A CENTURY of St John's will be celebrated on Sunday with anniversary services and a walking day in Hindley Green.

On St Barnabas' Day, June 11, 1898, J.C. Eckersley laid the foundation stone for the church of St John the Evangelist and in October the following year the new church was consecrated.

Interestingly the first brick had been laid by Alice Meadows of Atherton Road, Hindley Green and in the early 1900s her husband, James, planted young ash trees in the church yard.

The new church cost £4,750, of which Mr Eckersley donated £1,799, and it replaced mission facilities in the school building which had begun in 1879.

On Sunday the centenary of the foundation stone-laying ceremony is being celebrated with a sung eucharist at 10am led by the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev John Packer.

And to add to the occasion Sunday is also walking day with the procession followed by an outdoor service and children's tea party.

There parishioners will toast those staunch Victorian church supporters who made it all possible.

Vicar Rev Christine Warrilow is pictured outside the church. PACL794/24A

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