This is one of those curious coincidences which can sometimes be uncovered in the records.
Both the rectors who administered to the congregation of St. Clements, Chorlton-cum-Hardy during the First World War were born in the small village of Holcombe (1) near Bury, Lancashire.
Rev. James Swinburne Bateson, who served in that post from 1911 until 1915, was succeeded by Rev. John Harry Thorpe Renshaw who remained in office until 1928.
Rev. James Swinburne Bateson
Rev. Bateson was born on 20th July, 1860 and christened in Holcombe parish church (Emmanuel) on 20th October of that year. His parents were Richard Bateson, a cotton manufacturer employing 102 hands, and his wife Betsey (née Swinburne). After studying classics at Queens College, Oxford and graduating with an M.A. on 1st July, 1886 Rev. Bateson took Holy Orders. His initial role was as an itinerant preacher and assistant secretary to the various Diocesan Societies.
In June 1891 he was appointed the Rector of St. Marks, (2) Cheetham, a post he remained in until taking up the rectorship of St.Clement’s, Chorlton- cum-Hardy in 1911. In this same year of 1911 Rev. Bateson married a Miss Fanny Wilson at St. Paul’s Church, Kersal, Salford during the September quarter.
During his tenure at St. Mark’s he for a time was living with his father,(by then retired),mother and his unmarried elder sister Susannah Ellen at St Mark’s rectory, 100, George Street, Broughton, Salford. (at 1901 census). His father died there on 25th September, 1902 leaving £7,720-13s-6d.
Rev. Bateson left Chorlton-cum-Hardy in the summer of 1915. There is a gap in the available records until 1917 when they indicate that he became vicar of the village of Shurdington near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire where he died on 21st February, 1921. He left the sum of £9,070-2s-2d to his widow, Fanny who in turn died in Bournemouth in 1947. His widow in her will left £34,095 including bequests of £500 to both St. Mark’s, Cheetham Hill and St. Clement’s, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in memory of her late husband’s time there.
Rev. John Harry Thorpe Renshaw
Rev Renshaw was born in Holcombe on 10th February, 1874. His parents were James, a draper, and his wife; Eliza (née Wood).The 1881 census shows the family living at Ash Mount, Tottington Lower End, Bury. The family comprised of two sons (John and his brother Charles E. (3) and three daughters (Evelyn M., Gertrude J., and Amy B.)
By the time of the 1901 census he had taken holy orders, being ordained in 1897, and was an assistant curate at Christ Church, Heaton Norris, Stockport, Cheshire. In 1904, as reported in The Norfolk Chronicle’s “Ecclesiastical Intelligence” column on 12th March he was combining his parish duties with a new role as an assistant diocesan inspector of schools. (appointed October, 1903) (4)
Increasing responsibilities in this role meant he was less involved in parish work and was for a number of years unattached to a particular church and acted as a travelling minister/preacher. On 20th August, 1910 The Rochdale Observer reported that Rev. Renshaw had been appointed to the post of Diocesan Inspector of Schools for the new Archdeaconry of Rochdale.
Just prior to his move to Chorlton-cum-Hardy at the 1911 census the prospective rector of St. Clements was living at 89, Hulton Street, Moss Side, Manchester boarding with watchmaker William Henry Kilner and family.
After serving as the Rector of Chorlton-cum-Hardy for more than 12 years Rev. Renshaw was offered and accepted the living at the quaintly named Lincolnshire village of Mareham-le-Fen Nr. Horncastle as reported in “The Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian” on 31st March, 1928. One of his last acts before moving to Lincolnshire was to marry Edith (née Taylor) at St Clement’s.
Rev. Renshaw eventually retired to the North Wales coast where he died on 16th October, 1961 at 53, Brompton Avenue, Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire. He left £7898-13s to his widow, Edith who later died on 10th February, 1974 at “Westella” 17A, Llandudno Road, Rhos-on-Sea, Denbighshire leaving £38,457.
© Tony Goulding, 2020
Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Pictures; St.Clements old church, A. H. Clarke, cc 1920, m 70277, St. Marks C.d. Robinson 1890, m70786, St. Clements new church A E Landers 1959, m17813, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
NOTES:
1) Holcombe made headline news on 25th September, 1916 when it was subjected to one of the first air bombings over British soil when it was bombed by Zeppelin LZ61.
2) During his incumbency of St. Mark’s Rev. Bateson supervised the construction of the parish’s new primary school by the Manchester based architects Waddington son and Dunkerly who also worked on Manchester Royal Infirmary and Northcliffe house the “Daily Mail” building on Deansgate, Manchester.
