St Peter's Church - A History (page 2 of 4)
At this time the Church did not serve as a parish church as it was only
an Ecclesiastical District, but it achieved the status of a parish in
1856. The building of the church cost over £12,000. Two years
later the parish split into two, a new church being built at Outwood.
In the early days the church choir was led by an orchestra which was
housed in a gallery. One George Eggleston is mentioned as a bass player
in 1830. Until recently a gravestone existed 'by the south west door of
the church which had the following inscription -"Sacred to the memory
of George Egglestone of Bottom Boat, the first organist of Stanley
Church who died the 13th day of February, 1843. Aged 26 years.
"My time was short, my years but few,
Like as the grass, or morning dew,
Mourn not for me, the change was great,
Seek but the Lord and we shall meet."
George Egglestone was only twenty-six years old when he died but by
that time he had become the first organist of the Church. Thirteen
years previous to that the same name was mentioned as a bass player. If
it was the same George he would have been only thirteen when he
received 10 shillings for playing bass in the orchestra.
Stanley Church was improved firstly by John Maude of Moorhouse, who
spent £1100 in alterations to the church, and also by Rev.
Richard Burrell, who was also responsible for numerous improvements. By
the year 1911 the church consisted of a nave with aisles, no galleries
but with open pews, an enlarged chancel with oak screen and choir
stalls. The East and West windows had been glazed by John Maude, the
west window con-taining the arms of Maude of Moorhouse - "Argent, three
bars gemelles sa, surmounted by a lion rampant, gules charged on the
shoulder with a cross crosslet or. Crest - A lion's head couped gules
charged with a cross crosslet fitchy or." The inscription read as
follows - "Mary Maude, of Moorhouse, restored and beautified this
church A.D. 1851." Another window was glazed in memory of Mr. Haigh of
the building society and another to his sister by a Miss Spence and a
Mrs Barratt.
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