Gatley
- The End of the Line
By Peter Boden 4. St JAMES PARISH CHURCH. Click on images to enlarge The establishment of this Parish Church, which was consecrated on the 6th December 1881(Illus. 14&15), was of considerable importance to the village. A large part of the cost was met from local contributions. The land at Gatley Green was made available by the Lord of the Manor, Thomas William Tatton, of Wythenshawe Hall.
I was baptised in 1925 when the famous Reverend John Bruster ruled over his flock, but he left when I was only three years old. I regret that I have no memories of him. In my childhood days I am sure that the vicar was the Reverend John Tyler Whittle, who used to awe the parishioners by slowly climbing up the tall stone steps of a magnificent pulpit. He presented a most intimidating appearance to this wee boy. His appointment lasted throughout most of my childhood in the village. I used to sit with my Mother each Sunday morning on the left side of the Church, about six pews from the Pulpit. My Father would be waiting nearby, or in the “Mop” next to the Church, and meet us after the service. We would go for a ride in his Morris Cowley motor car around the countryside near Ringway. It was very pleasant before they built the original Manchester airport in 1938. I recall packed concerts and Christmas parties which were held in the adjacent white St James church hall (Illus. 14).There was always a Father Christmas with simple presents to hand out, for everyone. At Christmas there were nativity plays, with little boys looking so angelic, although a few of them were nasty terrors on the recreation ground. There were pretty little girls wearing silk wings which, to my delight, always fell off. Concerts were held on Saturday evenings when, as I remember, various adults did their best to entertain despite their obvious lack of talent. Mr Pierson would recite, on every occasion, famous monologues. They would start with very impressive lines such as “The Boy stood on the burning deck and all around was smoking” or something in that style. This caused a lot of merriment with my friends, because we were not allowed to smoke on or off the deck. In the wings one night, we heard an adult muttering to a friend “’Twas on the good ship Venus. My God you should have seen us!” but he stopped when he saw my young pals and I. We were too young to understand the double-entendres! It is not possible or perhaps even desirable to give the rest of that song as I have never heard it since that time in the church hall at Gatley. There was a grim old man, with a long beard, who always recited “The Bells” with a lot of vigour. I recall the line, “The tintinnabulation of the bells, bells bells!” It was very frightening. Our favourite
was “Albert and t’Lion”. This was the terrible tale where Albert were ‘etten by t’ Lion. It was wonderful treat for the boys! So there were, after all, some consolations to being dressed up in fairy costumes. The “older” young ladies nearly always sang to the accompaniment of a pianoforte. The tune was either “Love’s Old Sweet Song,” or “Coming through the Rye.” The finale was the entire company, fairies and all, but mainly ourselves singing patriotic songs of the British Empire such as, “Soldiers of the Queen.” We sang them even though Queen Victoria had been dead for many a long year. Last of all, to make us feel good, we sang “Jerusalem!” When I saw an old photograph of the church hall rafters in later years, I’m sure I remember them rattling with the raucous sounds from our sore throttles. The original hall was dismantled in 1986, but there must be sounds of fun and laughter echoing away into time and space, from those happy events in that place. If not, life must only be very transitory. What a sad, sad thought. I would refer
anyone who loves village life to read the Pictorial History of Gatley
by Frank & Teretta Mitchell. It was published by the Vicar and
Churchwardens of St James’ Church, Gatley in 1980. It has been
a great inspiration to me, but sadly Mr & Mrs Mitchell are now
both gone from us. |
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