MOVING A CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 July 1925, Page 2

MOVING A CHURCH

TIIAN-SFEIUIEI) STONE ItV STONt

cided to take their church away from the deserted village. A mission hall was built at Holden Wood; services were held there at night and tit the parish eliureli in the morning. '1 lie parishioners—nearly all mill workers — have now raised ever £IBOO rewards the £6CGO it is estimated the removal will cost. The last service held in the oiluroll was conducted by the Bishop of .Maurhestev. when he spoke words ot encouragement to the people who had undertaken such a huge task. It is probable that, the final cost of the. removal will he nearer £BOOO than £6OOO. But. says the vicar, it will costTcss to remove the old eliureli than to build a new one. Though built in 1868. it did not become a parish eliureli until 188.3. only a, few years before the turning-out of tiie village began. The original cost was £3OOO. The building is quite handsome for its period. and has one ancient, relic, a hell said to have come from 'A .‘'alley Abbey, a. t istereian house des l rev ed under Henry \ 111 llie builders are at work it moving the pews and fittings to toe old and ruined .schoolroom across the roud, where they will he kept, unlit ihe re (sooted church is ready for them. This is probably the last use (o v.liieh the odd schoolroom will ever be pul. There are no people left, in Grane itself to go to,, church. but old people born in Grane fell tales of llie illicit whisky still for which Grane was nine notorious, and the cock pit is yet., p? he foond by those who know where to look for it. A century ago the blacksmith of Grane was haled befored the Magistrate for forging pike heads intended to avenge the “held of Peterloo.”