St. Georges Church Everton

[History Hunter]

Please can anyone help with information regarding the McGregor Family of Everton who are buried in the Church yard?

Alexander MacGregor died at his home near Manchester on the 6th December 1828 aged fifty-six years, & was buried in a large family plot in the churchyard of St. George?s at Everton. The grave originally had a double tombstone, but when visiting St. George?s in December 2007, all the stones had been removed from the graves & laid in a paved area around the church. Only the right hand stone was found, consequently only half the inscription, which was obscured by tarmac:-

MCGREGOR
ED 6TH DECEMBER 1828
MCGREGOR
UST ED 7TH JANUARY 1842
IED 26TH APRIL 1842
RN 8TH ARCH 1845 DIED 19TH MARCH 1846
HELEN
GREGOR, WHO DIED 18TH OCTOBER 1855
YEARS
US MCGREGOR
HELEN MCGREGOR, DIED 18TH JUNE 1863
YEARS

Can anybody help with the full monument inscription or tell me what may have happened to the other half of the stone?

Walter Fergus McGregor was one Of Alexander McGregor's sons & I believe was a church warden at St. Georges & one of the Directors of Vauxhall Foundry. When he died, his fellow employees had some sort of monument put inside the church & I believe there may have been a stained glass window as well, but I understand all the original windows, as well as the body of the church itself destroyed in the war? I have not seen the inside of the church from but photos I?ve seen on the internet, it looks fantastic. Does anybody have any information on the original stained glass windows or on Walter Fergus & his monument?

[Samp]

Some information regarding St Georges Church Windows!

It was during an air-raid on the night of Saturday, 21st December 1940, that the great East Window and the North and South Windows were destroyed.
At the end of the war, only six large stained glass windows remained and these were at the north-west corner of the church. They consisted of three at the lower level and three at the gallery level and included the Withers, Middleton, McGregor and Grandage-Edwards Windows. It was the practice for most of the windows to incorporate any dedication within the stained glass itself, rather than on a brass plaque and so many inscriptions have also been lost.

The only other war damage besides that to the windows was an incendiary bomb, which fell through the roof into the church. However, this was quickly extinguished by the fire watchers

Extract taken from 'The Iron Church' a short history of St Georges church Everton. by R.F. Mould.

Some images taken from the book, not very good quality i'm afraid, but will give you some idea of the inside of the church.

[History Hunter]

Many thanks for the info Samp. So the McGregor window may still be in the church then? I?d love to know what it looks like today.:rolleyes:


I have just come across a news paper clipping from the Liverpool Mercury dated Nov 15 1858 about a sale of family property & it includes the following which I hope someone can explain:



Two Pews in the body of St Georges Church Everton numbered respectively 35 & 42 & each subject to a ground rent of ?3 10s.



Two pews in the gallery of St Georges Church Everton numbered respectively 93 & 118 & each subject to a ground rent of ?5.



Two Pews numbers 94 & 117 subject to a ground rent of ?3, & one pew numbered 105 & 106 in the gallery subject to a ground rent of ?5.



Two Shares in St. George?s Church Everton.

[Samp]

Many thanks for the info Samp. So the McGregor window may still be in the church then? I?d love to know what it looks like today.:rolleyes:


I have just come across a news paper clipping from the Liverpool Mercury dated Nov 15 1858 about a sale of family property & it includes the following which I hope someone can explain:



Two Pews in the body of St Georges Church Everton numbered respectively 35 & 42 & each subject to a ground rent of ?3 10s.



Two pews in the gallery of St Georges Church Everton numbered respectively 93 & 118 & each subject to a ground rent of ?5.





Two Pews numbers 94 & 117 subject to a ground rent of ?3, & one pew numbered 105 & 106 in the gallery subject to a ground rent of ?5.



Two Shares in St. George?s Church Everton.


St Georges was built by the rich merchants who subscribed so much a share, the money being paid back from the lease of the pews. The area in those days was very wealthy and the church was mainly used by the rich. As the area declined, the rich merchants moved away and the pews would be leased out for the upkeep of the church. That?s it in a nutshell but it was probably a bit more complicated than that, changes in Church legislation and such like.


There have been some nice colour pictures of St Georges posted on this forum in the past. Have a search!

[taffy]

Please can anyone help with information regarding the McGregor Family of Everton who are buried in the Church yard?

Alexander MacGregor died at his home near Manchester on the 6th December 1828 aged fifty-six years, & was buried in a large family plot in the churchyard of St. George?s at Everton. The grave originally had a double tombstone, but when visiting St. George?s in December 2007, all the stones had been removed from the graves & laid in a paved area around the church. Only the right hand stone was found, consequently only half the inscription, which was obscured by tarmac:-

MCGREGOR
ED 6TH DECEMBER 1828
MCGREGOR
UST ED 7TH JANUARY 1842
IED 26TH APRIL 1842
RN 8TH ARCH 1845 DIED 19TH MARCH 1846
HELEN
GREGOR, WHO DIED 18TH OCTOBER 1855
YEARS
US MCGREGOR
HELEN MCGREGOR, DIED 18TH JUNE 1863
YEARS

Can anybody help with the full monument inscription or tell me what may have happened to the other half of the stone?

?

Transcriptions of the old gravestones for St George, Everton are available at the Liverpool Record Office.

http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/index.asp

I believe they will look up these old records for you for a fee.

