The 1870s
Following the retirement of Rev James Lee in 1873, Wycliffe was without a minister, and there were calls for a union with the Tabernacle, which was under the ministry of Rev William Andrew Blake. Unfortunately for the Tabernacle, this union meant that once again, the minister and many of his congregation actually left and moved to a newly enlarged Wycliffe. (The Tabernacle continued as a small mission church before a resurgence a few years later).
Alterations
A comparison of the 1873 map (above) of the original chapel layout, and the 1892 surveyed map below reveal considerable changes:
A new South wing was added, with the doorway to balance out the original on the other side. The west end was extended too, and a doorway added from George’s Road. The original galleries were dismantled and replaced with the current structures to create matching sides. Seating was increased to 900.
We have found some interesting decoration too, in the new South wing, which may be contemporary with the alterations. This will be looked into as part of the next phase of works.
The newly enlarged building reopened in May 1876, having been closed for around six months. At this point, they also joined the Congregational Union – now the Congregational Federation, the umbrella body for Congregational Churches.
The 1880s
In November 1882, most of the local newspapers covered a wedding between two Salvation Army Captains in Wycliffe, conducted by non-other than the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth. Eliza Sayer, a Captain who had been at the Stockport branch since it opened, married Captain Henry Crofts of Bristol with such a large congregation that there was trouble fitting everyone in – the galleries were full and folks sat in the organ loft and pulpit. The bride wore her uniform, with the only hint of the occasion being a bouquet and white satin strings to fasten her bonnet. During the service, there were frequent shouts of “Amen” and “Hallelujah,” and much waving of handkerchiefs.
In 1883 lads from Wycliffe’s Sunday school joined with others from Stockport Sunday School to form Heaton Norris Rovers, which became Stockport County in 1890. Sadly, no new information has arisen – yet – about the connection, but the well-researched book ‘Sport around Stockport’ by Simon Myers covers lots of detail.
Wycliffe’s Sunday School team continued playing football for many years, and in the 1922-3 season were the Division 2 Section A winners of the Stockport and District Sunday School Football League.
At the end of 1886, Rev Blake moved to a church in Southport, and Rev Henry Ward Price took over but in 1894, tragedy struck when Rev Ward Price died after a short illness aged only 40, leaving his wife and four children, the youngest aged just two. The funeral service was attended by a large congregation that formed into a procession towards Reddish Cemetery (Willow Grove) where he was buried. There was much support for his wife and children, with collections and 20 local minsters volunteering their services for the next six months so she could continue to receive the stipend.
In August 1895, Rev Blake returned to what was described as his “early love”. With Wycliffe’s jubilee year approaching, it wasn’t long before he got the building bug again, and plans were drawn up for a new school building in the yard outside. The cost in Sept 1899 was quoted at “£683 for school without seating and furnishing.”