A Hucknall History

The Foundation Stone was laid on November 22, 1902, by Her Grace the Duchess of Portland, accompanied by the Duke, the latter being so impressed that he increased his subscription of £150, given in 1898, by another £350, making a total of £500. Other donations were: £100 each from Sir Charles Seely, Lady Carnarvon, and the Bishop of Southwell; £50 each from the Rev. J.B. Hyde, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Lowe and sons, Miss Collinson, and Mr. F.W. Neale; and £25 each from the Rev. Canon Pavey and Sir Richard FitzHerbert.

The first stone leading into the tower was laid by Mr. S. Watson, J.P., who also gave £190 and the pulpit, and another £100 towards the Mission site. Other stones were laid in the pillars by Mrs. W.O. Boot, Mrs. W. Lee, and Mrs. T. Trigg, while the topmost stone in the east end of the Chancel was laid by Mr. W. Lee, warden, who had worked so hard for the cause.

The Church was dedicated to "All Saints" in December, 1903, by Dr. Ridding, Lord Bishop of Southwell. The actual cost of the Church and furnishings was £4,572 11s. 1d., the building itself costing £3,097 owing to the deep and solid foundations. The architecture is of the Norman transitional type, the arches and windows being of simple pointed design with the exception of the north windows, which are square headed. The building seats 500, and consists of nave, north aisle, choir, baptistry, and vestry. The tower was not built at the time.

In November, 1905, the Church was consecrated by Dr. Were, Bishop of Derby, who also inducted the Rev. F.N. Beswick as the first Vicar of Huthwaite when the separation from Sutton took place in 1906. The living was endowed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners at £200 per annum, and placed in the gift of the Vicar of Sutton.

The music was supplied by the old harmonium, which was played by Mr. T. Allsop, who was effectively assisted by his sister on the violin. In 1906 an organ fund was opened, and in 1910, an organ, costing £450, and built by Messrs. Compton and Co., was opened free from debt by Mr. R.W. Liddle, organist of Southwell Minster. Mr. Alban Wilders, of Blackwell, was appointed the first organist and choirmaster.

In 1908 the Vicar had the help of the Rev. E.A. Jordan as curate for about a year. Mr. W. Lee resigned in 1909, owing to overwork, and his place was taken by Mr. T.H. Garnett, schoolmaster, who had served for two year as people's warden. In November, 1911, 44 trees were planted round about the Church by members of the C.E.M.S.

Mr. Lee was nominated as Vicar's warden on the death of Mr. Wm. Simpson, who had served for 20 years, and who had, with Mr. Lee, been admitted as the first legal churchwardens on the separation of the parish from Sutton. Mr. A. Taylor joined Mr. Lee, and together they served until 1919, when the latter again resigned. Mr. A.C. Dickens was nominated as Vicar's warden, and Mr. T. Goodall, schoolmaster, was elected as people's warden. After 20 years of hard work, the health of the Vicar broke down, and he had to be found an easier parish, that of Thorney, near Lincoln. The task of being correspondent of the Church Schools, which had been performed by the Rev. F.N. Beswick, was now taken over by Mr. W. Lee. For nine months the services were conducted by Mr. T. Goodall and Mr. H.A. Simpson.

The Rev. W.E.A. Middleton was the next vicar, and in his first year a bazaar was held in the Blackwell Road Schools, which realised £150, and wiped out the Church debt, the Church having been opened with a debt of £1,000. The living was increased to £250 in 1920, and there were also other gifts, such as £40 per annum from the Duke of Portland and £25 per annum from the New Hucknall Colliery Company, Ltd.

The Vicarage site was bought from Mr. A. Taylor for £350 in November, 1921, and of this amount £150 was contributed by Mr. S. Watson, and £25 was given back by Mr. Taylor. At the Vestry Meeting of 1922, Mr. A.C. Dickens, Vicar's warden, resigned, and Mr. W. Lee was nominated by the Vicar, and Mr. T. Goodall was re-elected people's warden. These two have worked together through very troublous times, and still hold office. The Rev. W.W.A. Middleton resigned the living in 1924, and went to Tasmania. The Rev. R.H.S. Currey took charge until March, 1925, when the present Vicar, the Rev. W.Ll. Boulton, arrived. As there was no Vicarage a fund was opened for this object, and a bazaar was held in the Blackwell Road Schools in 1927, and this realised £548 12s. 4d. Plans were submitted by Messrs. Warner and Dean, architects, of Sutton, and the contract was let to Messrs. R. Moore and Son, of Mansfield, in 1929. The total cost of the Vicarage was £2,243 8s. 4d., and it was occupied by the Rev. W.Ll. Boulton at Whitsuntide, 1930. The whole building is built on a raft of reinforced concrete. Annual bazaars have largely contributed to the cost, and it is now free of debt.

Owing to the heavy expense and cost of repairs, the Blackwell Road Schools were handed over to the Notts. Education Committee on November 1, 1929. In that year, electricity was brought into the parish, and the lighting of the Church was converted from gas. The water-driven engine for blowing the organ was also taken out, and an electric motor blower installed. The present debt is £170, and it is hoped that the coming bazaar and the sale of this book will free us from it.