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MINISTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT – CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FLEETWOOD
1837-45: The Revd William GOTHARD (The Revd Mr BELL visited 1844)
There is no information on Mr Gothard’s date of birth and death. Mr Gothard was called to Bethel Preesall from Knottingley in 1834. Between the two he had a time at Balderston then Hilton Lane, Worsley. This was followed by calls to Ribchester (1826), Elland (1829) then Knottingley. Mr Gothard must have had great persuasive powers: it was he who persuaded the County Union to recognise Preesall as a viable church and then persuaded the Union to recognise Fleetwood. In 1845 he was called to Leeds.
1845-49: Various students and supply ministers including:
The Revds JS CUZNER (1845);
Mr Cuzner had spent time with Mr Gothard in the Fleetwood. Following Mr Gothard’s call to Leeds Mr Cuzner, late of Dartford, Kent, undertook considerable work and increased the attendance at the Fleetwood church which had been failing.
HODGSON (1846);
SHAW (1846);
Robert BEST (1847);
Mr Best was trained at Homerton college. Whilst at college he had spent time in Fleetwood on supply. So impressed were the Fleetwood folk that they wanted to call him to the pastorate. However, the County Union disallowed him coming until his had completed his time at college but more importantly that the new church had to be built. Mr Best perceived that this interference by the County Union was contrary to his understanding of Congregationalism and that he was serving two masters. He, therefore, left Fleetwood at a moments notice. Mr Best was called to serve at Kirkham. He must have been some individual because there he refused to pay what was known as the Church Rate; in his case nine and one-half pence. This refusal was an offence in Law and the courts issued a distraint on his property. (The alternative was imprisonment.) The police removed four mahogany chairs; Mrs Best was sat on the fifth chair! (The senior police officer was a Roman Catholic. He would have also have had to contribute to the Church Tax and no doubt felt sympathy with Mr Best’s stand.) The four chairs were auctioned in the market square. From Kirkham Mr Best was called to Bolton where he served for over 40 years.
GRIFFITHS (1848);
SPENCER (1848)
1849-51: The Revd John Farnham GUENETT
Mr Guenett was trained at Western College, Plymouth. He was called to Fleetwood from Newent, Glos. From Fleetwood he was called to Bury St Edmunds where he served for seven years before being called to Point-of-View, Lympstone. Mr Guenett died in 1889.
1851-53: The Revd David Bisset MacKENZIE
Mr MacKenzie was born in Dundee, attended Glasgow University and was trained in Glasgow. Following training he was called to be pastor at Bank Street, Falkirk then to Elie in Fife. From Fleetwood Mr MacKenzie was called to Thurso and from there to Doune.The records suggest that Mr MacKenzie’s time was somewhat problematic particularly over the relationship between Preesall Bethel and Fleetwood.
1853-54: Vacancy? (The Revd R SLATER)
1854-74: The Revd Henry LINGS (The Revd Mr Noall visited 1858 see below)
The Revd Henry Lings
Born 1810; died 20 January 1900. Mr Lings attended Barnet Academy (1836) and was trained at Airedale College (1837) from where he was called to Accrington. He came to Fleetwood at a time when the County Union was urging Preesall and Fleetwood to be one church. However, whatever was meant by that caused great tensions between the two. Mr Lings’ personality and style of working mended the rifts and resulted in the growth of both congregations.
1858: The Revd John NOALL
Mr Noall was trained at Cheshunt College. He served in Blackpool from 1852 to a date beyond 1862. There is no record as to where he was called after Blackpool
1874-76: The Revd Peter Rathbone BERRY DD
Mr Berry was born in Warrington in 1845 and in time became a member of Chapel Street, Southport. Trained at Airedale College Fleetwood was his first pastorate. From Fleetwood he settled at New Windsor, Salford. Mr Berry died a relatively young man at 39 years of age.
Peter Rathbone Berry’s brother, Dr Charles Albert Berry DD, was born in Leigh, Lancashire, in 1852. He became the most famous Non-Conformist ministers of the Victorian period and was known world-wide. He married and had a family and died in Wolverhampton in 1898 whilst preaching a sermon.
