St Mary’s Church, Westwood, In the Parish of Selston ~ Diocese of Southwell
By The Revd. G.N. Pearce ~ Vicar
A short history and guide to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Church 1958
THE SETTING
To be cast back into the Westwood of sixty years ago would be to enter a world unrecognizable to modern eyes. To be cast back a further thirty years would be stranger still, for Jacksdale was non-existent, and Westwood a tiny hamlet with scattered dwellings under the dominion of the local Lord of the Manor. Today it is hard to picture it, no roads, no ships, no pit heap, no forge, no church. Isolated farms were dotted here and there; a few houses clustered in the present day Palmerston Street; the school provided the only centre for such community life as there was, and it became the earliest meeting place for worship in Westwood, though Selston Church, in which parish Westwood was situated, had even then stood for 700 years.
Dale Farm, Church Hill, Westwood.
Not all was calm and tranquil though. 990 acres of common land formed Jacksdale Common, which itself was part of Selston Common, but common land was only accepted under protest by the common people of the day, and riots and disturbances became familiar events in the district in the 1860’s, John de Morgan being one in particular who opposed the rights of landlords most vehemently. Dissatisfaction eventually led to the passing of the Enclosure Act of 1877, and from then onwards the scene began to change. More and more people were able to purchase and hold their land; the opening of Pye Hill Colliery in 1875 brought greater numbers to settle in the area, and the coming of the railway overcame the isolation which hitherto had kept Westwood and the surrounding area very much to itself.
Left: James Oakes Pipe Yard ~ Part of the Industrial Settlement
Of Jacksdale’s origin very little is known. Part of Sedgwick Street and Stone Row are very old, but it was not until 1897 that expansion occurred on any large scale. The mail at that time was delivered from Alfreton, and it was not until 1900 that the first Post Office appeared in Jacksdale.
As to how Jacksdale got its name, legends vary beyond number. One which persists in that two men, Jack and John, pitched their tents to claim lands as their own in the valley. They disagreed however, as to a fair division, and decided to fight it out in a duel. Needless to say, the winner left his name indelibly printed on our maps to the present day, but how true that is no one can really say.
Left: the Crest of the Earl Cowper
Worship, as has been remarked was held in the National Schools in Westwood from about 1860 onwards. With the increasing population, these began to be too small for this purpose and in 1891 a new church was built at Underwood through the munificence of Earl Cowper, a large landowner and Lord of the Manor. But this was some distance from Westwood and in 1897 plans were completed for the erection of another church on a site of the hill by Worthington’s Farm – the site again being given by the generosity of Lord Cowper.
Above - Worthington's 'Dale Farm.'
Thus the scene was set for the building of the third church within the parish of Selston, and St. Mary’s, Westwood was soon to replace the little Westwood Mission Room which had served as the place of worship for some years prior to 1898.
THE CHURCH IS BUILT
A prime mover in the building of the church was the Rev. A. Reid, curate at Westwood, who had the full support of the Vicar of Selston, Rev. Charles Harrison. The cost was to be between £1,500 and £2,000 and as we have seen already a site was offered commanding a view across the valley towards Codnor Park, a view which was to be filled shortly by present day Jacksdale.
The population of Westwood had risen from 120 in 1837 when Queen Victoria came to the throne, to some 1,700 by the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, and to mark that anniversary and also to provide the initial impetus in the building of the church, a Bazaar was planned to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18th and 19th, 1897, in Westwood National Schools.
Even prior to this, however, a sum of £70 towards the church had been subscribed by colliers and ironworkers of the locality, who formed almost the entire population.
Reverend A. Reid
Reverend Charles Harrison
The Bazaar, however, stimulated interest not only in the immediate locality, but also in neighbouring villages, and as always the lady supporters of the parish set their hands to ensure a fine display of fancy and useful articles on the various stalls on the day itself.
