Holy Trinity Church Parkfield,, Middleton, M24 4AH

Built in 1862 - Celebrating 150 years in 2012

George Shaw of Saddleworth designed the Church and the Vicarage and it is also believed that he designed the pews, lectern and altar. George Shaw used many of his own craftsmen to build his designs.

1862 -1873 - Revd. Emery Bates MA

Holy Trinity has 15 Stained Glass windows which cover over 100 years of changes in design, building and colours used on the windows and the detail shown.

The windows have been designed and made by Clayton and Bell, Shrigley and Hunt, C.E. Kempe and Sons. The Subjects of the stained glass windows are The Visit of the Magi, Jubilee Window, Women at the Sepulchre, Our Lord sending forth his disciples to preach the Gospel and The Sermon on the Mount, The coming of Nicodemus to our Lord by Night, Agony in the Garden, Bearing the Cross, The Crucifixion, Ressurection, Ascension, The Raising of Jairus Daughter, The Holy Office of Priesthood, The War Memorial Window and finally the last window which depicts the Unfruitful Tree and The Sower.

World War 1

The Parish of Parkfield had many Parishioners who joined up and fought in World War 1 the total number who went to war was 969, a total of 142 died and 17 were Decorated (including 2 deaths).

The Military Medal was given to Gunner Robert Jacques, Private Harry Wellens, Joseph Partington, Sapper Fred Saxon, Sergeant Eddie V. Howarth, Company Quarter Master Sergeant Arthur Hardman, Leiutenant Henry Leater, Private Arthur Barlow, Lance Corporal William H. Hardman, Captain John Steeple, Private Frank Edmunds, Lance-Corporal Norman Guest, Private George Gallagher.

The Victoria Cross was awarded to Lance-Corporal Joel Halliwell who served with the 11th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was the only Middleton Man to be honoured in 1918 when under heavy fire he rescued 1 Officer and 9 other ranks. After the war Lance-Corporal Halliwell returned home to live with his parents in Parkfield. He later attended a presentation ceremony at his old School of Parkfield and hundreds of people lined the route from him getting off the train to arriving at the school and later making the short walk to Holy Trinity Parkfield Church.

The names of all the Parishioners who fought and died during the war can been seen on a brass memorial plaque in Holy Trinity Church Parkfield, this is situated on an eight sided pillar with a brass plaque covering each pillar with the names of the those who returned in black and the those who died in red, together with the street where they lived and the medals they awarded.

The War Memorial Window is also dedicated to those who fought in the war.

ref: Derrick Catterall