Methodist parish celebrates 200th anniversary
Members of the 2010 Committee at Freckleton Methodist Church
Choristers from one Lancashire village will be singing it loud this year as they mark the parish’s bicentenary.
Born in a barn 200 years ago, Methodism in Freckleton has come a long way since. Today’s Methodist Church, completed in 1885, replaced an earlier church but before that thatched cottages and a barn acted as meeting places for the village’s growing Methodist community.
Jean Lancaster said: “I’ve always made models, doll’s houses and castles for the children or grand children.
“So a couple of years ago when it was suggested how to celebrate the bicentenary Michael said, ‘Why don’t you do a model and I’ll write a book’.”
Jean’s five-by-two foot model is a scaled down replica made from Balsa wood.
Jean’s husband Michael, is chairman of a special 2010 committee set up to mark the occasion.
He said: “The current church was paid for by Mr Sowerbuts, a Cotton Mill owner, and the Wignalls who were a considerable landowning family in the area.”
“We are a very active church, home to the village singers, play groups, dancing clubs, the slimming group and so on.”
The committee is planning a number of events to mark the occasion including a special meal, which will feature “the kind of food they would have eaten 200 years ago”.
There is also a 2010 Fund which aims to collect money from the sale of goods, celebration events and meals to donate to agricultural projects in Cameroon, West Africa.
Also known as the village of flowers and singing, Freckleton boasts its own music festival, two brass bands, and a 120-year-old walking event.
Michael said: “We are hoping this year quite a lot of past members will come back to join in.”
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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