Pew Rents

At the Vestry Meeting held on 20th April 1870, the 'rate on sittings' ('pew rents') for the ensuing year was set at 4 shillings annually for the 21 shilling and 14 shilling sittings, and 2 shillings annually for the 7 shilling sittings.

Church Bells

At the Vestry Meeting held on 29th March 1875, it was “Suggested that Mr Kirkley ascertain the cost of six bells and whether the present tower will house them”.

At the Vestry Meeting held on 17th April 1876, “Mr Waltham reported that Mr Kirkley had ascertained the cost of a peal of bells, the amount being £300. There was not any resolution upon the matter”.

Musical Arrangements

At the 'Choir Meeting' held on 19th June 1876, in accordance with the resolutions of the Vestry Meeting, “The Chairman [Rev JJ Cort] stated the object of the meeting viz. “The consideration of the Musical Arrangements of the Church” and further stated that there was a general desire amongst the members of the congregation for some change, but that a surpliced choir would be very objectionable to many”.

It was, “Proposed ... that a competent Organist be appointed, who shall act as choirmaster also, and that a choir of men and boys un-surpliced be placed in the chancel. The number of paid singers not to exceed 4 men and 4 boys”.

At the Choir Committee Meeting held on 19th July 1876, applications from 25 Organists were presented, from which a selection of 8 was made. The salary of the Organist was to be £40 per annum.

On 28th August 1876 it was, “Proposed that Mr Cooper be appointed Organist and Choirmaster”.

... The sub-committee met Mr Cooper at 100, Market Street, “and gave him general instructions, stipulating that the amount to be paid to the Singers must not exceed £80 per annum and that the Choir would be required to take duty on Sunday 1st October”.

Minute Book - 1870 to 1879

The following extracts are taken from the St Anne's Church, Sale, 'Minute Book' - and give details of the Vestry Meetings between 1870 and 1879.

20th April 1870 Vestry Meeting

[Note: There are incomplete details of a debt, “... to be added as a liability” to the accounts].

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Thomas Clegg.
Renters’ Warden: Mr John Coulson.

“Proposed ... that the rate on sittings for the ensuing year be on the 21/- and 14/- sittings 4/- each annually and on the 7/- sittings 2/- each annually”.

“Proposed ... the best thanks of the meeting be given to the members of the choir for their voluntary services during the past year”.

11th April 1871 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Thomas Clegg.
Renters’ Warden: Mr J Coulson.

“Proposed that ... the rate on the sittings for this year be on the 21/- and 14/- sittings 4/- each and on the 7/- sittings 2/-”.

“Proposed ... that the best thanks of this meeting be given to the choir for their kind and valuable services given during the last year”.

“Proposed ... that the salary of the Apparitor for the future be £35 per annum”.

1st April 1872 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Thomas Clegg.
Renters’ Warden: Mr John Coulson.

[Note: Rate on sittings, as last year.]

“Proposed ... that Dr Royle JP be and he is hereby appointed one of the Lay Representatives for the Parish of Sale at the Ruri-decanal conferences for the coming year”.

Mr John Coulson was elected as the other Lay Representative.

Thanks to the Choir.

“It was suggested that Mr Cort when addressing the formula “The Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul into Everlasting Life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving” and “The Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto Everlasting Life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee and be thankful.” - be addressed to the whole of the kneeling Communicants instead of to each four as hitherto. And that the responsibility of seeing this carried out rest with Mr Cort”.

15th April 1873 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Waltham.
Renters’ Warden: Mr Kirkley.

[Note: This was the first instance recorded of a vote being taken for the election of the Renters’ Warden; the other candidate being a Mr Fullalove.]

[Note: Rates unchanged.]

Ruri-Decanal Reps.: Mr Fullalove (on a vote over Dr P Royle) and Mr Medcalf.

Thanks to the Choir.

“The question of church accommodation was mentioned by Mr Clegg and Mr Medcalf but nothing definite arrived at”.

6th April 1874 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Waltham.
Renters’ Warden: Mr T Kirkley.

“The collection of the offertory from the whole congregation was mooted by Mr Medcalf but though the matter was fully discussed no decision was arrived at”.

“Proposed ... that the musical arrangements of the church being unsatisfactory the wardens are desired to appoint a Gentleman who will undertake the Office of Organist and Choir Master so as to meet the wishes of the Congregation”.

Ruri-Decanal Reps.: Mr Metcalf and Dr P Royle.

“Proposed ... that John Dewsbury be paid the sum of twenty pounds per annum for collecting the pew rents”.

“Additional Services, Semi Monthly Communion and assistance to Mr Cort were discussed. Mr Cort thought it might be advisable to have a second celebration”.

Thanks to the Choir.

29th March 1875 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Waltham.
Renters’ Warden: Mr J Bocock.
Ruri-decanal Reps.: Mr Medcalf and Dr Royle.

“Suggested that Mr Kirkley ascertain the cost of six bells and whether the present tower will house them”.

Thanks to the Choir.

17th April 1876 Vestry Meeting

“The attendance being very large, the meeting was adjourned (by unanimous consent) to the School Room”.

[Note: 22 No inclusive of Vicar.]

Vicar’s Warden Mr John Campbell.
Renters’ Warden: Mr WH Boddington.
Ruri-decanal Reps.: Mr Medcalf and Dr Royle.

