Unfortunately, the author and date of this account is at present unknown, though the content suggests it was written during the 1990's. It offers a fascinating insight into the history surrounding St. Johns.

"On the 13th of April 1782, John Wesley wrote in his journal, during a visit to St. Helens, "The people seem ripe for the Gospel." At the time, St. Helens had not been incorporated and the four manors of Parr, Windle, Sutton and Eccleston were going their seperate ways. With the increase in population, due to availability of jobs, it made it imperative that they start to work together.

The religious census of 1851 showed that there had been growth in some parts of the districts, but little had been done in the Ravenhead and Thatto Heath districts, Nutgrove Wesleyan Methodist Chapel being the one exception.

Up to this time, it needed an Act of Parliament to begin a new parish, but the state made it easier by changing the law so that all that was needed was an Order in Council.

So, on 19th August 1870, the parish of Ravenhead St. Johns was set up, taking over parts of St Mary's (St. Helens) and St Thomas' (Eccleston) parishes. The Reverend R. R. Moore was instituted as the first vicar on completion of the building. He ministered to the parish until his death in August 1884.

He was succeeded by his curate at the time, The Reverend H. S. Bolton. He served the parish for 39 years until his death on 25th March 1923. The Rev. A. Jones took charge temporarily until the Rev. J. R. Beresford became the new vicar in 1923.

These were followed by:-

The Rev. G. Goode (1936-1948)
The Rev. E. Henshaw (1949-1960)
The Rev. M.D. White (1960-1967)
The Rev. F. Allred (1968-1975)
The Rev. J.S. Parry (1976-1987)
The Rev. E.R. Doran (1988-Present**)

These were assisted by curates, Church Army sisters and lay workers, which is as well as we look at the number of services that went on.

There were two main places of worship, at the parish church and after 1882 at the Scholes Lane Mission (now St Matthews School*). Many services and activities took place at both places. There were morning and evening services at St. Johns each Sunday. These were followed by Holy Communion, alternately, on the first Sunday in the month.

On the third Sunday of each month, there was a service of Holy Communion at 8:00am. There was also a midweek service every Wednesday night. Baptisms were held on the first Sunday of the month at 3pm and every Wednesday evening before the mid-week service.

At the Scholes Lane Mission, there was a service each Sunday evening as well as service on Thursday night. There were Sunday Schools at both places each Sunday morning and afternoon (for attendances, see later).

Each Sunday afternoon at St. Johns there was a men's Bible Class, followed by a women's Bible Class. On Saturday night, there was a Bible Study Band (a meeting of ladies over 18). This was folled by a Prayer meeting each week. There were also meetings for Senior Boys' Guild, Junior Boys' Guild, Senior Girls' Guild and Junior Girls' Guild. There were many kinds of activities at these guilds, much of it on drills and physical training, as well as woodwork, needlework etc.

There was also a Mothers' meeting at Scholes Lane every Monday night. For those who could not go to the womens' Bible class at St. Johns, there was also a Bible class at Scholes Lane every Sunday afternoon. As you can see, it was a full week's work every week of the year. They certainly did concentrate on exercising body, mind and spirit.

The services and activities were transferred to Campbell's Rooms, now known as Emmanuel, in Elephant Lane."

Click here to read page 2 >

* Revd. Doran left Ravenhead in 2009.
**St Matthews School has since been closed and demolished.