The Opening Ceremony on May 18th was performed by Mr. James Oakes, J.P.,C.C., of Riddings, a member of the local firm of Messrs. James Oakes & Co., who were large employers of labour at the local colliery and ironworks. In his speech Mr. Oakes referred to the great interest his family took in the district. “The movement for the erection of a new church there had not been commenced by the employers of labour, but by the enthusiasm of the church workers in the district itself,” he said. “I am here on behalf of my family to congratulate them on the enthusiasm which they have displayed, and we desire to encourage them as much as we can. I am therefore able to say that on behalf of the firm, we shall be glad to give a sum of £800 towards the church.” This, he hoped would enable them to go forward in some confidence, and it was now possible that the work would be able to begin the following spring.
In his remarks of deep appreciation, the Vicar (Mr Harrison) also revealed that the sum of £100 yearly as placed at his disposal by Lord Cowper for a curate’s stipend, so that financial support from local sources was exceedingly generous. The proceeds of the first day’s sales amounted to £51.
On May 19th, the Bazaar was opened by Mrs. Leslie Wright, a member of a family with whom the history of Selston was interwoven. Mrs. Wright did not make a speech, but a vote of thanks for her being present to perform the opening ceremony was proposed by Mr. JHW Laverick, the then parish warden. In his remarks, he observed that for some 30 years they in that part of the parish had worshipped in the very schools in which the Bazaar was being held, so that no one could accuse them of being too hasty in the matter of wishing to get a church erected.
Musical programmes were given each afternoon by Miss Hooper, Miss Ames, Miss race, Miss Gardiner and Miss Laverick, and evening entertainment was provided by Mr. EF Whitehead and friends, and Mr. L Leadbeter’s X.L.C.R. Minstrels.
Work commenced on the building itself the following year and the Foundation Stone was laid on September 10th, 1898, by Mr. CH Oakes, J.P. Deposited in the Stone were the following articles:-
A summary of the early history of the church. A copy of the Bazaar handbook.
A copy of the Parish Magazine for September, 1898. A copy of the Appeal for the Church.
A coin having on it the heads of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and his son (four generations). This was given by Sergeant Doffman.
An 1898 florin, shilling and penny.
The building was completed within twelve months at a cost of £1,932, the bell costing an additional £25 18s 2d and the Font £10.
THE CONSECRATION
The Church was consecrated at 3 p.m. on September 9th, 1899 by Dr. Were, the Bishop of Derby, and dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, the Feast of whose Nativity falls on 8th September.
The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Derby and the lessons read by the Rev. P. Page, of Brinsley (1 Kings 8, 12-30) and the Rev. FE Hooper of Ironville (Hebrews 10, 19-25). The text for the sermon was 1 Chronicles 29.9: “Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord.”
Services commenced immediately in the new building, and curates have served there almost without a break from then until the present day. The church was licensed for weddings in 1902. The churchyard also dates from the opening of the church, but ground has been almost completely filled now (1958) and an extension is being planned.
THE CHURCH ITSELF
Architecturally speaking there is nothing particularly outstanding in regard to the church. It is built of red brick to conventional design with two small vestries towards the east end of the building, one of which has since been converted into a Memorial Chapel.
The original plans show a tower and steeple surmounting the present building above the centre point between the two vestries, but due to lack of funds and possibly to reconsideration in view of the likelihood of subsidence, this was never constructed, and instead a rather apologetic canopy houses the solitary bell.
The font was given by the children of the Sunday School and dedicated at the Consecration Service, as was the lectern, which was a gift of the Bible Union. The font cover and Cradle Roll are much more recent, being presented by the Sunday School in 1952.
The East Window, depicting the Ascension of Our Lord, was given by the congregation and dedicated by the Bishop of Southwell on June 5th, 1915.
The Prayer Desk was given in memory of Lydia Louisa Sigourney Edwards, an organist at the church, who died in 1918.