“Mr Waltham reported that Mr Kirkley had ascertained the cost of a peal of bells, the amount being £300. There was not any resolution upon the matter”.

Thanks to the Choir.

Proposed, “That the following gentlemen be appointed a Committee to confer with the Officers respecting the Choir, Music etc. to suggest such changes as may be deemed advisable for the better conducting of the Services”.

“Committee Messrs Kendall, Thorp, Parker, Oldham, Fullalove and Medcalf”.

“Proposed ... that a meeting of the Com. be held the first week after the Archdeacons Visitation, and that Mr Armistead be requested to call the same”.

19th June 1876 Vestry Meeting

Minutes of Committee Meeting ... in accordance with the resolutions of the Vestry Meeting.

“The Chairman [Rev JJ Cort] stated the object of the meeting viz. “The consideration of the Musical Arrangements of the Church” and further stated that there was a general desire amongst the members of the congregation for some change, but that a surpliced choir would be very objectionable to many”.

“Proposed ... that a competent Organist be appointed, who shall act as choirmaster also, and that a choir of men and boys un-surpliced be placed in the chancel. The number of paid singers not to exceed 4 men and 4 boys”. Carried.

“Proposed that a letter of thanks be sent to each voluntary member of the choir, acknowledging past services, with an intimation of the changes”. Carried Unanimously.

19th July 1876 Choir Committee Meeting

Applications from 25 Organists were presented, from which a selection of 8 was made. The salary of the Organist was to be £40 per annum.

28th August 1876 Choir Committee Meeting

“Proposed that Mr Cooper be appointed Organist and Choirmaster”.

“That ... be authorized to order the alterations to the chancel [such as] required for the choir”.

A sub-committee was appointed to confer with Mr Cooper as to duties, etc.

The sub-committee met Mr Cooper at 100, Market Street, “and gave him general instructions, stipulating that the amount to be paid to the Singers must not exceed £80 per annum and that the Choir would be required to take duty on Sunday 1st October”.

“It was found impracticable to make the alterations suggested Aug. 28th without considerable expense and it was agreed at meeting March 21st 1877 to make a trial of the choir in the pews in front of the pulpit and reading desk. At the request of the Vicar the trial was postponed until after the Easter Vestry Meeting”.

Newspaper article “Presentation to the Rev JJ Cort, at Sale”

Extract from the Bowdon Guardian of July 29th 1876

Meeting in the schoolroom to present JJC, “with an expression of their loving esteem on the completion of the twenty-second year of his ministry among them”.

£320 was raised as a Testimonial.

“The service, which consisted of kettle, tea pot, coffee pot, cream jug and sugar basin, were then uncovered amid loud applause. The articles were really splendid specimens, and came from the establishment of Messrs Hall and Co., King Street, Manchester”.

Presentation of a purse containing 200 guineas, and a handsome tea and coffee service inscribed, “This tea and coffee service, was presented to the Rev J Johnson Cort MA, the first Vicar of St. Anne’s Church, Sale, by his Congregation, as a token of esteem and regard for the faithful discharge of his ministry in the church and parish for 22 years, July, 1876”.

JJC replied at length and in part gave a “state of the parish” address!

2nd April 1877 Vestry Meeting

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Campbell.
Renters’ Warden: Mr Richard Oldham.
Ruri-Decanal Reps.: Mr Medcalf and Dr Royle.

“Proposed ... that the choir be removed into the Gallery”.

Amendment: “That the choir be retained in the chancel”.

Four votes were given for the amendment. The original resolution was carried with four dissentients.

22nd April 1878 Vestry Meeting

[Note: These minutes were re-written and the draft version is not signed. Meeting adjourned to the Schoolroom.]

Ruri-decanal Reps.: Mr Medcalf and Dr Royle.
Renters’ Warden: Mr Oldham.
Vicar’s Warden: Mr Campbell.

“Proposed ... that the Hymn Book called “Church Hymns” be adopted for use in the church and that the Chairman be authorized to order 500 copies from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge subject to the alterations as suggested by him being made.

Mr Armitage suggested that it would conduce to order as well as to the comfort of those sitting in the remote parts of the church if an alteration were made in the manner of approaching the Table at the Celebration of Holy Communion - under the present management the communicants had often to remain standing a long time in the aisles. The matter was discussed, but not decided upon.

The choir was also the subject of conversation. Mr Cooper the Organist who was present expressed his willingness to adopt some of the suggestions made”.

14th April 1879 Vestry Meeting

[Note: Meeting held in the School Room.]

Vicar’s Warden: Mr Campbell.
Renters’ Warden: Mr Thompstone.
Ruri-decanal Reps.: Mr Armistead and Dr Royle.

“Mr Thorpe introduced the subject of increased church accommodation and the necessity for some immediate action - after discussion it was unanimously agreed that Messrs Campbell and Armistead should endeavour to obtain some place where a Service could be held. Mr Gibson’s Schoolroom was named. The Chairman expressed a wish that Mr Joynson should be consulted in the matter”.

“In replying to the vote of thanks to the chairman the Vicar spoke with evident pleasure of the Hymns that had been sung at the services since the adoption of the new hymn book, with which all present cordially agreed”.