3) Charles E. was also to take holy orders and become a long time vicar of Birtle, nr Rochdale, Lancashire.
4) As reported in the 28th October, 1903 edition of “the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser”
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| St Clements old church, circa, 1920 |
Rev. James Swinburne Bateson, who served in that post from 1911 until 1915, was succeeded by Rev. John Harry Thorpe Renshaw who remained in office until 1928.
Rev. James Swinburne Bateson
Rev. Bateson was born on 20th July, 1860 and christened in Holcombe parish church (Emmanuel) on 20th October of that year. His parents were Richard Bateson, a cotton manufacturer employing 102 hands, and his wife Betsey (née Swinburne). After studying classics at Queens College, Oxford and graduating with an M.A. on 1st July, 1886 Rev. Bateson took Holy Orders. His initial role was as an itinerant preacher and assistant secretary to the various Diocesan Societies.
In June 1891 he was appointed the Rector of St. Marks, (2) Cheetham, a post he remained in until taking up the rectorship of St.Clement’s, Chorlton- cum-Hardy in 1911. In this same year of 1911 Rev. Bateson married a Miss Fanny Wilson at St. Paul’s Church, Kersal, Salford during the September quarter.
 |
| St Mark's, 1890 |
Rev. Bateson left Chorlton-cum-Hardy in the summer of 1915. There is a gap in the available records until 1917 when they indicate that he became vicar of the village of Shurdington near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire where he died on 21st February, 1921. He left the sum of £9,070-2s-2d to his widow, Fanny who in turn died in Bournemouth in 1947. His widow in her will left £34,095 including bequests of £500 to both St. Mark’s, Cheetham Hill and St. Clement’s, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in memory of her late husband’s time there.
Rev. John Harry Thorpe Renshaw
Rev Renshaw was born in Holcombe on 10th February, 1874. His parents were James, a draper, and his wife; Eliza (née Wood).The 1881 census shows the family living at Ash Mount, Tottington Lower End, Bury. The family comprised of two sons (John and his brother Charles E. (3) and three daughters (Evelyn M., Gertrude J., and Amy B.)
By the time of the 1901 census he had taken holy orders, being ordained in 1897, and was an assistant curate at Christ Church, Heaton Norris, Stockport, Cheshire. In 1904, as reported in The Norfolk Chronicle’s “Ecclesiastical Intelligence” column on 12th March he was combining his parish duties with a new role as an assistant diocesan inspector of schools. (appointed October, 1903) (4)
Increasing responsibilities in this role meant he was less involved in parish work and was for a number of years unattached to a particular church and acted as a travelling minister/preacher. On 20th August, 1910 The Rochdale Observer reported that Rev. Renshaw had been appointed to the post of Diocesan Inspector of Schools for the new Archdeaconry of Rochdale.
 |
| St Clement's new church, 1959 |
After serving as the Rector of Chorlton-cum-Hardy for more than 12 years Rev. Renshaw was offered and accepted the living at the quaintly named Lincolnshire village of Mareham-le-Fen Nr. Horncastle as reported in “The Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian” on 31st March, 1928. One of his last acts before moving to Lincolnshire was to marry Edith (née Taylor) at St Clement’s.
Rev. Renshaw eventually retired to the North Wales coast where he died on 16th October, 1961 at 53, Brompton Avenue, Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire. He left £7898-13s to his widow, Edith who later died on 10th February, 1974 at “Westella” 17A, Llandudno Road, Rhos-on-Sea, Denbighshire leaving £38,457.
© Tony Goulding, 2020
Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Pictures; St.Clements old church, A. H. Clarke, cc 1920, m 70277, St. Marks C.d. Robinson 1890, m70786, St. Clements new church A E Landers 1959, m17813, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
NOTES:
1) Holcombe made headline news on 25th September, 1916 when it was subjected to one of the first air bombings over British soil when it was bombed by Zeppelin LZ61.
2) During his incumbency of St. Mark’s Rev. Bateson supervised the construction of the parish’s new primary school by the Manchester based architects Waddington son and Dunkerly who also worked on Manchester Royal Infirmary and Northcliffe house the “Daily Mail” building on Deansgate, Manchester.
3) Charles E. was also to take holy orders and become a long time vicar of Birtle, nr Rochdale, Lancashire.
4) As reported in the 28th October, 1903 edition of “the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser”
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