A Memorial Window for the 1914-1918 War was dedicated soon after the war ended, and the plaques in memory of those who lost their lives in the 1939-1945 War were unveiled on November 16th, 1952, by His Grace the Duke of Portland. K.G. They were presented by the British Legion and dedicated by the Rev HB Biddell (Vicar of Selston) and the Rev JH Francis (Vicar of Ironville), joint Chaplains of the Jacksdale British Legion. Col JH Chaworth-Musters was present at the ceremony.
The Chapel to the north side of the chancel was only converted to this purpose in 1947. Prior to that it was a vestry. It was dedicated on June 15th, 1947, by Archdeacon RP Wilson and became a Memorial Chapel. The Holy Table was given in memory of Lt. Roy Timmins, killed at Arnhem, 1944. The Cross is in memory of Arthur Limb who died in 1940; the candlesticks are in memory of Clifford Newbold, who died at Singapore in 1942; the Communion rail bears the name of Edith Cecily Truman, who died in 1946, and the Credence Table is in memory of Elizabeth Hardstaff, who died in September 1946.
The main Communion Rail is a memorial to Sgt KA ward, RAF, who was killed in March, 1944. The vessel chest, also modern, is in memory of George Hardwick, who died in July, 1929. The Cross and Candlesticks were given in 1957 by the boys of the Matthew Holland School, Selston and replaced older brass ornaments donated by Mr J McLaren (the Cross) and the ladies of the congregation (the candlesticks).
The electric light was installed in 1942 in memory of Titus Searson. The organ was built by John Crompton and Sons Ltd, and supplied in the early 1920’s. It was hand-blown until the installation of electricity in 1942.
THE YEARS BETWEEN
At the opening of the church in 1898, there was much reminiscing over the previous sixty years – quite naturally, since it was the period of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Now we stand sixty years further on, and St. Mary’s now celebrate its jubilee.
What changes have been seen in that time ! The close of Victoria’s glorious reign, the calm of the Edwardian era heralding the holocaust of the First World War. Then the unsettled peace, the depression of 1926 and the years following, the gathering clouds of the 1930’s and the turmoil of another war. Since then peace (of sorts).
With the changes, so the pattern of life within the walls of St Mary’s has altered too, yet ever striving to present an offering to God worthy of Him on behalf of the people in whose midst it is situated. Sometimes the church has been crowded, sometimes nearly empty. Once it was threatened with closure, but the spark of faith, which that silent witness kindled in the hearts of all those who passed by, returned again, and today it stands an unassuming outpost of eternity we cannot do without.
TODAY
So we come to the close of the present chapter. We have seen how the faithfulness of others through the years past has given us an inheritance rich indeed. To us now comes the call and the challenge of ensuring that others in days to come will still have what we so richly enjoy.
Part of that task is spiritual – the bearing onward of the torch of Christ’s Kingdom to those who as yet have failed to see. To do that faithfully demands of us dedication and an even closer walk with God as the days go by. It is no easy task, but it is one in which we are not alone, for God goes with us and helps us along the way. Without Him our journey would be in vain.
Part of the task is material – for we have to ensure that the building wherein we gather for worship is maintained in a fit condition and that the worship itself is as rich in beauty as we can make it.
Two items here are receiving immediate attention. Much of the brickwork on the outside of the church has weathered away and requires replacement, and inside, the organ which has not been overhauled for many years is once more being brought up to the highest standards. For these two purposes alone, £600 has to be raised.
Perhaps when another sixty years have passed, the writer then will record the triumphant raising of that sum in 1958, and we too will be seen to be worthy successors of those who have laboured so faithfully in the years before. But whether that is so and will be recorded, depends on whether we – you and I – are responsive to the challenge of the moment.
“O Lord, who has warned us that Thou wilt require much of those to whom much is given: Grant that we, whose lot is cast in so goodly a heritage, may strive together the more abundantly by prayer, by giving, by discipline, and by all appointed means to extend to others what we so richly enjoy; and as we have entered into the labours of other men, so to labour that in their turn other men may enter into ours, to the fulfilment of Thy Holy will and the salvation of all mankind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
By The Revd. G.N. Pearce ~ Vicar
A short history and guide to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Church 1958