| AINSWORTH C OF E |
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The Church of Christ in Cockey, |
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Cockey Chapel (Cocky, possibly from the Celtic word 'cock' meaning 'red earth') has been in existance at least from 1577, as it appears on Saxton's map of that period.
Although in the Parish of Middleton, Cockey Chapel (now Ainsworth parish Church) is situated north of Radcliffe in Lancashire. The likelyhood is that it has been in existance from 1515 and possibly earlier (as early as the 1400's).
Church registers go back to 1727, those between this date and 1812 being deposited in the Lancashire Record Office.
Other Records:-
| Baptisms | |
| 1727-1812 & 1833-1835 | Parish Register on Microfilm 120 Manchester Local History Library |
| Marriages | |
| 1729-1756, 1757-1765 & 1766-1837 | Archives Manchester Local History Library |
| Burials | |
| 1727-1758 | Parish Register on Microfilm 120 Manchester Local History Library |
| 1759-1764 | Archives Manchester Local History Library |
| 1765-1779 | Parish Register on Microfilm 120 Manchester Local History Library |
| 1780-1782 | Archives Manchester Local History Library |
| 1783-1848 | Parish Register on Microfilm 120 Manchester Local History Library |
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The above correct
as of October 1989
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In the churchyard, to the right of the church door is the oldest gravestone that can be traced. It records the death of "Mr. Jonathan DORNING born December 8th 1690 died December 20th 1726. As no record of this burial appears in the registers mentioned above, it seems that previous registers must have been in existence but have been lost. In early days parishioners would have gone to Middleton Parish church, some nine miles away, to be married.
Among witnesses mentioned in a court case of 1515 concerning the trespass of Robert Aynesworth on grounds of "Cokkamore", are Sir Olvy ISSHERWODE, William MANDEVELL, George KIRKMAN, Amys CROMPTON, Edmund GREENHALGH, Lawrence LOMAX, James OPYNSHAW and Elys BOTHE.
In 1715, a Dissenting Chapel, referred to as Cockey New Chapel, was built across the road from the original Cockey Chapel. Ten years later, the name Christ Church was assigned to the Chapel. In 1831 the chapel/church was re-consecrated after re-building with the title "The Church of Christ in Cockey otherwise Ainsworth". In 1867, it became a separate parish from Middleton.
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Incumbents and Assistant Clergy at Ainsworth Church (Cockey Chapel) from 1600 to 1970 |
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1515
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First recorded mention of Cockey
Chapel. Names of clergy not known until 1600
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1600-10
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Mr. Hibbert or Hubbert. First
minister whose name is known
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1615
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Mr. Rathband
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1641-45
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Richard Goodwin (Presbyterian)
afterwards Vicar of Bolton. Ejected 1662
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1647
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Peter Bradshaw (Presbyterian)
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1653-57
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Mr. Taylor
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1657-60
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Peter Bradshaw (Second appointment)
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1660
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John Lever or Leaver (Presbyterian).
Ejected 1662
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1662-1725
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No regularly appointed minister
at the church. Services were held once a month by the Rector of Middleton
or one of his curates
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1725
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Rev. James Wilde, B.A. He signs
himself Curate and resided in Radcliffe, but his children were baptised
here. He served Cockey and Bradshaw alternate Sundays
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1727
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Registers begin. There were probably
Registers before this date but they have been lost
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1759-67
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Rev. John Barlow, B.A. (non-resident)
signs himself Curate of Cockey and Bradshaw
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1768-94
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Rev. Robert Dean or Deane, resided
at Bolton. Master of the Grammar School there
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1794-98
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Rev. John Atkinson signs himself
Assitant Curate; Second Master at Bolton Grammar School
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1799-1827
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Rev. John or James Archer, Incumbent,
lived at Middleton. He was Master of the Grammar School there. He was
also Curate there under Dr. Richard Assheton, Rector of Middleton
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1801-1816
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Rev. Richard Parker. Curate under
Mr. Archer. First resident Episcopal minister since Peter Bradshaw (1650)
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1816 - 1828
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Several Assistant Curates followed,
resident and non-resident, including the Rev. Philip Wharton (1816)
and the Rev. Edward Ellwood (1825). The incumbent, James Archer, was
non-resident because there was no parsonage house
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1828-1836
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Rev. John Haughton, son of a Rector
of Middleton. First resident Incumbent. During his incumbency the church
was partly pulled down and rebuilt, in 1831, and the tower, chancel
and galleries were added
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1836-50
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Rev. Richard Heslop. The tower
was partly pulled down and raised 23 feet, the Earl of Wilton contributing
£100 to the cost. The schools were built in 1838. Curates were
Samuel Moor (1845), William Wheeler (1846-48), and S. Cavan (1848-50)
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1850-57
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Rev. George Ridley Carr. William
Haslam and others were Curates
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1857-87
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Rev. Robert Macdonell Evanson,
M.A. During his incumbency Ainsworth became a separate parish in 1867.
Curates were M. Dredge (1878) and G.E. Roberts (1880)
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1887-1905
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Rev. John A. Lauria
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1905-31
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Rev. Alfred Wood, during, whose
incumbency the church was re-floored and re-pewed, and St. Oswald's
Mission Church was built
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1931-62
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Rev. Wilfred Metcalfe. Mayor of
Radcliffe 1949-50
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1963-92
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Rev. Kenneth Poyser Bullock, M.A.
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1993-02
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Revd. Alan Flaherty
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2003-
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Rev. David Griffiths, Bury Ecumenical
Ministry Development Adviser
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sources: The Church of Christ
in Cockey otherwise Ainsworth by the Rev. K.P.Bullock Vicar of Ainsworth,
published Easter 1970 and Rev'd David Griffiths
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Most of the above information was obtained from a publication by the Reverand Kenneth Poyser Bullock "The Church of Christ in Cockey otherwise Ainsworth - A History". I have digitally reproduced the document in its entirity using Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to see them. If you do not already have this software on your pc, it can be downloaded free from www.adobe.co.uk
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