Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

30 PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.
work was left over until the Sunday. The mission to Sale was opened by a notable
camp-meeting held in a hired field. Early in the day the converting work
broke out, and the number of mourners was so great that a corner of the field
was set apart for the holding of a continuous prayer meeting
while the camp-meeting was still going on. This corner,
appropriately named "the hospital," was placed under the
superintendence of Thomas Buttler, a man of experience,
work in
who single-handed did much successful pioneer
the country-side.
" This day's labour led to results
which were felt all over the neighbourhood. A visible
reformation of manners followed." A Primitive Methodist
society was formed, and "the Wesleyans were quickened
and became prosperous."* A school chapel was erected
in 1839, and the present church and school in 1872.
The greater part of
the manual and team labour involved
in the taking down of the old building was undertaken
REV. JAMES GARNER.
by those most deeply interested in the work, amongst
whom may be named, the Bellis family, Messrs. James Oakes, Samuel Derbyshire,
and John E. Wright. The last named, from the time of his joining the Church,
to his death in 1890, conscientiously fulfilled the duties of his various offices.
Sale will always be associated with the memory of James Garner, one of the most
massive and outstanding figures of the Manchester District. By
virtue of a rare
combination of qualities he was equally eminent in the pulpit, the committee room,
the floor of Conference, the presidential chair, and the author's desk. Thirty- four
out of the ' thirty-six years of his circuit ministry were spent
District, and about one half of these in the cities of
Liverpool and Manchester. He began his ministry
in 1830 as the junior colleague of his brother,
John Garner, in the Oldham Circuit, and it was
at the Oldham Conference of 1871 he was superannuated.
He spent the remainder of his days at
Sale, where his son-in-law, Mr. James Greenhalgh,
accountant and Connexional auditor, resided. He
was superintendent at the time the first chapel at
Sale
'
was built,
and he took a deep and practical interest
in the building of the present church.
Before
the end came, December, 1895, in a momentary lapse,
he was heard to say : " Well, Mr. Bourne, I am
glad to see you. How is the Connexion doing
? "
Consciousness had harked back to the- early times, and
in the old Manchester
MR. J. GREENHALGH.
the master-passion of life was strong in death.
On the Manchester Circuit plan for 1832 we find, amongst other places, Mosley
Common, Walkden Moor, Middleton, Unsworth, and Stretford ; and, now and again,
* See
" Jonathan Ireland, the Street Preacher," for the quotations given in this paragraph.