St Michael's Church - Much Hoole

I visited this church on my way to Southport, Almost got inside. Another of those churches that has great antiquity and will be extremely interesting. I have exterior photos but the first ones will be the memorial. The Ref number on the UK National Archive is 54968.

The memorial is to the left of the panorama

The memorial is shown in the panorama above. These are the pictures of the memorial and the transcription.

The memorial to the south of the church

The right-hand panel

The centre panel

The left hand panel

View from the memorial back to the church

 ERECTED

 IN

 THANKSGIVING

 TO

 GOD

 FOR THE NOBLE

 SACRIFICE OF THE 

MEN OF HOOLE

 AND DISTRICT

 WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

 OF

 1914-1919

1939 - 1945

1914- 1919

RICHARD HUNT

WILLIAM H. JACKSON

THOMAS MAWDSLEY

WILLIAM RILEY

JOHN SUTTON

JAMES WEBSTER

THOMAS WEBSTER

RICHARD WEBSTER

HARRY H. WEBSTER

THOMAS WIGNALL

JOHN E. BARNISH

JAMES BARKER

WILLIAM BIRD

NICHOLAS TOPPING

JOHN W. WOOD

ERNEST A. BARKER

WILLIAM BARKER

JOB BENTHAM

RICHARD BRIGGS

JAMES COULTON

JOHN FIDDLER

THOMAS FORSHAW

ALFRED GIDLOW

JOHN HARRISON

THOMAS HARRISON

FREDERICK HODSON

1939 - 1945

JACK JONES

EDMUND WIGNALL

ALBERT WORTHINGTON

Below are pictures of the church:

From the right of the memorial

Almost directly from the memorial

Close-up of the door stonework

The door into the church
The date over the door says 1628

From the rear of the church

From the church door towards the memorial facing south.

The door in the church tower

The sundial on the face of the tower. Obviously facing south!

From the southwest corner. Yes the tower does lean down!
The glass in the windows, although leaded is clear.

Erected in 1977
by
the Bracewell Family
in memory of
their loved ones
"God be with you till we meet again"

The actual construction seems to be quite ancient!
I presume there may have been a lych gate here.
It would seem odd that a church of this antiquity would not have one.
The purpose of a lych gate has now gone into misuse.

Kirkham Parish Church - St Michael's

Kirkham literally means church town. It seems that history tells us that there has been a place of Christian worship in Kirkham for 1400 years. The Romans came to Kirkham before then - it would be safe to assume that they also worshipped here.
The church of St Michael is off the main street. It is set in quite extensive grounds with an attached graveyard as well as an extended graveyard. Kirkham War memorial is quite close by. There are some very interesting plaques, memorials and dedications within the church. These will be mentioned towards the bottom of the page.

The Birley memorial is here.

The church seen from the Birley monument.
the church entrance is behind the tree (oops!)

The nave. The 2 memorials can be seen.
The WW1 is to left of the pulpit. The WW2
is to the right behind the lectern.

The Altar, pulpit and choir

From beneath the pulpit

Looking towards the altar

Looking towards the back of the church.

IN MEMORY OF
HENRY RISHTON BUCK A.B.
Lieut. 33rd Regt.
Who fell in Battle at
WATERLOO
June 18th AE. 27

Also of
JAMES BUCK
Lieut 21st Light Dragoons
who died
Jan 7th 1815 AE. 19

These are my oldest war memorials. Remarkable good condition.
Research to be done here.

This is a copy of Henry Rishton Buck's Baptism from the online Parish Clerk Project.

