Rich heritage for all to enjoy

GLEAMING . . . Barry Dainty, churchwarden, with the 18th century silverware

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

From church’s superb stained glass windows to the maths genius who timed the tides

Some of Oldham’s 18th century heritage will be on show when St Margaret’s Church in Hollinwood throws its doors open to everyone from Thursday.

The church, which dates back 240 years, is taking part in Heritage Open Days until Sunday.

And visitors will be able to see the stained glass window from the original chapel, dated 1769, plus the the magnificent 19th century stained glass installations by J B Capronnier of Brussels.

Capronnier created two major windows in the present church, dating from 1879, as he did in many local places of worship.

The church also has three beautiful pieces of 18th century silverware, a chalice, flagon and communion plate, used on special occasions.

Twentieth century pieces include three items of oak furniture — a table, candle sticks and bishop’s chair — by craftsman John Thompson of Kilburn, York, with his trademark carved wooden mouse in each one.

The new reredos, or altar piece, saved from destruction at a disused church in Lancashire, is also oak, with intricate scroll work and carvings of northern saints, such as Cuthbert.

And at the rear of the church, celebrating the man who created the tide table for Liverpool on which all tide tables are calculated, is a tablet to James Wolfenden.

He was born in Hollinwood in 1754, and became a celebrated mathematician. He died in 1841 and his grave is in the churchyard, complete with a corrected spelling mistake.

The grade II listed church has recently had its tower, bell and clock restored, and a new level entrance created.

The grounds also include the Hollinwood war memorial.

Father David Hawthorn, who has been vicar for five years, said: “There is a lot of change at St Margaret’s, and we continue to make the church more accessible, with the tower entrance reopened and wheelchair access.”

Organised by the Civic Trust, the Heritage Open Days, September 10 to 13, are a national event when properties all over the country open their doors.

Churches also open across Oldham are Holy Trinity, Dobcross, built in 1787; St Marks’, Heyside; Oldham Parish Church; and two St Thomas’s, one in Werneth, the other at Heights, Delph.

St Mark’s has a newly-restored high beamed ceiling and stunning stained glass windows; Holy Trinity has a new central chandelier, the parish church has a crypt and the tomb of a giant, and St Thomas’s Werneth will offer worksheets for primary age children and toys for younger children.

Visitors can also see Oldham’s Green Flag-status Alexandra Park, with boating lake, lodge house, cafe observatory and lions den, or take a guided tour of Greenacres Cemetery.

There is also a walk along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a guided tour of Oldham Lyceum, built in 1855 as a centre for arts and sciences, or a stroll though Oldham town centre following the ancient route our forefathers would have taken before the arrival of turnpikes.

Oldham Local Studies and Archives in Union Street has displays of photographs illustrating the history of Union Street, plus images from its archives, and a talk on the history and archives of the Blue Coat School.

And Saddleworth Museum will also be taking part with a museum quiz and family boxes to bring the past to life.

A leaflet containing details of all the events in Oldham is available at all local libraries and the Local Studies and Archives on Union Street.