The History of St. Helens Town
A town built both physically and metaphorically on coal: the original motto on the borough coat of arms was "Ex Terra Lucem" - Out of the Earth Light.
The light was the coal which came out of the ground, bringing prosperity and growth to the town. St. Helens is a town in the North West of England, approx. 12 miles from Liverpool and 20 miles from Manchester, with its urban area having a total population of around 176,900. Historically part of Lancashire (but now Merseyside), St. Helens grew during the 19th Century as a significant centre for coal mining and glass-making.
At the start of the 19th Century St. Helens did not exist. It was formed from the townships of Eccleston, Windle, Parr and Sutton. It takes its name from that of a Chapel of Ease, erected to St. Elyn. (Such chapels were built by local landowners for 'the good of their souls' and for their tenants, as it was difficult to attend parish church riding or walking through miry lanes for long distances.)
The district around St. Elyn's Chapel would have been very different from that of today. It would have been predominantly agricultural, interspersed with peat mosses and wild heaths. Here and there in each of the four townships a few fields or patches of wasteland were scarred by tips and coal banks where colliers of the district disappeared from the light of day to pursue their grimy and dangerous calling.
Close by one of these small collieries a cone-like chimney and a trail of smoke gave evidence that another race of industrial workers - the glassblowers - had made their appearance.In the mid 18th Century a larger building was constructed to replace the old St. Elyn's Chapel and this was renamed St. Mary's. During the First World War the church of St. Mary was completely destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and finally consecrated in 1926, becoming known once more as the Parish Church of St. Helen, so retaining the link with the chapel built six centuries before. (It is thought that a place of worship has stood on the site of the present Parish Church of St. Helen since 1377, around which were 4 or 5 brick houses forming the hamlet of St. Elyn's.) It is on this site, therefore, that many recent performances have been given by St. Helens Choral Society!
The siting of St. Helens had many factors that led to its development as an industrial town, thus giving birth to such well-known names as Ravenhead Copper Works, Daglish's Foundry, United Glass Bottle Manufacturers (UGB), Beecham's Pharmaceutical Company and Pilkington Brothers Glass Industry.
St. Helens is also well-known amongst sporting enthusiasts for its famous Rugby League Team 'The Saints'.
There is also St. Helens Town FC, a football club currently playing in the first division of the North West Counties Football League. The Club play their home games at the home of 'The Saints' rugby league club.
Many notable people were born in St. Helens and some of these include:
Richard John Seddon. He was born in Eccleston in 1845, and his father was head of the Eccleston Grammar School at the time. He went to live in New Zealand as a young man and eventually became their 15th Prime Minister. He is better known as 'King Dick' in New Zealand.
Former professional rugby league player Alex Murphy
Actor Robert Dorning
Philanthropist John Rylands
Comedian and actor Johnny Vegas
Motorbike racer Geoff Duke
Comedian Bernie Clifton
Thomas Beecham, who founded in St. Helens the world's largest pharmaceutical producer - Beecham's, and his son Joseph who built up the business and also promoted classical music in the town.
Sir Thomas Beecham, world famous Conductor (son of Joseph Beecham)
St. Helens has a wealth of varied musical heritage, which its many musical societies, choirs and instrumentalists of all kinds have continued into the 21st Century. St. Helens Choral Society is proud to be part of this heritage.
The light was the coal which came out of the ground, bringing prosperity and growth to the town. St. Helens is a town in the North West of England, approx. 12 miles from Liverpool and 20 miles from Manchester, with its urban area having a total population of around 176,900. Historically part of Lancashire (but now Merseyside), St. Helens grew during the 19th Century as a significant centre for coal mining and glass-making.
At the start of the 19th Century St. Helens did not exist. It was formed from the townships of Eccleston, Windle, Parr and Sutton. It takes its name from that of a Chapel of Ease, erected to St. Elyn. (Such chapels were built by local landowners for 'the good of their souls' and for their tenants, as it was difficult to attend parish church riding or walking through miry lanes for long distances.)
The district around St. Elyn's Chapel would have been very different from that of today. It would have been predominantly agricultural, interspersed with peat mosses and wild heaths. Here and there in each of the four townships a few fields or patches of wasteland were scarred by tips and coal banks where colliers of the district disappeared from the light of day to pursue their grimy and dangerous calling.
Close by one of these small collieries a cone-like chimney and a trail of smoke gave evidence that another race of industrial workers - the glassblowers - had made their appearance.In the mid 18th Century a larger building was constructed to replace the old St. Elyn's Chapel and this was renamed St. Mary's. During the First World War the church of St. Mary was completely destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and finally consecrated in 1926, becoming known once more as the Parish Church of St. Helen, so retaining the link with the chapel built six centuries before. (It is thought that a place of worship has stood on the site of the present Parish Church of St. Helen since 1377, around which were 4 or 5 brick houses forming the hamlet of St. Elyn's.) It is on this site, therefore, that many recent performances have been given by St. Helens Choral Society!
The siting of St. Helens had many factors that led to its development as an industrial town, thus giving birth to such well-known names as Ravenhead Copper Works, Daglish's Foundry, United Glass Bottle Manufacturers (UGB), Beecham's Pharmaceutical Company and Pilkington Brothers Glass Industry.
St. Helens is also well-known amongst sporting enthusiasts for its famous Rugby League Team 'The Saints'.
There is also St. Helens Town FC, a football club currently playing in the first division of the North West Counties Football League. The Club play their home games at the home of 'The Saints' rugby league club.
Many notable people were born in St. Helens and some of these include:
Richard John Seddon. He was born in Eccleston in 1845, and his father was head of the Eccleston Grammar School at the time. He went to live in New Zealand as a young man and eventually became their 15th Prime Minister. He is better known as 'King Dick' in New Zealand.
Former professional rugby league player Alex Murphy
Actor Robert Dorning
Philanthropist John Rylands
Comedian and actor Johnny Vegas
Motorbike racer Geoff Duke
Comedian Bernie Clifton
Thomas Beecham, who founded in St. Helens the world's largest pharmaceutical producer - Beecham's, and his son Joseph who built up the business and also promoted classical music in the town.
Sir Thomas Beecham, world famous Conductor (son of Joseph Beecham)
St. Helens has a wealth of varied musical heritage, which its many musical societies, choirs and instrumentalists of all kinds have continued into the 21st Century. St. Helens Choral Society is proud to be part of this heritage.
