Oulton Magazine March 1895
The following is a copy (subject to copying limitations) of the report on the 1895 Confirmation Service. Note this seems to have been an annual event. The huge difference in numbers compared with the numbers of candidates for this year is a glaring demonstration of the change in the relationship between society and the Church.
The annual Confirmation Service was held this year in our Church, on Monday evening, March 25th, at 7 o'clock, by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Ripon.
The number of candidates were as follows:-
| Females | Males | Total | ||
| Oulton | 33 | 17 | 50 | |
| Rothwell | 13 | 7 | 20 | |
| Middleton | 0 | 13 | 13 | |
| Woodlesford | 8 | 4 | 12 | |
| Lofthouse | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 56 | 42 | 98 |
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The candidates from Oulton were: Margaret Wilson, Marian Armitage, Sarah Jeffrey, Havey Parkinson. Florence Wright, Frances Mirfin, Clara Coulson, Hannah Poppleton, Mary Davey, Rhoda Hairsine, Emma Bell, Luciana Harrison, Alice Moore, Emma Butterwick, Hannah Berry, Louisa Ann Buckley, Elizabeth Mirfin, Martha Parkinson, Rena and Maud Snell, Maud Low, Lilian Batt, Beatrice Mirfin, Ethel Bradley, Annie Hutchinson, Maud Walker, Ada Fielding, Kate Nellie Poole, Sarah Wrigglesworth, Elizabeth Maundrill, Amy Scar; Ada and Eleanor Cockerham. Albert Hurdus, James Barber, Charles Briggs, Wilkinson lnman, Johnny Forrest, Charles Ernest Nettleton, Henry Parker, William Hutchinson, Charles F. Hullah, Walter Killingbeck, Alfred Mirfin, George Dennison, Percy C. Higgins, Henry Butterwick, John Flockton, James Maundrill, Sidney Lockwood.
We regret to say that there was a very poor attendance at Church on Good Friday morning; but a better one at the evening service, when addresses were given on four of the words spoken by our Lord from the Cross, and "The Story of the Cross" was sung.
Our Church was, as usual, tastefully decorated for Easter-white and yellow flowers predominating. A large quantity of White Tulips, Azaleas, and Spireas (in pots) were sent from Oulton Hall. Our best thanks are due to those whose labours were so successful.
On Easter Sunday there was a celebration at 7 a.m., when 84 persons communicated. At 8 a.m. there was a choral celebration, the full choir attending. The service began with a processional hymn, "Jesus Christ is risen to-day." The number of communicants present was 74. At the mid-day celebration there were 37, making a total of 195 communicants for the three services. This is a large increase on all previous years, and we hope that there may be a corresponding increase in the number of the regular monthly communicants.
Our Easter Anthem, which was well and carefully sung by the choir morning and evening, was "I will ransom them" (F. Adlam).