Wigan Album

Good find Daniel, reading about Pastor Hedley Palmer he was a great man and an even greater Pastor and teacher: https://christian.net/pub//resources/text/hpalmer/hpalmer-home.html

I can name most of these
My two Underwood aunts are among them

I used to babysit at that time for the Palmers in Great Acre
The church had its origins in open air meetings on the Market Square conducted by Mr Jack Jolly(in the photo)They met in an Upper Room at the corner of Woodcock Street,then in a hall in School Street,before buying from the Brethren Aho moved to Hebron Hall in Walkden Avenue.
the premises viewed hereOlder Wigan's will remember it from the sign JESUS SAVES,prominently displayed across the front at the corner of Bold Street

Donald, That is correct it was Mr jack Jolley. I think at some stage they where in separate groups, one lead by Jack Jolley and the other by Mr William Pomeroy, then later merged together as one church under Hadley Palmer.
I was wondering where the photo was taken, the information wasn't clear were the photo was.

Daniel, it was on Millgate where the Civic Centre got to be built and the top corner of Stairgate which can be seen on the right of the photo

I wondered if the building was on the land of the concrete bunker
( civic centre) Cyril but I don’t remember the Church at all unless it was demolished a long time before. Mind you my head was always in the clouds.

Now this a rare image. Ive seen hundred of images of Wigan but this is the first photo. I have seen, showing this church. As Veronica said. I must have walked past this hundreds of times but I can't remember it..????
Well found Daniel....

I wondered at first Ron if it was the church on School lane further down than the garage which was across the road from where the Blubell Pub was. There is photo of that church somewhere on the site.

Not all the forgoing is correct

The building was not in Millgate It was on School Lane between Scholes Crossing and Bold Street
It is true that some years after Mr Jolly gathered the congregation an evangelist Mr Pomeroy was invited by the minister of the Brunswick circuit of Methodist churches to conduct services in his churches
This led to Mr Lunn leaving the Methodist ministry Mr Pomeroy opened
Peace Church in the Carlton Hall;above a garage on Greenhouhgh Street I thinkWhen he left Wigan those who had followed mim in the town met under Mr Lunn's ministry in the Miners'.I have the actual date somewhere Hall in Millgate and an upper room on Standishgate but combined with the original assembly in the hall in this photo long before Hedley Palmer's time



My aunt Lily was one of the fist three in fellowship round about 1926
meeting in a private house on Woodhouse Lane before Woodcock Street
Mr Jolly laboured sacrificially,travelling 3 or 4 times a week at hisCin the Carlto Hall,I think above a garage off Greenough StreetMr Lunn took the depleted congregation to the Miner's Hall in Millgate and to an Upper Room on Standishgate
The two congregations Mr Jolly's and mr Lunn's combined in the hall in this photo but long before Hedley Palmer's time
The succession To Mr Palmer

Oh No!!!! Looking at the image again I think it is the one near Scholes Crossing. It was next door to a garage. I remember going there one night. To some sort of entertainment for young people? I can remember vividly a large banner with pictures and words with the letters crossed out i.e. a picture of an eye and then a picture of a well with the 'e' crossed out and the letter 'i' in its place I think it spelt some religious text???? I can still see that banner even now...as though I'm there. It's amazing what sticks in your mind...
The search for an image of the Church in Millgate continues...
I moved from the area when I was 7 so it was probably 1952/53..

Donald, That would make sense that it was at Scholes crossing. Since the later building was built there. The photo wasn't clear of the location, I'd thought it may have been Stairgate on the right of the photo.

I’ve just found the photo of the church near Scholes crossings it’s item number 30652.

With the mention by Daniel of Stairgate being at the side it was that that threw me, plus there actually was a church on Millgate at the top of Stairgate, though it was Christ Church C of E according to the map in the 2nd link:

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=35455&gallery=Millgate&page=9

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=35459&gallery=Millgate&page=11

Also there is another photo somewhere on the site of the church in question on School Lane besides the one Veronica mentions, and showing the poster on the front of Jesus Saves, I'm having a search and if I find it I shall post a link to it.

I have found the photo of the church on School Lane before demolition, though not on here as it's on the WEP site with various photos of Scholes by Frank Orrell: https://www.wigantoday.net/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-things-change-20-fascinating-views-of-scholes-1950s-80s-4749585?page=4

Thanks to Frank and Lancashire Publications.

Thanks Cyril I found the photo plus another one of Hardybutts I hadn’t seen. The description says Warrington Lane where the church is but it is School Lane up to the traffic lights at Scholes crossings.

Apologies for what turned out as gobbledygook in my last

I thought it was interesting what you wrote Donald. It just happens sometimes that sentences change due to ‘spell check’ even after checking and I think it’s getting worse whether it’s something to do with ‘Artificial Intelligence’ I don’t know. …

Veronica
You are very kind
It is only the love of a long lost Wigan that drives me at 92 to use the Internet
I had tried to draw out th efforts of Jack Jolly who pastored the congregation freely
My aunt Rachel and Mrs Ollerton cleaned the building weekly, scrubbing
the floors and polishing the benches
I and young John Ollerton accompanied them before I started school which was September 1937

You can’t forget the deep roots of where you were born Donald I’m the same . I’m only a train ride away though. It’s your family and friends and old neighbours that you remember and wonder where the time has gone. Most churches have the old faithfuls who look after the church I did a bit of polishing and cleaning at ours when I was younger. We like to see that things don’t change but I suppose they have to in the end. Keep looking in anyway it doesn’t do any harm…;o)

I have lived away fro Wigan over 70 years and have had a house in London for over 50 ut I am not a Londoner,home is grandmother's in Caunce Street I am thankful for a family that supported me through University,for the amazing teachers at St Catherne's and the splendid Librariesin the town