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"Fenton-Culvert
has now the benefit of a church, advantageously placed, for
accommodating the population of that and the sister hamlet, near
the main thoroughfare, and on the branch road leading from
Blurton to Trentham.
It
has been reared and endowed almost wholly by the bounty of one
individual, the late Ralph Bourne, Esq., who died in November,
1835, and, by his will, placed the sum of £2,500 in the hands
of Trustees (Lord Viscount Sandon, and the Rev R Bourne Baker,)
for the erection of a church, and £1,000 for its
endowment.
He
also gave to his nephew, John Baker, two acres of land, upon an
implied trust, for the site and cemetery. The remaining cost of
the erection, which exceeded £3,000, was defrayed by Mrs Baker,
widow of the late Mr William Baker, and sister of Mr
Bourne.
The
church is of brick, with gothic doors and windows, cased with
stone. The tower is of good proportions, crowned with
battlements and pinnacles of stone. The interior is 66 feet in
length, by 44 in width. The windows, five on each side, are
divided into two compartments each, by stone mullions. The
eastern window has four compartments, bordered with stained
glass, filled with figures of the four Evangelists, and
scriptural sentences. The arched head contains the sacred
monogram, in a glory, and enrichments of brilliant colours.
There are galleries, supported by iron pillars, and the church
contains upwards of 700 private and about 300 free sittings.
It is furnished with a suitable organ, which, as well as the
east window, was presented by Mr Bourne’s family connexions.
The church has been very lately made the head of a district
chapelry, embracing the principal portions of such of the two
townships of Fenton, as were not annexed to the District
Parish of Longton.
The
Rev. W. Sollis is the incumbent, and has supplied us with the
following account of Baptisms, Burials, &c., since its
consecration:
|
1839 |
1840 |
1841 |
| Baptisms: |
71 |
74 |
78 |
| Burials: |
10 |
15 |
18 |
| Marriages: |
- |
- |
2 |
A
school-house near the church has been also erected, by the
voluntary contributions of the families of Bourne and Baker, and
other friends of the Establishment, at an expense exceeding
£500, towards which the Newcastle and Pottery Branch of the
Diocesan School Society, gave a donation of £50.
Upwards
of 400 children of both sexes are taught here on Sundays, and
between 40 and 50 boys, and about 70 girls, are instructed in
the week-days." |