Baptism: 16 Jan 1788 St Michael, Kirkham, Lancs.
Henry Rishton Buck - f Revd. Charles Buck & Alice
    Born: 13 Jan 1788
    Abode: Kirkham
    Notes: Duty 3. B in LH Column
    Source: LDS Film 1502433

The Rev Charles Buck was a Priest at Kirkham in 1744-1771

TO THE
GREATER GLORY OF GOD
AND SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN
OF THIS PARISH CHURCH WHO RESPONDED
TO THE CALL OF DUTY AND FELL FIGHTING
FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE NOBLE

CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

1914 -1918

GEORGE PARKER   3rd LOYAL NORTH LANCS

HARRY COOKSON   9thH SOUTH LANCS

JAMES GARDNER   4th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

FRED HOLDEN   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

JAMES PARKINSON   6thH LOYAL NORTH LANCS

WILLIAM DODD   6th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

WILLIAM HUDSON   6th LOYALNORTH LANCS

WILLIAM BUTCHER   4th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

WILLIAM ANYON   4th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

ARTHUR WILLACY   8th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

ROBERT KIRBY   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

JOHN MURRAY   7thLOYAL NORTH LANCS

THOMAS GARDNER   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

 JOSEPH HASLAM  6th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

ALEXANDER WEBSTER   ? LOYAL NORTH LANCS

JAMES HUDSON   6th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

HAROLD W. COUPE   ? EAST LANCASHIRE

JOHN V. WRIGHT   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

EDWARD HUDSON   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

ARTHUR MALKIN    MOTOR TRANSPORT

ALEXANDER DANSON   10th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

JOHN GLOVER     4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUS.

JOHN BENSON   12th KINGS ROYAL RIFLES

JAMES ENTWHISTLE    ?th KINGS OWN ROYAL LANCS

JAMES WILSON   ?th KINGS OWN ROYAL LANCS

LAWRENCE CARDWELL   10th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

REGINALD TYSON   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

 JOHN W. FISHER   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

WILLIAM GREEN   ? EAST LANCS

RICHARD W. PARKINSON   8th EAST SURREY

GEORGE CROMPTON   1st LOYAL NORTH LANCS

THOMAS B. WOODS   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

THOMAS COOKSON   1/4thLOYAL NORTH LANCS

THOMAS DIXON   1st EAST LANCS

JOHN CLARKSON   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

ALAN HULLEY   6th KINGS OWN LIGHT L.

JAMES JOLLY   7th LOYAL NORTH LANCS

EDWARD JOLLY   2nd EAST LANCS

The list of the fallen is below

TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF 

THIS CHURCH WHO FELL IN THE

 WAR 1939 - 1945

GEORGE ALLANSON

STANLEY V. ASPIN

GEORGE W. BALL

HAROLD BENSON

WILLIAM A. BROOKS

PETER CARR

WILLIAM COULTHARD

RICHARD DANSON

STANLEY DICKINSON

FRANK FISHER

ARTHUR HARRIS

THOMAS LEE

JOSEPH E. PAPE

FRANK J. RIGBY

HAROLD SKILLEN

FRANK THOMPSON

JAMES THORNTON

WILLIAM H. WILBY

THE VICARS OF KIRKHAM

1239 DN'S WILL DE EBOR

1240-60 RICARDUS PERSONA DE KIRKHAM

EDW.1 SIMON ALLEY

1354 WILLIAM DE SLAYTEBURN

1361 WILLIAM BOULTON

1362 FR. PHIL DE GRENHAL

DN'S ROGER DYRYNG

1418 DN'S WILL TORFET

1420 DN'S JOHN COTUN

1450-52 JOHN HARDIE

1452 DOM EDMUND LAYCHE

1512 THOMAS SMITH

1558 SIR JAMES SMITH

1586 JAMES SMITH

1591 JAMES SHARPLES B.A.

1594 NICHOLAS HELME M.A.

1598 ARTHUR GREENACRES M.A.

1627 JOHN GERRARD M.A.

1629 EDWARD FLEETWOOD M.A.

1650 JOHN FISHER

1666 RICHARD CLEGG M.A.

1720 WILLIAM DICKSON M.A.

1744 CHARLES BUCK M.A.

1771 HUMPHREY SHUTTLEWORTH M.A.

1813 JAMES WEBBER D.D.

1847 GEORGE LODOWICK PARSONS M.A.

1852 WILLIAM LAW HUSSEY M.A.

1862 GEORGE RICHARD BROWN M.A.

1875 HENRY WILLIAMS MASON M.A.

1902 WELBURY THEODORE MITTON M.A.

1933 ERIC PARKER

2

"THESE TABLETS ARE THE GIFT OF ANN AND ISABELLA NOBLET A.D. 1908"

ITS THAT PESKY POLISHED BRASS AGAIN!

