Notable Vicars
Christ Church has been served by a remarkable succession of vicars since its consecration in 1863. Each has shaped the life of the congregation and the community in their own way: through times of celebration, hardship, war and renewal.
From Rev. Francis Gordon, the first rector who died in 1884 and whose gravestone can be found in the churchyard, to Rev. Darren Fraser who has led the congregation since 2012; each vicar has left their mark on this building and this community.
Key Dates
Rev. Francis Gordon
Francis Gordon began as a curate under John Bateman’s uncle, the Reverend William Holt. Francis moved with his wife Elizabeth from Sussex to a temporary parsonage in Hurst Bank around 1860. He was heavily involved in building the Church, and became its first Rector in 1863. He also conducted services in the National School, now the Church Hall, before the Church was built. Gordon died in the Vicar’s vestry in 1884, aged 72. His wife Elizabeth, had passed away two years earlier aged sixty. They are buried behind the chancel in the old Churchyard.
Rev. D Higham Sparling
Higham Sparling came from a family of Lancashire cotton waste traders. His previous occupations included book keeper and investment. He had a keen interest in astronomy, and was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. He set up a fund to help those on the Moor who lacked basic necessities, such as shoes. He returned to Lancashire in 1902 and died there in 1916 aged 76. He bequeathed £100 to the people of the Moor. This expired in 1921. He was also responsible for the erection of the stained window commemorating Francis Gordon’s ministry.
Rev. Hubert Blackmore
Hubert Blackmore’s ministry was caught short by his early death, but his time at Christ Church was memorable and he was well regarded in the village. His bereaved wife, Jenny, who he married in Kendal in 1895, and their daughter Dorothy moved away after his death. A window was erected by local people in his memory. Dorothy visited Christ Church in 1967 to pay her respects to her father’s ministry. Hubert is buried in the old Churchyard close to the grave of Francis Gordon and his wife.
Rev. Edwin Wheeldon
Edwin Wheeldon served the Church throughout the Great War, and the names gathered during a recruitment drive can still be seen on the west wall of the nave. He subsequently became Rector of St. Michael’s in Horton.
Rev. Frederick N Fletcher
A long-standing Rector of Christ Church, Francis Fletcher was a dominant local figure and a commanding presence in the pulpit. He is remembered as the owner of a chain-driven Trojan car, regularly serviced by Bob Pass, and for his dog Peter. The image is of Rev Fletcher and others at Coronation Beacon on Bailey Hill 1936.
Rev. Harold Withington
Rev. Withington was a social man who initiated many social activities on the moor, including whist drives, pie suppers, a boy scout group with camps on the rectory lawn. He also inaugurated a Gang Show and encouraged a Sunday School Bible Class. The events he organised were very successful, some held on the site of the old rectory, which during Fletcher's time had been a tennis court open to the village and before that a vegetable garden, which became the site of the new rectory. He also kept two pigs in the outbuildings. During his time two services were held each Sunday. The Rev Withington had two children, Terence and Isobel. He left to continue his ministry in a large parish in the north-east of England. Rev Withington left Biddulph Moor to continue his ministry at a much larger Parish in the north east.
Rev. Augustus Goode
Rev Goode's ministry included singing around the parish prior to the Sunday School Anniversary. The choir also practised an anthem for Easter, while harvest suppers, Mothers' Union Sunday School prize giving and Sunday School trips were organised. He had a keen sense of humour. On one occasion he had a small amount of water concealed in the top of his trilby hat and selected children were invited to kneel in front of him and bow their heads, he did the same time much to the amusement of onlookers. Rev Goode left Biddulph Moor to become Vicar of Butterton and Grindon in the Peak District. On the day that he left Biddulph Moor, Mrs Goode invited all the Sunday School children to go to the post office and have an ice cream. He died while in Butterton and is buried in the graveyard there.
