Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project
Clergy
Whilst researching the inscriptions from the gravestones, the Team found many Clergy interred in the Manchester General Cemetery.
Below are some of those we found and recorded.
Reverend Walter Schofield Battersby B.A
The first Vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Blackley, Manchester, (Established 1904) After a new parish was created from parts of the parishes of St Peter's, Blackley and Christ Church, Harpurhey. He held the position of organising secretary of the Waifs & Strays Society for the diocese of Manchester, who's Patron was Queen Victoria, he once wrote 'although i am supposed to be spending my energies on building and begging for anew church for this poor parish I am compelled to attend the starving bodies, during the last two weeks with help from a few friends provided nearly 2,000 free breakfasts and teas but are need of speedy help!' if we are to continue much longer.' He was also strong advocate for the working mans' rights, at a service he preached 'everyone who had travelled on the railways had a natural right to demand his safety should not be endangered because men were underfed through being underpaid and they were at present in a struggle for a living wage but as platelayers they were at the bottom end of the scale for a decent wage' Married to Susannah Beardsworth, she died in 1914. Rev. Battersby died 22nd May 1917, aged 50 years at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Funeral service took place at Holy Trinity Moston Lane at 2pm. Rev. Battersby was interred next to his wife at the Manchester General Cemetery Friday 25th May at 3pm.
Reverend Charles Blackwell
Of Burlington Street, Aged 61 years, died 18th August 1868. He held the position of one of the Chaplains at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital from February 1853 to February 1856. Rev Blackwell was interred in Manchester General Cemetery on 19th August in Consecrated Ground.
Reverend George Cranston M.A.
Of 71 Stocks Street, Cheetham, Born in 1851 he attended Queen's College Oxford where he graduated in 1880 and that same year was ordained deacon in the dioceses of Ripon and in Rastrick, Yorkshire the curate of St Matthew's. 1881 he was ordained a priest. In 1883 Tranmere, Birkenhead he became curate of St Paul's, In 1885 for fours years held the curacy for St Phillip's, Salford. Followed by St George's, Hulme until 1897 then Rector of St Michaels, Angel Meadow, he made many appeals for donations of 'money, clothing old & new to help the sick and aged of the parish. He died 26th August 1912, aged 61 years after a long illness. Funeral service at St Michaels at 1.45pm and interment at Manchester General Cemetery at 3pm. Consecrated 5734 . No gravestone remains for this grave.
Reverend Richard Chenery
of 19 Graeme St, Moss side, 20 years a Pastor of the Church of York St, Manchester. Afterwards a Baptist Minister at the Moss side Baptist Church. He was a member of the General & Executive Committee for the Society of Assisting the Emancipated Slaves of North America, which helped raise funds and collect clothing. He was also a member of the Manchester & Salford Temperance movement & the Manchester Sunday School Union. He grave sermons and preaches at the Annual Baptist Missions Services. Reverend Chenery died 17th February 1906, aged 80 years at home. His funeral took place Wednesday 21st February at 3pm, interment at Manchester General Cemetery, Non Conformist 3512.
William Braisbrown
Local Methodist Minister for 40 years, died 20th June 1858, aged 76 years. His name appears on a gravestone in the Manchester General Cemetery but his name does not appear in the burial registers for the Cemetery. So, it is not known whether he is interred in the grave or if his name has been placed on the gravestone in remembrance.
Reverend William Hayes
of 15 Carisbrook Street, Harpurhey. Late Senior Deacon of the Particular Baptist Church, Rochdale Road, Manchester. (Established?) Aged 79 years. Died 24th May 1902. Funeral Service took place 27th May at the Chapel 2.30pm and interment at Manchester General Cemetery at 4pm. Non Conformist 2173
Reverend William Logan V.D.M.
Late of the Methodist New Connection, Mossley Circuit and late Editor of 'The Truth.' He gave lectures at the Corn Exchange. Died 7th October 1840, Aged 28 years and interred at Manchester General Cemetery 10th October 1840
William Lamb
A Gospel Minister first at Northwich 1839 to 1842, afterwards at Wakefield 1842 to 1848. Died 9th October 1854, interred at Manchester General Cemetery 12th October. Non Conformist 5376
Reverend Jonathan Sutcliffe F.S.A.
34 years Minister of the Independent Chapel, Ashton-under-Lyne and afterwards of Longsight Chapel. He preached a sermon on the opening of the Primitive Methodist New Chapel, Catherine Street, Ashton in February 1847. He gave anniversary sermons on behalf of the Marple Bridge Sunday School. His wife Sarah Collier died 1st June 1858 at Richmond Cottage, Longsight. Rev Sutcliffe died 20th April 1859 Aged 64 years and interred at Manchester General Cemetery 24th April. Non Conformist 4775
Reverend Charles Frederick Wood
Curate in charge of St Bartholomew's Church Elwood, Blackburn, died 19th March 1903 Aged 48 years at his brother's residence, Withington Road, Brooks Bar. Service at St James's, Collyhurst 11.30am and interred Manchester General Cemetery 23rd March 1903, 12.15pm. Church 4508
Reverend Thomas Grant
of Cemetery House 775 Rochdale Road, died 16th December 1909, aged 74 years. For 24 years Chaplain and Registrar for the Manchester General Cemetery from 1885 until 1909 lived at Cemetery House, 775 Rochdale Road, Harpurhey with his daughter, Elizabeth Lucas Grant. He was born in Millbrook, Hampshire. In the late 1850’s and early 1860’s he worked for the Church Pastoral Aid Society and later as a London City Missionary in Southwark, London. After working as a teacher in Elham Kent, he became the Minister of the Congregational Church in Billericay, Essex and then Minister at St Mary’s Newington. Funeral took place at Manchester General Cemetery on 20th December 1909at 1.30pm.
See Notables page 1
Reverend Richard Clarke Moore
of Brownlow Villa Horwich, died 3rd June 1906, Aged 41 years. After a few days of illness. Reverend Moore late of Manchester College Oxford and Home Missionary College, Manchester was the first Minister of the Unitarian Free Church in Horwich and commenced his ministry on Sunday 4th November 1894. He was interred at Manchester General Cemetery 7th June 1906 in plot NC2570
Reverend Jonathan Wood
of Great Western Street, Moss Side. First Registrar at Manchester General Cemetery 1837-1848. Died 23rd July 1871, Aged 87 years interred at Manchester General Cemetery 27th July 1871 with his wife Harriet who died 1st March 1865. Non Conformist 5574.
Alexander Barrie Taylor
of Moss Cottage Chadderton. Born October 18th 1804
at Craig Hall, Pittendynie Perthshire, Scotland and He had
a formal upbringing in Presbyterian Scotland he settled in
Accrington where he worked as an engraver to calico printers
and preached on the Sunday's in the many of the Baptist Chapels,
before moving to Manchester in 1834 where he became a
eminent and successful preacher of the Gospel. 38 years
Minister of the Particular Baptist Chapel, Rochdale Road
being selected successor, after the death of William Gadsby
in 1844. Both men occupied the same pulpit for 38 years
the total of term of service of 3/4 of a century. His special
doctrines he gave were in demand all over the country.
He was said to very handsome, a face that photographers loved to study with a form of magnificent proportions,a voice of remarkable beauty and power, a nature ever frank, hospitable and manly.
At one of his services the congregation had no idea what danger he had been in on his way to them. At nearly 80 years of age, whilst being driven, one of the wheels came off the vehicle, the horse took fright, seeing the driver terrified he took the reins and having no alternative drove the horse into the wall to a speedy death, everyone including occupants of the car all unhurt. 50 years as a preacher he never failed in fulfilling an engagement even to the end of his life. Mr Taylor died 7th August 1887, Aged 82 years. He was interred at Manchester General Cemetery Thursday 11th August. Non Conformist 5598.
Reverend Joseph Steinthal
The German Evangelical Church in Manchester was established in about 1854 when a back room in Back Mayes street, Miller Street was rented by Mr Robert Gardener and the Rev Joseph Steinthal, who was installed as the Pastor. The church was much needed by the German working class population living in Manchester as they were unable to attend English church services due to the language barrier. The congregation soon became established and outgrew these premises and the church then moved to John Dalton Street. Eventually in 1874 a purpose built church was opened in Park Street, Cheetham Hill. The new church also included a Sunday school which was recorded as doing much good as it withdrew German children from the streets and prepared them for respectable modes of livelihood. Joseph Steinthal died 10th Dec 1877, Aged 52 years and was interred in the Manchester General Cemetery 13th December 1877
Reverend William Faulkner
Born at Dean in Shaw, near Congleton, February 16th 1806. William Faulkner was a Wesleyan Minister within the Methodist Church from 1829 until his death at the aged of 66. At the time of his death he was Superintendent of the Accrington Circuit. He spent the first 20 years of his ministry as a missionary in Newfoundland, Canada and married Louisa Parsons at the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Newfoundland on 24th May 1833. We he returned to England he served at Selby, Pontefract, Darlington, Leeds, Ashton-under-Lyne, Douglas on the Isle of Man and Accrington. During his long ministry of some 43 years he was a faithful and well respected Minister.
He died 21st May 1872 in Accrington, interred in Manchester General Cemetery 24th May in the family vault.
