History details
Methodism had been alive in Thornton since 1811, where services were held at Nanny Greenwoods cottage which once stood on Thornton marsh close to Marsh Road. Followed by the building of a whitewashed Chapel local to the existing site in 1812, this was 23 years before Thornton Christ church was built. In 1892 a new Chapel was built at a cost of £250 (now the church hall) but with the expanding Thornton population there was soon a need for a bigger building and in 1903 an adjacent plot of land was purchased for £387. Around this time a local lady, Mrs. Janet Wignall offered to build a new church as a memorial to her husband Mr. John Wignall J.P. who had drowned at sea with his ship and had once been connected with shipping at the world trade port of Fleetwood. The new church also benefited from a £200 donation towards the church organ by famous nineteenth century American multi millionaire, Andrew Carnegie. He was of Scottish parenthood and a devout Methodist who had made his fortune from steelworks in America and regularly gave away huge sums of money to good causes, mostly libraries. Blackpool Library on Queen Street is officially Carnegie Library and Andrew’s name should still be engraved in stone above the main entrance door. In May 1905, John Wignall Memorial church was opened for worship, the first service being conducted by Mrs.Wignalls son-in-law the Rev. Hodson of Lytham. |