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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: ValJJJ on Saturday 18 July 20 20:24 BST (UK)
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I wonder if the clothing etc can put a year on it?
The person's head is blocking some wording on the banner which probably says Loyalty to Christ, and certainly Congleton Cheshire.
According to the archives of the local newspaper, in early 1931, there was a Bethel Evangelistic Society & Full Gospel Fellowship in Congleton, Cheshire, meeting at a mill in the town, announcing revivalist and spiritual healing meetings in the paper. There may be similar reports from earlier, but lockdown has limited access to the newspaper offices, so I haven't yet looked at 1930 papers.
In May 1931 there was an article about the hopes for a Bethel and Full Gospel church to be built in the town once funds allowed.
In a 1970 book by Stephens, about the history of the town, there was mention of a Bethel and Full Gospel church established in 1936, but that it no longer existed.
I'm not sure at which point a congregation would have such a banner, and where it would have been displayed. Perhaps in the mill before they had their own church? Or would it have been for parades, or public preaching, or events such as services in the town hall? The latter was written up in the local paper, mentioning the presence on the platform of 'a goodly number of uniformed Crusaders' and also of scholars of the Sunday School - or 'Sunbeams' as they are called - offered proof of the growth of this newly formed religious organisation in Congleton.
I suppose the photo is from the 30s but I'd be interested to know whether it can be narrowed down any further.
Thanks for looking.
Val
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My contribution.
I have no idea of the information you need but as my hobby is to restore photos left here a little of what I like to do.
High Resolution Version
(https://i.postimg.cc/QBZJPTXH/Congleton-Bethel-Full-Gospel-Crusaders-postcard-Date-unknown-High.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QBZJPTXH)
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Thanks for that improvement, but really I don't want people spending time on restoring, as I know it's time consuming.
Great job though!
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Thanks for that improvement, but really I don't want people spending time on restoring, as I know it's time consuming.
Great job though!
time is what I have the most these days
[]´s
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;D
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I would say this was late 1920s early 1930s, the cloche hat was popular in the 1920s but the brim disappeared in the early 1930s. Both styles appear to be shown in the photo.
Carol
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Thanks Treetotal.
It wasn't founded until 1931, or at the earliest, in late 1930, so perhaps the photo is early on the church existence.
I shall ask the local newspaper to show the pic and ask if any readers have any knowledge of the people in the pic, or the church itself.
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Hi, there is a photographer's studio name in the bottom right. Have you researched them (e.g. trading years) to see if that provides any info ?
Unrelated, that photo restoration is excellent. Great job.
Good luck with your research.
Simon
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I contacted the local museum and they had the same image in their archives and had never known anything about this religious group. So my research in the local paper helped them understand the image better. I didn't ask specifically about date but think they would have explored the photographer side. I will contact them again. Thanks for reminding me to do this.
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As well as the Congleton Chronicle and the museum there is a Facebook page called Congleton chats back and another called Congleton past and present in photographs. The museum does monthly walks round the town (not at the moment) and one is about the history of all the churches but I don't remember that church.
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Yes I've been on the religions walk around the town. Very interesting.
Apparently the church had gone by the time a book about the town's history was published in 1970. It was mentioned as 'no longer exists'.
The local paper (Congleton Chronicle) is going to publish it and I'll try the past and present FB page too. Thanks for letting me know about that one. I knew about the chats back (well there are about 3 versions at least) but it's probably the wrong place, judging from what's usually on them.
Thanks.
Val
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One volunteer at the museum thinks that although the name of the photographer is unclear, it could be Norman Mason. He went on to say: '...he was the only photographic dealer on the high street in the 1930’s according to the trade directories. Indeed I recall that he was still there in the 1950’s. In the 1920’s the same premise (28 High Street) had been occupied by another photographic dealer, Cadman and Co.'
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It looks like 1920s to me. It would probably have its basis in the brethren traditions so maybe see if there were any gospel halls or meetings especially as Bethel is the type of names they used. Also there might be information in local newspapers as these meetings would probably been advertised as that's what these evangelistic groups did.
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Thanks Creasegirl. I've already looked at local papers, and the group was founded in either very late 1930, or early 1931. I searched all the 1931 papers, and a few 1932, but Covid stopped me looking at 1930. A job for later.
In Jan 1932 there was a report of the first anniversary service/meeting of the group.
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Thanks to Clayton Bradley, I found the FB page 'Congleton in photographs ( past and present )' and posted it yesterday. Immediately someone recognised their parents in it (they met through this church) and thought it was 1933. Their parents married in 1935 and it was before then.
The local paper has also printed it, so it will be interesting to see if anyone else responds.