Rev. W Sydney Wilcox
Rev Wilcox was High Church, unlike his predecessors. He explained to the PCC that most churches had a cross and an altar, and he raised money from the congregation to supply both. Before his time the focal point at the front of the church was a large brass collecting plate. He formed a Communicants Guild was formed, which was a youth club for those recently confirmed or about to be confirmed. he organsied church outings. The Rev Wilcox drove a Ford Popular, which he had during the time of the Suez Crisis, when petrol was rationed and it was decided by the government that anyone holding a provisional license for a month would be allowed to drive unsupervised. One person in the congregation, who was visited by the rector, remembers the Ford being driven away in a very erratic manner! Rev Wilcox left Biddulph Moor to continue his Ministry in Clowne, Derbyshire.
Rev. W Geraint L James
During his time at Biddulph Moor, his wife gave birth to two sons Mark and Paul, he also had his Mother in law and Father in law living with them. Mr and Mrs Twig. Rev James was a staunch evangelical with raffles, premium bonds or other money raising activities unwelcome. During his incumbency significant work was done in the church hall and on the church itself, including the bell tower and church roof. A group of teenagers would meet at the Rectory on occasional Sundays at the rectory and a confirmation service was photographed. One Harvest evening service the guest speaker was Sir Alfred Owen, a Manchester industrialist who sponsored Donald Campbell of bluebird fame. The church was full to overflowing with extra seating brought in from the church hall. Sir Alfred gave a well-honed sermon, the same he had given at Cliff College the previous May. Rev James left to continue his ministry at Chilesmoor, Coventry and many parishioners were taken by local coach owner, Mr Hall, for the induction service. I heard of one Rector’s wife advising a successor that if she looked through one of the windows in the old rectory that she could see through the window by the organ and see if their husband was still in the pulpit, no doubt they could time Sunday dinner accordingly
Rev. Ian Stephenson
Rev Stevenson came to Biddulph Moor from Edgeware north London. He had three children, Sally, Susan and Timothy. During his time on the moor, he expressed a wish to sell the Church Hall and house and build a new church hall on the land which has since become the new churchyard. He did not get the support he hoped for. During his incumbency Terry and Hillary Williams joined the church as did Bill Heath. Terry became a Lay Reader and Bill a Church Warden . Rev Stevenson left the ministry to join the teaching profession. . He later left teaching and continued his Ministry in New Zealand where his daughter Susan then lived.
Rev. John Mankey
Prior to coming to Biddulph Moor Rev John Mankey was the curate at Bagnall, where he visited the hospital and was very well thought of. he inaugurated a child-friendly morning service. It is said that during his youth in Australia he had perfected a stunt involving being suspended by a rope. When he attempted this at the rectory, it went wrong with tragic results. On the week of his death he was playing the piano and singing hymns with enthusiasm. His death sent shock waves through the village. The Bishop of Lichfield took the funeral service. Mrs Mankey and her children went to live in the Manchester area.
Rev. John McGuire
From the Reverend McGuire onwards, the title ‘vicar’ came to be used instead of ‘Rector’. He instigated many of the improvements we see today – some, not without controversy. He was responsible for re-flooring the nave, screening the entrance doors against winter draughts, and re-decorating the Church each year on the day after Boxing Day. He was also responsible for moving the font from the back of the Church to the front. During his ministry the Church Hall car park was resurfaced and the rotting Church hall floor replaced with concrete. He retired in 2000 and he and his wife Margaret went to live in Preston.
Rev. Peter Toon
Peter Toon was both Vicar and scholar, and had previously worked in the United States, where he met his wife. While there, he was Chair of the Prayer Book Society.
Rev. Andrew Dawswell
Reverend Dawswell came from an engineering background, and was involved in the building of the Channel Tunnel. After leaving Christ Church he moved with his wife and family to ministry in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Rev. Darren Fraser
Current Rector. Led the congregation through the 150th anniversary in 2013, and during his time worked with the Church Wardens to refurbish and maintain both Parish Hall and Church Building.
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