CHURCHWARDENS PEW
?CLARKSON
??
W.GIDDING
J? BRYARS
1770

IN MEMORY OF THOMAS CLIFTON
ESQ(SON TO SIR THOMAS CLIFTON OF LYTHAM Knt AND Barr and Bridget
Hussey HIS SECOND WIFE DAUGHTER OF S' Edward
Hussey OF HUNNINGTON IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN
of like quality) who parted this life November
12th 1688 aged 20 years and he's buried near this place


A virgin Masculine
Whom Sacred love did much refine
in foreion school assiduous to advance
And free his soul from faulty ignorance
To Parents obedient , kind and moderate
All other virtues he did celebrate
Early imbracing our dear Saviours Yoke:
Death he defeated in its sharpest stroke
Reader mayest thou like him be most Sincere
Watchfull to stear thy course by holy Fear
which will conduct thee to that happy Rest
Glorious Immortal and forever blest

This is small section of the Geneaology from: Roots web

The red text applies to the plaque

Thomas Clifton, Esquire
b. ca 1606, Westby, Lancashire, England
d. 15 Dec 1657
m. ca 1624, Anne Halsall, daughter of Sir Cuthbert Halsall, of Halsall, Lancashire.
Thomas and Anne had 13 children, five of their daughters were nuns.
children:
Cuthbert Clifton, b. ca 1625. m. 1641 Margaret Iroland of Southworth, Lancashire. Daughter of George Iroland.
Thomas Clifton (Sir Knight), b. 7 Jul 1628, Clifton, Lancashire. m. (1) Bridget Hussey, b. ca 1643 of Hunnington, Lincolnshire, England. They married ca 1666, she died after 1710. She was the daughter of Sir Edward Hussey and Elizabeth Huton. children: Thomas Clifton, b. 1668 Bridget Clifton, b. 1670, m. Francis Andrews (Sir Knight) Sir Thomas next married Bridget Heneage, b. 3 Sep 1630 in Hainton, Lincolnshire, England to Sir George Heneage. bur. 11 Dec 1662 in Kirkham, Lancashire, England. Sir Thomas died 13 Nov 1694 in Kirkham. children: Mary Clifton, b. 1637 or 1654 at Lytham, Lancashire, m. ca 1666 and died 4 Feb 1729 in Ghent.
John Clifton, b. 1630 , Westby, Lancashire, England, m. ______ Blackburn, b. ca 1634 at Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. They had a son: Thomas Clifton, Esquire, b. 1656, Westby, Lancashire. He married Eleanora Alathea Walmsley in Clifton, Lancashire in 1694, She was born ca 1660 in Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire, the daughter of Richard Walmsley, Esq. and Mary Fromond. They had the following children: Thomas Clifton, Esq. b. 30 Aug 1696. m. Mary Molyneux, b. ca 1708. children: Thomas Clifton, Esq., b. 9 Jan 1728 Mary Clifton, b. ca 1730 Clifton, Lancashire Isabel Clifton, b. ca 1732, Clifton, Lancashire Juliana Clifton, b. ca 1733, Clifton, Lancashire Eleanora Clifton, b. ca 1734, Clifton, Lancashire Mary Clifton, b. 13 Nov 1697, Clifton, Lancashire. She m. George Mostyn (Sir Knight), b. ca 1697 Isabel Clifton, b. 27 May 1699, Clifton, Lancashire. Ann Clifton, b. 4 Jun 1701, Clifton, Lancashire. Elizabeth Clifton, b. 7 Sep 1703, Clifton, Lancashire. She married William Gerard (Baronet) Cuthbert Clifton, b. 3 Jan 1706, Clifton, Lancashire. Julia Clifton, b. 4 Oct 1707, Clifton, Lancashire.
William Clifton, b. 1632, Westby, Lancashire. d. 26 Nov 1695
Richard Clifton, b. 1634, Westby, Lancashire.
James Clifton, b. 1636, Westby, Lancashire.
Anne Clifton, b. 1638, Westby, Lancashire.
Elizabeth Clifton, b. ca 1640, Westby, Lancashire.
Dorothy Clifton, b. 1642, Westby, Lancashire.
Alice Clifton, b. 1644, Westby, Lancashire. m. Alexander Rigby, Esq.
Bridget Clifton, b. 1646, Westby, Lancashire. m. Thomas Westby, Esq.
Frances Clifton, b. 1648, Westby, Lancashire.
Margaret Clifton, b. 1650, Westby, Lancashire.
Ann Clifton, b. 1652, Westby, Lancashire.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE REVEREND JOHN THRELFAL. A.B.
WHO DIED DECEMBER X111(13), M.DCCC.1, (1801)
AGED LXXX1V(84) YEARS
HE WAS FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS THE HEADMASTER OF
KIRKHAM SCHOOL
ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF
SARAH HIS WIFE,
WHO DIED OCTOBER, X1, M.DCCXC1(1791) AGED LXX1(71)
THIS SILENT MARBLE IS ERECTED AS A SMALL TOKEN OF
GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION

