Wigan Album

My grandfather Bryson used to attend the Congregational Church...while my Grandmother, on the other hand, went to Wigan Presbyterian Chapel, obviously their ideas on faith differed ! I remember Hope St Congregational as a huge & airy space inside.

The door between the railings was the entrance to where the Youth Careers office was at one time, and it was through the same entrance that I took pies and confectionery upstairs to the large hall for a celebratory event, a pity that I didn't look up to see that it said Hope School carved in stone above the door, though those buildings wasn't clean like as in the photo they were by then thickly blackened through years of standing in the coal smoke and soot laden air.

Helen of Troy

The two churches are now one Trity United Reform Church on Wigan Lane,I think

It seems such a shame that this building had to come down to make way for a supermarket!
I also remember it being blackened from the elements. It wasn't that old really from the 1890's to 1960's . Built from stone it was scandalous when you think about what had to go in Wigan.

Below is a link to a page that shows the exteriors and interiors of the Presbyterian Church that was on Chapel Lane, Hope Church that was on Hope Street, St Paul's that was on Standishgate and Church of Christ that was on Rodney Street that amalgamated to Trinity URC on Milton Grove.

http://www.trinityurcwigan.org/aboutus.html

Wonder if the organ was moved to there from Hope Church because they say it has 1200 pipes, and in the photos of Hope the organ looks impressive. http://www.trinityurcwigan.org/organupgrade2014.html

The former St Paul's and Church of Christ buildings are still standing - for now?

I did ,of course, mean Trinity

I hadn't noticed Donald, my mind automatically put the letters in and read it as Trinity.

So very true Veronica, have you seen the photos in the link I put in my other comment, you'll remember the Presbyterian church too was also a very nice stone built building. These buildings were much easier on the eye than the structures built of concrete we have in todays town. In other towns you can see that a lot of their ancient stone built buildings have been kept intact and incorporated into the restructuring of their towns with the stones having being cleaned of the soot and grime and very nice they look too.

I remember when it was the youth dole and also my two younger sisters went to a school of dancing there.mg

I have looked at the Hope St. Photos Cyril but I have problems copy and pasting the link. The buildings that were 'decimated' at the time were what made Wigan so distinctive. Looking back you wonder why ordinary Wiganers didn't protest. It wasn't something I bothered about at the time, being young it was the last thing on your mind. I don't remember people being concerned, or it just 'passed over' me. It's when you are older you realise what was done in the name of progress.

Veronica - the Hope Street church and school buildings came down circa 1973/74, and at that time I was working across the road in Mesnes St, at your old place of employment Aspinalls.
We ended up with a plague of mice and rats from the demolished buildings, and I ended up adding the job of rat catcher to the many other tasks I was expected to perform for a less than adequate wage.

Yes the wages were very poor at Aspinall's Mick. I saw sense after 5 months and moved on, but you never forget the first place you worked at. I am not surprised at the rats with all the upheaval and demolition. I must say though in the 80's Aspinall's became another great shop that I visited quite a lot. It's where I bought all my Art materials from. I only found out by chance that Mr Aspinall was an air pilot during the war. I could imagine him being involved in something like that, he was quite handsome, but not the type you would ask questions of, not at 15 anyway! I knew my place at that age! ;o))
I remember his son and daughter and his wife. He always went to the Commercial at dinner/ lunch time.