Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

I wondered that too Steve...

well yes they could be homeward bound but where would they have been en route?

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

I had looked on LL earlier today but as I said before I find it difficult to find anything on that site.

Posting my scream pic again otherwise I will have steam coming out of my ears...

That's better...

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

These processiions were properly called 'a procession of witness' They were intended to show that the walkers were proud to be from a paticular Christian church. But they had a secondary meaning - they were advertising their church/chapel in the hope of attracting more members. So, with this in mind, they toured their catchment area - the Church-Acc border.It was a circular route and they were probably over the half-way line.I suspect that they would either continue on Blackbnurn Rd to Park Rd then turn kleft, or turn left into Henry St, or at Antley or India St and make their way to Gatty Park for a cuppa and bun. The route would likkelty be givenj in the Observer's reeport - or there would be an ad on the front page where all the churches had a weekly ad about who their preacher was that week.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Surely all they would have done was walk along Hyndburn Road, turned into Henry Street, walked toward the Stag Pub, I think at that point they would have walked up, think it was called COMMERCIAL Street, which would have brought them out by the side of the huge pub at the lights at Church, (The Commerical) then they would have turned LEFT back onto Blackburn Road, turned LEFT again into Henry Street, down to the lights at the bottom, RIGHT onto Hyndburn road and back home.
I worked at Mastabar/NGN at Church for many years. Commercial St was my "route" to work each morning.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

You seem to know a lot about pubs, lady. That may well have been the simplest way, but if the aim was to be seen by locals,the main road may not have been the best one. We simply don't know. The ones you missed out were the Wellington & The Bridge, both at the corner of Nelson Square.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Agree with this route except they could have continued along Blackburn Road to Park Road and then home that way.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

I mentioned Park Rd in Post 103. We just don't know.

If anyone has 'Accrington Acclaimed' which I compiled with Geoff Taylor in 2008, look at page 28. These two pics were taken at the same location as the one we have been discussing, but facing the other way. The block is between Henry & Ernest Streets. Using the 1951 directory, I have surmised that the shop front in 'our' photo is No 21, occupied by Mr Holden, a fruiterer.
Why were these two streets, and Edward St, given Christian names?
Why did it take me so long to work out that I had access to these two photos?

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Was a Mr Holden who had a small furniture shop on left towards church lights Bob, his son Ken was in my class at Tech.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Hahaha, Bob ... I looked at these and discounted them for some reason ..could be slipping into the black hole of dementia.

Well done Atarah and Steve. I had looked at Lancashire Lantern too .. but couldn't find ...taught me to put more into the search box.. thanks.. x

As for the decade, thought would be able to tell with the hats and shoes, but the cloche hat and bar shoe were prevalent in both the 20's and 30's, and clothes lasted longer then, and not so disposable.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

I remember that furniture shop at the corner with a street between it and the lodge. I seem to remember the name Holden too. I went there to pay my mum's HP on some furniture.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

OLD AGE....LOL

Maybe we lot could have a procession down Blackburn Rd...called..

Bob and the Accy Web Codgers.....Strolling, just strolling, In the cool of the evening ...

Phil

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Some information about St Oswalds and Sacred Heart from the 17th century to 1919. Some pages are missing unfortunately and they are just readable....

you'll love these...

Who's glad my mum was a Christian......

Phil

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Geat stuff. Please tell the name of the book and the author. . I will be annoyed if I have it, though I don't think I have.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Count me out! I may be 65 on the outside but I'm still 25 inside!

Can codgers be female? now there's a thread topic for you!

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

This is for you, Karateman, to finish the story off

"Religion with fire behind it!"

From the Accrington Observer, "The formation of this new religious body in Accrington arises out of the recent visit of Pastor Jeffrey's to the Accrington Town Hall. The new church, which will be under the guidance of Pastor Thrush, will be opened by Pastor Scarisbrook, of Leyland"

The official opening was 28th May 1932

Another article states "A Bethel Temple, the outcome of the campaign recently conducted in Accrington and Oswaldtwistle by Pastor Jeffrey's, was opened on Hyndburn Road (opposite the bottom of Park Road) on Sat 28th May 1932. It is the first branch in Accrington of the Bethel Evangelistic Society, whose headquarters are at Bristol. The building which they are using for their activities was formerly St Oswald's Roman Catholic Church, and was closed 60 years ago. Since then it has been used as a store-house by Messrs F. Steiner and Co., Church. The new tenants have leased it, and are hoping to buy it in time. The hall will seat about 800, a gallery which has been erected at the back providing accommodation for over 200.

A feature of Saturday's opening proceedings was the procession about 400 strong in the afternoon, through Accrington and back to the Temple. Headed by little girls carrying baskets of flowers, the procession included a considerable number of Crusaders (young ladies) in WHITE SMOCKS AND BLACK HATS, and the processionists sang hymns as they marched through the streets".

So, looks like your lovely Mum was a "crusader".

If you like, I will photocopy this page from the Observer and let you have a copy, to put with all your family heirlooms.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Well now we know about the beginning, what about the end?

Glad my feelings about the date were about right, I would have said about 1930. My fashion knowledge has not deserted me!

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Thats a great find Atarah.:)

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Yeah ...would love a copy of the article....always thought it would be around 1932 ish...mum looks in her early twenty's...she would nearly twenty actually.

What a wonderful climax to the story, so much history found and learnt....and new found friends on Accy Web as well as a bonus......life can be sweet...

Thanks everyone.....then again, maybe it isn't the end...dan dan daaann!...(dramatic pause) we shall have to see....

Phil

ps...I'm sure I have other photos needing identifying....let me know if anyone fancies another investigation....


pss...Bob I will try and find the book details.....start getting the procession organised...LOL

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

"through Accrington and back to the Temple"

So it looks like the procession carried on Blackburn Rd through Accy, probably down king st to Hyndburn Rd and then back along to Gatty park.... and with the suggestion earlier about along Hyndburn rd up Henry st past the Commercial and onto Blackburn Rd, I think we have the full route....agree?

Phil

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Finally....another picture of the location on the right..

Phil

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Nice pic, spot on.

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Still one more.....Bob will find this interesting if he hasn't already seen it. It mentions his friend from Rose Cottage...

Coincidence..my birthday is 5th October....

Phil

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Another great find Phil - where did you get it from? Interesting that the church was also a school, did we know that before all this started?

The name Bob Gelder in the piece interests me ... My grandad used to know someone called Gelder in that area years ago - you don't happen to know what sort of age he is?

Re: Bethel Chapel "walking" crusade
 

Bob Gelder I believe is a friend of Bob Dob and lives in Rose Cottage (the right one). The cutting was sent from the people in Ivy Cottage(the left one). They also sent me the old cuttings about the history of St Oswalds. I think they also got them from Bob G.

Phil