______________________________

TO COMMEMORATE THE
CENTENERY OF THE PRESENT CHURCH
THE BELLS WERE RE-HUNG AND
OVERHAULED AT A COST OF £250
THE AMOUNT BEING SUBSCRIBED BY THE PARISHIONERS

FRED W. RIGBY
ERNEST BARKER
WARDENSWELSBY T. MITTON
VICAR AND RURAL DEAN
SEPTEMBER 1922

Church Memorial house - from an old post card
(Copyright expired)

THIS AREA OF THE PARISH CHURCH
WAS RE-HALLOWED BY
STEWART, BISHOP OF BLACKBURN
ON MAY 11th 1986

IT WAS PAID FOR FROM MONIES
PROVIDED BY THE SALE OF
CHURCH MEMORIAL HOUSE
WHICH WAS ITSELF BOUGHT
BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH
AS A MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO
DIED IN THE 1914 -1918 WAR

THIS CHURCH
WAS ENTIRELY REBUILT
BY THE AID OF A PARISH RATE
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1822
JAMES WEBBER, VICAR

CHURCH WARDENS
RICHARD HODSON
JAMES WHALLEY
JOHN PRESTON
JOHN WHALLEY

From the front entrance leading to Church lane and then to Kirkham centre.

The Birley Memorial - Kirkham Parish church

This is in the memorials blog. Seems faintly out of place as most of the memorials relate to the fallen in the twentieth century wars. I will try and decode this memorial, much of the dressed stone has chipped or cracked away. Hopefully many of the names at least will still be visible. There is a datastore page here where there are more pictures. These have been used to attempt to decipher the the memorial as well as Ancestry
This is the grandest object in the churchyard by the church. The Birley family had land and influence in this area for generations. Built in the mid 19C initially commemorating William Birley the founder of Kirkham Linen Mill. There is further information relating to Wrea Green and the Birley family here.

The monument as seen from the pathway to the church entrance

William Birley of Kirkham
the son of John and Margaret Birley
died in London May 29, 1850 aged 70 years
and is buried here.
Mary the wife of William Birley
daughter of John and Susanna Swainson of Preston
died February 19, 1819 aged 40 years
and is buried beneath the entrance to this vault.
Margaret, second Wife of
William Birley
died 15 January 1864 Aged 79 years.
Also Edmund William Birley,
elder son of the said Edmund
and Caroline Dorothea Birley
7 December 1940 aged 87 Years
 
(Note this transcription differs from the 'Birley' family website which can be found here).

