Over 150 people gathered at St Philip & St James Church on Monday evening (July 24th) to celebrate the launch of the new Alderley Edge Heritage Centre which will have a permanent space for Alderley History Group to store and display artefacts collected and donated by members over the years.
The Heritage Centre has come about due to the spire restoration at St Philip & St James Church. The Church received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which - along with their fundraising efforts - enabled them to re-order the back of church by taking out the pews at the west end, hence its new name 'West End'. They have put in a kitchen area, toilets, moveable seating and a large screen and display cabinets for the Heritage Centre.
The event was made all the more poignant as local resident Margaret Smith sadly passed away earlier this month - Margaret and her husband Harold Smith, who died three years ago, were the founding members of the Alderley History Group, which is now in its 10th year.
Local author and story teller Alan Garner along with his wife Griselda, were special guests, and very kindly brought and old stone jar to add to the collection on display.
Alan told guests stories about him and Harold, who were childhood friends, growing up together in the village and he paid a lovely tribute to Harold and Margaret.
Mandy Parr said "It was a fitting occasion to celebrate the history of our village, a coming together of a new space in which to display our archives, St Philip & St James opening the church to the wider community and a great memorial to Harold and Margaret Smith.
"We had a real celebration, with Pimms and bunting in honour of Margaret, (she sewed all the bunting used in the village during the May Fairs.) Old friendships were renewed and several people found old photos of themselves and family members as children."
Harold Smith was on the committee of the Alderley Edge Landscape Project, which was an multi-disciplinary research programme carried out by Manchester Museum and the National Trust which aimed to cover the entire history of Alderley - from geology to entomology, mining to oral history – from 1997 till 2007.
He wanted the information gathered to be shared with as many people as possible, and so started the group, which meets bi-monthly in the Methodist Church School Rooms on Chapel Lane and invites guest speakers with a diverse range of topics.
Mandy added "The history of the village is ever evolving and new information is uncovered frequently, and a new chapter begins for everyone connected with Alderley as the Heritage Centre opens."
Those who attended the launch on Monday, 24th July, were able to view a World War II display, compiled Harold and Margaret Smith's granddaughter Olivia.
Local historian and author Michael Scaife launched his new updated and enlarged booklet on the history of St Philip & St James Church and there was also an art display put together by Alderley Edge resident Melissa Daniels who had finished her BTECH at Macclesfield College and had used Alan Garner's book 'The Weird Stone of Brasingamin' as her theme.
There was also more work from students at Macclesfield College on display, as some had created posters of Alderley Edge as part of their course work, and a large screen at the back of church continually played over 500 photos of Alderley Edge and the surrounding area.
Mandy Parr continued "This is a facility for all the community to visit, research and discover, and we look forward to welcoming visitors."
St Philip & St James Church is opened daily with frequently changing displays, digital displays and research work, by appointment. The Heritage Centre will be manned on Wednesday 1pm to 3pm from September.
If you are interested in local history and would like to help please contact email Mandy Parr or call her on 01625 586761.
Photos - Alan Garner and Melissa Daniels, Alan Garner and Professor John Prag with the stone jar he gave to the History Group,
Mandy Parr, Rev Robin Pye, Rachel Grantham (Chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council) and Councillor Craig Browne.
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