All Saints Parish Church

Rainford

Every year in Rainford there is a special day, known locally as Walking Day, when we hope for fine weather - sunshine and warmth. It takes place, traditionally, on the Saturday before the longest day, and sometimes, because of the calendar, it is actually on the twenty-first of June, but never later.

On that day crowds begin to gather in the village centre from 1 p.m and those who are to take part in the walk make their way to the Parish Church of All Saints for a short service at 2 p.m to start the proceedings. When it is formed up and ready the procession moves off to wend its way through the village, on the main road, to Rookery Lane at one end and the Bridge Inn at the other, before returning to the Church Hall and other venues for tea. All this is done to the rousing music of three Brass Bands - Rainford Silver Band, Pemberton Band and the Band from the other churches.

Silcock's Fair has been arriving all week and the rides are ready for the children to enjoy after their tea. The people lining the route watch the procession and enjoy the spectacle - sight and sound.

   There is a real sense of occasion.

Our Walking Day had its origins in the 1860's when the village school began to arrange treats for the children. Times were hard and families had little money to spare, and so the treats began as a trip to Southport once a year, a tea party or an entertainment in school. By the 1870's the events were referred to as ' The Annual School Festival' or 'The Village School Treat.' In 1877 it was 'The Annual Treat of the Day and Sunday School' because it marked the opening of the new village school on 16th July 1877.

In the same year on the 30th October the commemorative stone of All Saints Parish Church was laid and there was a procession headed by Skelmersdale Brass Band followed by church officials, along with all who had been involved in the shaping and building of the new church. They had all assembled at the newly extended and rebuilt village school and the stage was set.

From that time on the processions became important annual events. They had their heyday in Victorian times and for many years after that and were eagerly looked forward to by adults and children alike. In 1880 the 'Tea Party' was held on Thursday 19th of July and reported later as the 'Annual Church Schools' Treat'. The procession assembled at the school, was made up of Clergy, Church Wardens, sidesmen, teachers and children. The tea which followed was served in the school for the first time and afterwards there were games, competitions and prizes which took place on a local field.

Bickerstaffe Brass Band attended the following year when the same pattern was followed, but in 1894 another step was taken in the evolution of the present Walking Day. It was held for the first time on a Saturday and as early as June. It had been decided to hold it as near as possible to the longest day. The procession assembled on the field behind the church and was led by St.Helens Engineer's Band. Lots of the children had new clothes. There were crowds of people, bunting and lots of white dresses. There was tea in school for several sittings - for girls and infants, boys and subscribers, teachers and helpers and those who had bought tickets - about 600 in all. Later there was a conjurer and a ventriloquist. The Band played until 9.30p.m and there were races and prizes on the field.

The Jubilee Treat of 1897 was a more elaborate affair. It was held on Saturday June 19th and began with 'a short bright service in church' as a thanksgiving for Queen Victoria's reign. Pies were served after the procession which had been led by the Band of the boys training ship Indefatigable who later entertained, with cutlass drills and other displays. Teas were served in the school and there was singing and Maypole dancing. The walk moved on towards the 20^th Century, by which time it was called the Day and Sunday School Treat and the little service was regarded as a fitting beginning.

In the early 1900's the walk continued and other local schools held their own events at Crank, Bushey Lane and Bickerstaffe during the summer months. There was a special event in 1908 when a piece of land behind the church was rented to the Vicar by Lord Derby and on the 20^th of June the children assembled on the new field for the opening ceremony before the walk took place. There were speeches and a new flag was unfurled and raised on a new flagstaff. This was followed by the service in church, the procession, tea for 850, sports and the Band which played until dusk.

In 1912 there were four sittings for tea and first mention of three roundabouts on the field, sideshows, athletes on vaulting horses, parallel bars and trapeze. In 1914 the men’s Bible class walked for the first time.

There were no treats during the 1914-18 War but they began again in 1919. In 1920 there was dancing and Ryan's Fair attended with Hobby Horses, swinging boats and coconut shies. Hundreds of old scholars came back to meet up with family members and friends.

In 1921 Silcock's Fair visited for the first time bringing all the usual fairground attractions. They have attended every year since then and still do to this day (2009). Again there were no treats during the Second World War but they were resumed again afterwards. The event had been called Tea Party Day by the villagers for many years and many continued to do so into the 1950's and beyond, even though it was billed as the Day and Sunday School Treat.

In 1977, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year, all the Churches, Primary Schools and Sunday Schools took part - along with the members of the Parish Council, Church Council and the Church Choir - an important and unique occasion. The smaller schools joined in the village procession during the later part of the century and in 1986 all the other churches in Rainford joined in the walk - and have done so since that time. It was reported at the time that Walking Day would reflect the unity of the Churches as they joined together in the Procession of Witness - a change of title.

As the Parish Church was always full, the groups then joining in from the United Reformed Church, Corpus Christi and the Methodist Church assembled outside the Parish Hall and held their own service before joining the Walk. To help matters a relay loudspeaker service was installed in 1999 so that all could take part in the one service from within the church grounds.

On the return journey of the procession back to the church the various churches and schools now leave the procession at suitable points to return to their respective buildings for tea.

Walking Day continues in the pattern established so long ago, with, of course, a few differences.

It still takes place on the Saturday before the longest day.

There is a short service in church.

The procession follows the same route.

There is tea afterwards.

There is entertainment to follow. The fair is still in attendance.

It has all meant hard work over the years for organisers and helpers in the preparation and serving of food and in the shaping of the procession. The accent in the past was on open air get together for the villagers, with races, competitions and prizes, but today the sports take place on school sports days.

Over the last few years it has cost a lot more to organise the procession as Health and Safety measures, Road Closure procedures, Walkie Talkie Facilities have all got to be observed and acted upon. To pay for all those and to meet the cost of the Bands we now hold coffee mornings and have recently received donations from the Ecumenical Choir.

The Walk has journeyed from the times of waggonettes and magic lanterns to the era of aircraft, electric light, television and all the other modern conveniences we have today - and yet it still remains - a fine tradition.

When all the preparations are made and the day dawns all we need then is fine warm weather. We don't always get it but there have not been many days completely spoiled by the weather. Optimism is the requirement for the day.

Long may it all continue!

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