1876-84: The Revd Henry W SMITH
The Revd HW Smith
Born 20 January 1846; died 8 November 1907. Mr Smith trained at Hackney Theological College and was called from there to Stony Stratford, Bucks. From Fleetwood Mr Smith was called to Centenary Church, Lancaster.
Ebenezer Le MARE
Though never called as a minister of the Fleetwood church there should be record of the Revd Ebenezer Le MARE. Mr Le Mare went from the Lancashire Independent College in 1873 he answered a call from the London Missionary Society to serve in Bellary, India where he served until 1880. Returning to the United Kingdom Mr Le Mare served at Salem, Caernarfonshire (1880-1884) before receiving a call to Garstang. (There is a memory of a family connection with Garstang.) However, the records suggest that Mr Le Mare returned to India (1885-1887) serving the LMS in Vizagapagtam. This was followed by a period at Barton upon Irwell (1888-1889) before retirement to Fleetwood.
1884-1914: The Revd Amos BAILEY
The Revd Amos Bailey
Mr Amos Bailey was the son of the Revd G Bailey. His brother was the Revd GT Bailey, a Baptist minister serving in Haslingden. Mr Amos Bailey entered the ministry in 1877. His first charge was Upper Chapel, Westbury, Wiltshire. From there he was called to Oswaldtwistle before his call to Fleetwood. In 1914 Mr Bailey resigned from the pastorate but continued to serve the Lancashire Congregational Union as Secretary of the Preston District until his death in 1925. In 1910, he held the chairmanship of the Union. .
1914-1916: Vacancy
1916-19: The Revd Leslie ARTINGSTALL
The Revd Leslie Artingstall
Born 14 February 1885 (Manchester); died 19 October 1952 (Eastbourne). Mr Artingstall trained at Lancashire Independent College and was called firstly to Trinity, Swinton. From there he was called to Fleetwood and served 1916-1919. Mr Artingstall left Fleetwood to accept the position of secretary to the Northern Branch of the London Missionary Society. He became the Assistant Home Secretary and Organising Secretary between 1926-1937. This was followed by him being secretary of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (1937-45) before being called to Grafton Square, Clapham, followed by spells at Pevensey Road, Eastbourne (1945-1948). His service ended with him being the Sussex Congregational Union Field Secretary (1948-1950)e
1919-29: The Revd Edward HALL
The Revd Edward Hall
Mr Hall was born 1880 in London and died January 9th 1973. He trained at Cheshunt College and was called to Shirebrook, Derbyshire, in 1906 leaving there in 1909 responding to a call fromk Nether Green, Yorkshire, West Riding. This was followed in 1913 serving in Urmston before two years (1918-19) when he served as a chaplain in the Army. Mr Hall was called to Fleetwood in 1920 and served until 1929. The Fleetwood Literary & Art Society owed its success to Mr Hall. In October 1927 there was a great flood in the town. A commentary on Mr Hall’s retirement said of Mr Hall, “At the time of disastrous flood, Mr Hall did noble service, and never spared himself, but at the last broke down in health, and had to be sent away for a change and a rest.” Mr Hall was called from Fleetwood to a church in Penarth. He worked with the YMCA before spending two years (1943-45) at Zion, Bedminister, Somerset.
1930-37: The Revd Dr Arthur PORTER
The Revd Dr Arthur Porter
Dr Porter was born 25 May 1889 at Grangemouth, Yorkshire. He entered Cliff College (Methodist), Curbar, Derbyshire. What the circumstances were are uncertain but his record shows him serving: 1918-1919, Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York; 1919-1920 Maryland, Connecticut; 1920-1924 East Rockway, Bethany, New York; 1924-1926 Porchester, NewYork. It appears he returned to UK to answer a call 1917-1928 Salem, York, Yorkshire. He was called to Fleetwood in 1929 serving until 1939. Dr Porter’s scientific knowledge and practice were at the service of any in need.
