all.

At the “Day of Discovery”, you’ll be able to come and browse through all the parish notice books dating from 1865 up until the church closed for worship in 2007.

These books are a rich source of history, being the written account of the priest’s notices that were read from the pulpit at the end of Mass.

It is also an opportunity to find family names recorded in a variety of ways, including marriage bans.

The event will conclude with a superb performance from ‘The Knights’ Choir’, one of Widnes’ best loved vocal groups.

You don’t have to book a place, simply turn up at St Marie’s between midday and 4pm.

For more information about Halton Heritage Open Days, click on this link: http://pdf.halton.me/index.php/heritage-days/

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Matthew Roberts on (01928) 592 405.

The St Marie’s Heritage Group were delighted to welcome members of the Widnes Family History Society to a special heritage event inside St Marie’s last night.

Matthew Roberts spoke about the redevelopment work completed by Halton & St Helens VCA, whilst Roger Harrison talked eloquently about the unifying role St Marie’s played in the local community.

Members of the Widnes Family History Society then had the opportunity to peruse the Mission Logs and search for references to their ancestors.

We are very grateful that the Widnes Family History Society came along to the event and we hope they enjoyed it (feedback posted below). We are also grateful to them for their incredibly generous donation, which will be put towards the cost of running future heritage events in St Marie’s in future.

If your heritage organisation would be interested in visiting St Marie’s, please contact Matthew Roberts on mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Any Comments?

Was there anything you particularly liked/disliked?

– Marvellous. I liked everything.

– Everything!
Found my gt grandparent’s marriage banns (May 1873)
Good, informative introduction
Fascinating talk on the history & cultural meaning of the church & community.

– Made to feel very welcome, really interesting talks & lovely to view the books.
The restoration is beautiful.

– Loved seeing the inside of St Marie’s for the first since 1979! I used to work at the old school in George St and have many happy memories of the area. Many thanks.

– Looking at the books and hearing about history of church.

– I thoroughly enjoyed the talks, they were so informative. And both speakers were so knowledgeable, it was brilliant.

– No.

– Excellent

– Rogers talk was excellent.

– All fab!!

Any ideas for future Heritage Events at St Marie’s?

– Cannot think of anything right now?? Well done to one and all!

– Please have more open days.
Thank you very much.

Roger delivers his talk on the role St Marie’s played in the local community.

Guests enjoy perusing the Mission Logs

Many thanks to Marie Hughes (of Widnes) who sent in the photograph below.

It’s a wonderful photo of a serviette from 1936. Beautifully printed onto the serviette (which I’d imagine doubled up as a ticket) are a list of rules and punishments for the Bachelors’ Tea Party & Dance at St Marie’s.

I think these rules convey a tremendous sense of joy and mischief and I’d wager that the events were tremendous fun.

Here’s the photo:

If you can’t make out the text, here’s what it says…

St Marie’s Widnes
Bachelors’ Tea Party & Dance
Wednesday, September 30th, 1936.

Rules:

1 – No person to be allowed without a Serviette.
2 – No person allowed to use his or her spoon with the right hand.
3 – No two gentlemen allowed to sit together at the table.
4 – No gentleman allowed to touch his visible or invisible moustache.
5 – It is offense for any lady to touch her hair.
6 – No lady to assist others or to help herself.
7 – No person allowed to say “Yes” or “No.”
8 – No lady allowed to pass remarks about the waiters or trayholders.
9 – No person allowed to address the Policeman by any name other than “Copper.”
10 – No person allowed to address the gentleman assisting at the tables by any other name than “Nippy.”
11 – Any person not using the Serviette will be fined.
12 – No lady to make “Eyes” at Nippy.
13 – No gentleman to light his own cigarette or pipe.

Half-penny Fines will be inflicted for infringement of any of the above rules.

All disputes to be settled by the Policeman; no “Passive Resistance” allowed.

Any person found making remarks about these rules, or not paying any fine made against them, will be taken at once to the Police Court, where judgement will be passed. Bail being allowed on payment of 3d.

EXEMPTION TICKETS FROM FINES – 3D. EACH.

It’s not too late to book your place at tomorrow’s Tea Party & Dance at St Marie’s. Simply call me on (01928) 592 405.

There will be live music, drinks and homemade cake. No fines in operation.

Thanks.

Matthew Roberts