[fortinian]

The area in those days was very wealthy and the church was mainly used by the rich. As the area declined, the rich merchants moved away and the pews would be leased out for the upkeep of the church.


Thats a bit misleading Samp... you make it sound like the church wasn't used by the poor! Oftentimes the merchants would rent the pews in the centre of the church, either side of the main isle. The ones closer to the altar were the more favoured and there was often fierce competition for the best pews. The pews were often put up for auction to the highest bidder. The poor people would congregate either near the rear of the church or on 'benches' (not pews) either side of the main church.

There were also cases where rich men paid for pews to be installed so that the general people could use them and think 'Oh what a nice man Mr So-and-so is for building this pew for us! God Bless 'im! *doffs cap and grovels*'

Also, many churches held numerous services, often one between 6-7 on a Sunday for the workers so they could get home and cook the sunday lunch and a later one 10-11ish for the wealthy who could have a sleep in!

[Samp]

Thats a bit misleading Samp... you make it sound like the church wasn't used by the poor! Oftentimes the merchants would rent the pews in the centre of the church, either side of the main isle. The ones closer to the altar were the more favoured and there was often fierce competition for the best pews. The pews were often put up for auction to the highest bidder. The poor people would congregate either near the rear of the church or on 'benches' (not pews) either side of the main church.

There were also cases where rich men paid for pews to be installed so that the general people could use them and think 'Oh what a nice man Mr So-and-so is for building this pew for us! God Bless 'im! *doffs cap and grovels*'

Also, many churches held numerous services, often one between 6-7 on a Sunday for the workers so they could get home and cook the sunday lunch and a later one 10-11ish for the wealthy who could have a sleep in!


I was trying to explain briefly, the reason why the pews were rented or leased and not a general history of the Church. The church was built by subscription and The pews would have been taken up by the rich merchants of the district.

[fortinian]

Oh, I understand Samp. I just didn't want people thinking it was all to do with the toffs!

:D

[Ron B Manderson]

St Goerge church.
The cast iron church
Ron

[Samp]

Please can anyone help with information regarding the McGregor Family of Everton who are buried in the Church yard?

Alexander MacGregor died at his home near Manchester on the 6th December 1828 aged fifty-six years, & was buried in a large family plot in the churchyard of St. George?s at Everton. The grave originally had a double tombstone, but when visiting St. George?s in December 2007, all the stones had been removed from the graves & laid in a paved area around the church. Only the right hand stone was found, consequently only half the inscription, which was obscured by tarmac:-

MCGREGOR
ED 6TH DECEMBER 1828
MCGREGOR
UST ED 7TH JANUARY 1842
IED 26TH APRIL 1842
RN 8TH ARCH 1845 DIED 19TH MARCH 1846
HELEN
GREGOR, WHO DIED 18TH OCTOBER 1855
YEARS
US MCGREGOR
HELEN MCGREGOR, DIED 18TH JUNE 1863
YEARS

Can anybody help with the full monument inscription or tell me what may have happened to the other half of the stone?

Walter Fergus McGregor was one Of Alexander McGregor's sons & I believe was a church warden at St. Georges & one of the Directors of Vauxhall Foundry. When he died, his fellow employees had some sort of monument put inside the church & I believe there may have been a stained glass window as well, but I understand all the original windows, as well as the body of the church itself destroyed in the war? I have not seen the inside of the church from but photos I?ve seen on the internet, it looks fantastic. Does anybody have any information on the original stained glass windows or on Walter Fergus & his monument?

Hello History Hunter!

Some more information on the MacGregor family and St Georges Church.

1 The MacGregor window!

2 The Monument to Walter Fergus MacGregor!

Inscription on monument reads -


Walter Fergus MacGregor


Born Sept 19th 1810


Died June 11th 1863


This Monument is erected by


A few of his numerous friends


As a testimony of his great worth


And many excellencies, and the


Unfeigned love and esteem they


Bear to his memory.

[Samp]

Taffy!

If you would have waited another few minuets yesterday you would have been able to see inside the church.

A lady conected with the church arrived and let us inside. The funny thing was that the chap who we were waiting for was inside the church all the time we were there. He had locked himself in and did not hear us knocking on the door!

Anyhow here are some pictures.

[gregs dad]

Good pics Samps

[Samp]

Good pics Samps


Thanks GD.

[taffy]

Taffy!

If you would have waited another few minuets yesterday you would have been able to see inside the church.

A lady conected with the church arrived and let us inside. The funny thing was that the chap who we were waiting for was inside the church all the time we were there. He had locked himself in and did not hear us knocking on the door!

Anyhow here are some pictures.

Thanks for the photos samp. Sorry to have left just too soon. As they say in Welsh "C'est la vie" or is that French !!!

[Kev]

nice pics samp :PDT_Piratz_26:

[Adara]

While searching for more information on the Myers family, (see previous post) I visited St George's churchyard in Everton. St Georges church, also known as the Iron Church, towers over the city of Liverpool as it stands at the highest point on the hill. It was built in 1814 by, and for, the wealthy merchants who lived in what must have been a beautiful village overlooking the city and the River Mersey. James Atherton died in 1855 long before the Tower was built (1896 - 1900). He chose to be buried back at St Georges church with his children James, Charles, and Henry who died before him. His wife, daughter Caroline and family plus others are also buried there. His funeral, like all other funerals at St Georges, would not have entered via the west gate. He made this a stipulation when he gave the land to the church as this gate was opposite to his mansion.