Milnrow & Newhey March 2021

From The Archives
CANON FRANCIS ROBERT RAINES
Apart from his grave in Milnrow
St James’ Church graveyard and
a local road that bears his name,
little remains of one of the most
important men from the Rochdale
area in the 19th century.
Francis Raines was born into a
professional family in Whitby on 22nd
February 1805. He was the third son of
a Hull physician, Isaac Raines MD and
Ann, daughter of Joseph Robertson the
vicar of Aislaby. His early education
was at Burton Pudsea, intending that
Francis follow his father into medicine.
At the age of 13 in 1818 after his older
brother, on grounds of ill health, left his
apprenticeship with William Coultate a
surgeon in Clitheroe, Francis was sent
to take his place. At the time, his father
described his son as ‘a fine stout lad’
and although his apprenticeship was
supposed to last for 7 years the boy tired
of the medical professional and, after
undertaking study periods at Clitheroe
and Burnley Grammar schools, left
medicine to take up a place at St Bees
Theological College in what was then
Cumberland.
His first ordination at the age of 23, was
a short appointment as assistant curate
at Saddleworth and then Rochdale
where he took a curacy at the Parish
(see Streetwise June 2017) vicar of
Rochdale, the Reverend W R Hay. In
1832 he was appointed – again by
Hay on the death of Reverend Joseph
Hodgson - as perpetual curate of St
James Milnrow where he stayed for
the rest of his life. At his ministry
in Milnrow he threw himself into
rebuilding the church and setting up
a school, spending something like
£30,000 in the process.
Personal honours came his way during
his time at Milnrow. He was appointed
as domestic chaplain to the Earl of
Dunmore in 1841 and an MA was
bestowed upon him by the Archbishop
of Canterbury in 1845. He was rural
dean of Rochdale from 1846 to 1877
and an honorary canon of Manchester
Cathedral from 1849. In 1845 was made
Justice of the Peace for the county.
In Milnrow in 1836 Francis Raines
married Honora Elizabeth Beswicke the
eldest daughter of Major John Beswicke
of Pike House Littleborough. They had
three children, Susan Ann Robertson
who died in infancy, Honora Bella who
married George Twycross of Horstead
House, near Brighton and Florence
Addison.
It is however, as an antiquarian that he
is best remembered outside Milnrow.
Church offered to him by the infamous Interested in history and the records
38
To advertise call 07976 289967 or 07974 434793 or email sales@streetwisemag.co.uk