In memory of
Anne
the beloved wife of
the Rev. John Shepherd Birley, M.A.
eldest son of William and Mary Birley.
She died 12 May, 1872 aged 67 years
and is buried in St. Cuthbert's Lytham
also of her husband
Rev. John Shepherd Birley, M.A.
who died 1 July, 1883
and is interred at St Cuthbert's Lytham

Note to self - Next visit to St Cuthberts...
Beneath are copies of their probates.
 

(Very Difficult and there may be mistakes...)

Mary daughter of William
and Eliza died January ? 18?
Aged  ? Years
and above William Birley second son of William and Mary Birley died at
the Larches  Ashton on Ribby  ??
Eliza aged 82 Years
and is buried here
Eliza wife of William Birley
died  ? April 30 1913
and is buried close to this vault

Caroline Mary Moore
daughter of Blinnhnd and Caroline dau??
died Nov 20 1847 aged 8 months
in loving memory of Caroline Margaret
Wife of James Dunsmure
died Oct 21 1886
buried in the Dean Cemetery Edinburgh
Also of Annie Mary Wife of Colonel Dove
died Jan 20th 1895 buried at St Johns
also of Edmund Birley father of the above
Youngest son of William and Mary Birley
died at Clifton Hall March 28 1895
Aged 77 years and is buried here
also of Caroline Dorothea widow of ??
?? Edmund Birley daughter of the
Rev Richard Moore Vicar of
died August 20 1890
"Begineth his beloved sleep" Psalm cxxvii

also of Helen Maud the beloved wife of
Gervase Arthur Mathew and youngest daughter
of the above Edmund and Caroline Dorothea Birley
<----->
Ada Birley their daughter died March 8th   1934

This is the reply from the Gravestones photo resource with extra information.

This image is from the Gravestone Resource
The picture was taken in the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.
The interesting information relates to
Caroline Margaret Birley, she is mentioned on the Birley Memorial above.
It may be possible to piece together all the missing information
on the rest of the monument.

This is the information that relates to the Dean Cemetery picture.(copy and paste) from the information.

Dean 2e Cemetery
Edinburgh

Full name	age	birth year	burial year	relationship
James Dunsmure	87	1771	1858
Susan Drysdale	69	1774	1843	wife of James Dunsmure
Lt Henry Alexander Henderson Dunsmure			1915	son of James Dunsmure
Lt Colin Hamilton Terrot Dunsmure			1915	son of James Dunsmure
Charles Hill Dunsmure			1848	unknown
Susan Elizabeth Dunsmure	67	1815	1882	unknown
James Dunsmure	72	1814	1886	unknown
Caroline Margaret Birley	36	1850	1886	unknown Fairly convinced that she is mentioned on the Birley memorial at Kirkham. Information tallies with the memorial there
James Jnr Dunsmure	61	1846	1907	unknown

This photo is on the adjoining graveyard to the west of the church. The servicemen's graves will be on a different page.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING
MEMORY OF EDMUND BIRLEY DIED 1895
CAROLINE DOROTHEA BIRLEY DIED 1899
OF CLIFTON HALL WREA PRESTON
AND OF THEIR CHILDREN
EMILY MARION PEEL DIED 1922
CAROLINE MARGARET DUNSMURE DIED 1886
ANNIE MARY DOVE DIED 189?
HELEN MAUD MATHEW DIED 1915
RICHARD MOORE BIRLEY DIED 1926
ADA BIRLEY DIED MARCH 8 1934
ON THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE CROSS IS AN INSCRIPTION
THIS CROSS IS GIFT OF THEIR DAUGHTER ADA BIRLEY
JULY 1929

Seems this has quite a lot of further research before I can complete the transcriptions. Quite a place Kirkham. Done more on the 13/12/12