Published at 10:33, Saturday, 24 July 2010

ON Monday May 28 in 1877 the new St George’s Church at Millom officially threw open its doors to townsfolk at the consecration ceremony and little medals survive as a reminder.

The medals were cast in lead, are now rather scarce and carry a price tag of around £25 to £30 – if you can find one.

This example turned up recently on an internet auction site and had somehow managed to travel to France.

Thanks to local newspaper, the Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser, we know which groups received the medal and how many were produced.

The paper noted: “On Monday the morning was wet and uncomfortable, and the wind from a westerly direction was high.

“As the time approached for the commencement of the ceremony the scholars attending the church Sunday schools in the parish of Millom (St George’s), those from Haverigg, from the parish church, from the Hill and Thwaites, numbering altogether about 700, assembled and lined the way.

“Each child and each teacher was presented with a neat medal commemorative of the event.”

The paper records that the idea for a new Church of England place of worship to serve the growing boom town of Millom took shape during a meeting held at Millom Ironworks on June 10 in 1873.

Among those present was the Bishop of Carlisle, first Mayor of Barrow Sir James Ramsden, Thomas Massicks from Millom Ironworks and Nathaniel Caine and Cedric Vaughan from Hodbarrow Mines.

The final cost of the church and vicarage was £13,000 and it seems the doors were opened before St George’s had its own organ to lead the singing.

Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser noted: “An organ is being built for the church, at a cost of about £500.”

The report gives plenty of detail about the building process: “The church, which was commenced early in May, 1874, and was completed on Good Friday, 1877 – the finial of the spire being fixed on that day.

“It is built in the early English style of architecture.

“It is 121 feet long, the nave being 78 feet, the choir 24 feet, and the chancel 19 feet.

“The breadth of the nave is 39 feet. In shape it is nearly cruciform.”

There were seats for 500 on pitch pine pews.

The tower at St George’s was 63 feet in height with a stone spire reaching upwards another 70 feet.

The designers were Paley and Austin of Lancaster; the land was presented by the Earl of Lonsdale and around half of the cost was donated by Millom Ironworks.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk