The 1900s

On July 17th 1902, the new school building opened.   In the map below, you will see the new footprint of the building, with a corridor linking the school to the church.

1916 map showing the footprint of the church with school building added to the side
1916 surveyed OS map – the new school is now attached to the side

 The building was two storied with 9 windows and a skylight. These windows overlooked Heaton Norris Station, and immediately after it was built, Wycliffe received a letter from the London & North Western Railway demanding payment under their ‘right of light’ system. After a bit of debate, this was settled at one shilling a year. Amazingly, this was still being automatically paid at the same rate (but now a decimal 5p) in the early 1980s – after both the school and station had gone!

Letter headed from the London & North Western Railway. Type written on Feb 6th 1902
Letter demanding payment for right of light

Rev Blake died in July 1906, having been minister twice and overseeing the most important structural changes since it was built. He was very highly regarded and is listed on a memorial along with the founder John Thornton, and tragic Henry Ward Price.

Distinguished looking chap with handlebar moustache and beard
Rev Harry James Barton Lee

He was succeeded in 1907 by Rev Harry James Barton Lee from Essex who is pictured in the oldest surviving image we have left sadly this is not in very good condition.

A faded image of 7 standing and 7 seated men of Wycliffe
The oldest surviving photograph we have – taken between 1907 & 1916
Spot Rev Barton Lee!

1920s

The War Memorial was unveiled in 1922 and interestingly contains both the names of those that served, as well as those that lost their lives. This appears to be a uniquely Congregational/Non-Conformist pattern, let us know if you know otherwise! The full list, along with those from Hanover, is available in the history booklet.

There were several periods of financial difficulty, and to address this in 1924, a fundraising Bazaar was held with the theme ‘Ye Olde Cheshire Village’ prompted by the elaborate stalls purchased from Bethesda Chapel, Heaton Chapel. The ladies all agreed to dress up in appropriately themed costumes, but the men declined!

  • Four rows of ladies in costumes
    Wycliffe’s ladies at Ye Olde Cheshire Village Bazaar 1924
  • Four rows of men, all bar one of whom is in normal attire for 1924
    Wycliffe’s men at Ye Olde Cheshire Village Bazaar 1924

In 1928, with a smaller congregation than the earlier years, the galleries were boxed in to conserve heat. These were only opened up again in recent years.

View inside showing the boxed in galleries and people talking at a coffee morning
The galleries were boxed in in 1928

A popular Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic opened in Wycliffe’s new school building on 11th January 1929, available on Tues & Fri from 1929 to Aug 1949.