The Churches of Britain and Ireland

Can you help John Ahern, who is looking for a photo of Ballyvodock Church (Carrigtwohill Parish) in County Cork? Built in about 1890, it was demolished in 1944 by the Irish Army, who used it as target practice!

Trish McCormack would like to see a photo of St. Saviour in Hockley, Birmingham. Her parents were married there, but the church is long gone.

Anne Brooks would like a photo of Penzance Cemetery where her g-grandparents are buried.

Can you help Rosemary Allen in Auckland, New Zealand. Her father was minister at the Sanday East church (CoS), Orkney. She'd like to know if it's still in existence, and what it's current status is.

Adam Murdoch would like to know something of the history of, or see photographs of, the Methodist Church at 307 Cathcart Road, Govanhill, in Glasgow.

John Bowdler (a contributor to this website) has started a project to gather information on old Salvation Army Citadels, either no longer in existence, or now in secular use. Can you aid him with locations, dates, photos past and present? If so, let me know and I'll put you in touch.

Tom Bulman is trying to confirm a family story that his grandfather Thomas Willis was involved in the building of an extension to Greenside church in Co. Durham. This was probably in 1907. If you have any knowledge of the church history, Tom would love to hear from you.

Teresa Berrsley would like to see photos of some West Bromwich churches, all of which have family connections for Teresa. The churches in question are Christ Church, Hargate Lane Chapel, and the Wesleyan Chapel in Carters Green (all now demolished).

SOLVED

Jan Abrahamson in Australia was looking for a photo of 2nd Presbyterian Church in Randalstown (Drummail Parish). Her gg-grandparents were married there, and she wanted to know if it still stands. It does, and there is a photo on the website now.

Joan Harrison is looking for photos of three churches - St. Casimir (R.C.) in Manchester, which she believes no longer survives. It was in use in 1908, and was also used as a Lithuanian or Polish church; St. Elizabeth of Hungary at Aspull and St. Peter in Parr, St. Helens. Joan has now been advised of photos on the web for both of these - thank you Janet Gimber.

Can you help Philip Croft with a photo of St. James the Less, in Ashted, Birmingham (Barrack Street and Great Brook Street)? It was bombed in WWII and demolished in 1956. It must pre-date 1836, since an ancestor of Philip's was buried there at this date. Janet Gimber has advised of a line drawing on Wikipedia here.

Raymond Jarrett was keen to see photos of the following churches in Bolton. St. Matthew, Halliwell (demolished in the 1980's), and St. Saviour on Deane Road (demolished in the 1970's). Raymond has been advised that photos of both of these churches are available on this website.

Toni Huggins emigrated to Canada in the 1950's, and is trying to find some information (and a photo if possible), of St. Winifred's RC School and church in Heaton Moor, near Stockport. She writes -

"Saint Winifred’s RC school, located at the very edge of what had once been a high moor, in Heaton Moor, with long views across the River Mersey valley, over the fertile Cheshire Plain as far as Chester and perhaps on a clear day beyond to Liverpool, was located on Didsbury Road. It was a once fine old white Georgian house, with peeling, fluted pillars at the main door, about eighty yards of a packed earth playground, and at the end a comforting gate-house tuck-shop.

It is my understanding that the Georgian House and Land was owned by someone well known in the area at that time and they donated some land and the house to the RC Church to be used as a primary school in 1936. St. Winifred Church is located on Mauldeth Road and I would love to see some pictures with its history. I live in Winnipeg Canada and immigrated with my family in March of 1956. I am now into genealogy and am interested in the Church and School origins, history and pictures. In 2000, I visited Heaton Moor and of course, it was not anything like I remembered. It was smaller (I have grown) and the moor and farmland was gone. The moor is now the M60 or M? something. I believe they call that progress."

Added 20 May 2007 - I'm happy to be able to report that Toni is now in touch with someone who was familiar with the area at about the same time as Toni knew it.