1938-46: The Revd Reginald Frederick John CHARLISH
The Revd Reginald FJ Charlish
Born March 23rd 1908 in Lowestoft; died 4 July 1967. Mr Charlish trained at Paton Congregatio0nal College, Nottingham, and called to the Fleetwood pastorate from Zion, Levenshulme. From Fleetwood Mr Charlish was called to Victoria Road, Derby (1946-56), then Blackburn Toad, Bolton, ending his ministry at Longridge (1965-1967)
1946-57: The Revd Frederick G EWEN
Frederick George Ewen was born on 8 November 1899 in Willesden. He died on 14 February 1978. He entered the ministry through the Congregational Union Examination and the Congregational Union, List B. He was called first to Basingstoke (1932-36) which was followed by four years at Sarisbury Green, Hampshire. Mr Ewan was called to Dorchester (1946-1957) before moving to Fleetwood in 1946. His active ministry ended with a call to Bushey where he served from 1957-1969.
1957-60: The Revd Gordon JW MOORE
The Revd Gordon JW Moore
Gordon James Williams Moore was born 1925 and died on 120 July 1960. Mr Moore trained at Lancashire Independent College and from there accepted a call to Marton (1955-1957) before moving to Fleetwood (1957-1960).
Following Gordon’s death his brother, Max Armstrong, covered some of responsibilities. Max Moore trained at Northern College, Manchester, and from there was called to Bilton Grange, Harrogate. From Harrogate Mr Max Moore was called to Knaresborough (1966) and then Hanover Street, Batley from 1969.
1961-64: The Revd Robert AC WEST
Robert Arthur Christopher West was born 25 April 1923. He trained at Yorkshire United Independent College and from there was called to Northowran, Yorkshire. This was followed by calls to Shotton (1957-1961), Northrop, Flintshire (1961), before acceptting a call to Fleetwood in 1961. From Fleetwood Mr West was called to Mickleby, North Yorkshire, (1964-1966) and then Stubbins, Lancashire.
1965-72: The Revd Frank THOMPSON
Frank Thompson was born 13 March 1912 at Greenhalgh, Preston. He died 20 October 1983. Mr Thompson was trained at Lancashire Independent College from where he received a call to Ulverston. This was followed by a call to Rugby Avenue, Belfast, and then in 1943 to Stainton, Westmorland. In 1946 There was a call to Workington (1946-49) which was followed in 1949 to Felstead, Essex. Before moving t to Fleetwood in 1955 Mr Thompson was called to Whalley Road, Accrington. From Fleetwood he was called in 1972 to Hornsea.
from May 1973, MINISTERS OF FLEETWOOD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
1973-77: The Revd Brian RAWLING. Joint pastorate with Cleveleys
1977-80: Vacancy. The Revd Hugh GRIFFITHS, interim-moderator
Hubert Cook Griffith was born August 1924 in Skewan, Glamorgan. He died 17 May 1983. From Carmarthen Academy Mr Cook was called to Hambleton before accepting a call to Rosemarket, Pembrokshire, Nelson Glamorgan and the Neyland, Pembrokeshire. In 1952 he accepted a call to Danygraig, Swansea, which was followed by periods of service in Briton Ferry and Edwardsville, Glamorgan and Town Hill, Swansea. From Swansea Mr Cook was called to Preesall in 1970.
1980-86: The Revd Herbert NEALE
The Revd Herbert Neale
Herbert Reginald Neal was born on 11 May 1914 in Bradford. He died 7 August 19999. Mr Neal trained at Paton Congregational College, Nottingham, to be called to Francis Street, Farnworth. From Farnworth he was called to Shipley (1947-1955) and then Vine Memorial, Ilford (1955-1966). He was called from Ilford to Sidcup in 1966.
1986-88: Vacancy. The Revd Glyn EATOCK, interim-moderator
Mr Eatock was born 1 June 1934. He trained at Northern Congregational College, Manchester. From there he was called to Audenshaw and then Guisborough, Yorkshire, followed by Hope Chapel, Denton.
1988-91: The Revd Peter MEEK. Joint pastorate with Poulton
1991-94: Vacancy. The Revd Arthur CLIMPSON, interim-moderator
1994-95: The Revd Arthur CLIMPSON. Joint pastorate with Cleveleys
1995-97: Vacancy. The Revd Richard TURNBULL, interim-moderator
1997-98: The Revd Joe CLEMSON
1998-2000: Vacancy. The Revd Christopher J WEDDLE, interim-moderator
2000-2008: The Revd Peter W GREY
2008 to date: Vacancy. The Revd Christopher J WEDDLE, interim-moderator. (Mr Weddle died in 2011.)