History of the Fylde of LancashirePorter, John (Writer on the Fylde of Lancashire)
History
History of the Fylde of Lancashire
Porter, John (Writer on the Fylde of Lancashire)
Lancashire (England) -- History
being first conducted in it on Monday, the 24th of May, by the Rev.
George Osborne, of Liverpool. As the town gradually developed in size and
population, the attendants at this place of worship outgrew the space
provided for them, and lately, in 1875, it became necessary to enlarge
the edifice. The west gable-end was taken out and the main building
extended in that direction. Galleries were placed along the two sides
and across the east wall; the old-fashioned pulpit was superseded by a
platform situated at the centre of the west end, and extending to within
six feet of the galleries at either side. The new sittings resemble the
old ones in being closed pews, and not open benches. The chapel is now
capable of containing double the congregation it could have held previous
to the recent alterations.
In the month of February, 1847, an extraordinary high tide, rendered
more formidable by strong westerly winds, did great damage on the coast
from here to Rossall; the Landmark was so far undermined that its fall
was hourly expected; an embankment raised on the shore from that point
to Rossall suffered severely, large portions being completely washed
away; and the outbuildings of a farm called “Fenny” were overthrown
and destroyed, serious injury being done also to the land in the
neighbourhood. The more immediate vicinities of the town escaped with
comparatively little loss, the most important being that resulting
from the inundation of several fields and gardens near the Cops, and
the levelling of a few wooden sheds for labourers’ tools and other
outbuildings.
A failure in the potatoe and grain harvests of 1846 spread fearful
distress and famine throughout the United Kingdom; bread riots and
disturbances amongst the starving poor of Ireland were of frequent
occurrence, and it was to assist in alleviating the sufferings of those
unfortunate people that a subscription was started in Fleetwood during
the latter months of that year. Donations purely from the inhabitants
of the town were collected, and in January, 1847, the sum of £105 was
forwarded to the sister country. In consequence of the severe national
affliction, Her Majesty ordained that Wednesday, the 24th of the
following March, should be observed as a general fast-day. On that date
all the shops in the watering place, with one or two exceptions, were
closed; the public-houses and streets were quiet; and stillness and
solemnity everywhere apparent. The church was crowded to overflowing;
every seat was packed, and forms were brought in from the Sunday school
and placed in the aisles to create extra accommodation, so excessive
was the congregation which assembled to join in the special service for
divine intervention.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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