The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-05-09 00:00:00

NEW SCHOOLS IN TOXTETH PARK.

Yesterday, at noon, the foundation . stone of the
National Schools,•which are to be erected in connection
with Holy Trinity Church, Toxteth Park, was laid by,
the Rev. H. Postance, incumbent of the parish. The
district is one which contains, perhaps, a greater amount
of abject wretchedness and poverty, in propOrtion to its
extent, than any other parish' in the town ; and is one,
therefore, in which the peculiar operation and influence
of national schools will be in the highest degree benefi-
cial. The respected incumbent—the Rev. Henry
.Postance, to whose untiring assiduity and 'zeal the
district, is so much indebted for the marked moral
improvement that has taken place there since the com-
mencement of his ministrations—has laboured very zea-
'lously to obtain funds for the erection of the schools,
and, aided by Several friends, he has been entirely suc-
cessful. The schools which it is proposed to build will
consist of thi‘ee large rooms, each about 45 feet by 18
feet, well lighted on both sides, the,lower one 15 feet
and the upper ones 14 feet high. Each is provided
with the 'parallel desks and galleries required by the
Committee of Council on Education. A commodious
class room communicates with each school, and all are
approached by a fire-proof stone staircase fkom the
ground. Ample accommodation is also provided in
washing' other closets, and means for making tea
during school festivals, together- With a 'vicious play-
ground. The master's house, which is attached, con-
tains parlour, kitchen, scullery, and three bedrooms.
The mistress's apartments, which are quite distinct
from the last, contain kitchen, parlour, and one bed-
room; 'all have separate yards. In the centre of the
stone was deposited a leaden box containing copies of
the' Daily Times and other papers, and the following
inscription :
" This foundation-stone of the Church of England
National Schools, Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park, was laid
by the incumbent, the Rev. Henry Postance, May 8,
1860. Alfred Stephens and'Thomas Harrison, church-
wardens. Building Committee : Francis Mill, Alfred
Stephens, Win. Rd. Winch, Daniel .Clark, john Fleyes
WilsOn, Charles Groves. George Williams, architect.
Contractors : J. and R. Duckworth, Thomas Williams,
William. Goodall, Knowles and Erlam. Cost of site,
£1,700 ;' cost of erection, £1,649. £949 of the above
sums were obtained by grant from the Privy Council."
The proceedings were opened by the choir singing a
hymn, atter which
Mr. GROYES*I7—I have undertaken the office. of
presenting my friend, 71ir. Postance, with a trowel, to
lay tbe first stone of the new schools, because it gives
me the oppottunity and the pleasu,re of congratida-
ting hint in public on his success in accomplishing
a most arduous work. It is not quite four years since
Mr. Postance commenced the effort of raising funds for
the church. At first it was thought that less than £2,000
would suffice, but the plan was enlarged, and at last it was
found that £4,000 was required, which, however,- he
Obtained, and the church was consecrated in December,
1858. Bnt he felt that the work was incomplete with•
out schools, for which veigly £2,ooo.more was required.
besides the Government grant of SO5O. Few people
probably, would have attempted to raise such an B.lequnl
so soon after the former effort, but his faith and perse.
verance, bis " prayer and Pains," carried him through
and, as I.remarked on a former occasion, I consider tha

he whole town is indebted to him for his exertion

in endeavouring to supply the spiritual wants of a
district that had been grievously neglected. There is
one point in connection with the church on which I
should wish to say feW words, The endowment of
it consists of two houses, of which the get rental is only
about £36. This certainly ought to be increased, If
I am spared for another year I may, perhaps, make an
-attempt in this direction, The Eeclesiastical Commis-
sioners afford great encouragement by giving in some
cases an equal amount to what is raised locally. I hope
also to receive encouragement from another quarter, for
I may mention, as a pleasing fact, that I find an unusual
number of ladies in the list of subscribers for the church
and One lady sent me £2O anonymously for
the schools. thislarge town, increasing in population
about 12,000 every year„ and having some districts con:-
tainingabont 0,009 souls, I wish we had more men of the
spirit and perseverance of Mr. Postance to undertake like
efforts. It is certainly a long and trying task, and one
under which a man may often be ready to faint from
weariness arid disappointment ; but thus his trust in the
help of the Lord is tried and strengthened, and he will
find a goodly number (would there were more) who will
help him from the highest motive, who realise the
language of one otour greatest divines, Bishop Butler,
who says that " Christianity is to be considered•-as
trust deposited with us in behalf' of others, in behalf of
mankind, as well as for our own instraction. 46. one
has a right to be called a Christian who does not do
somewhat in his station towards the discharge of this
trust." I have very great pleasure in handing Mr.
Postance this trowel.
The Rev. H. POSTANCE then read the following address :
" Dear Mr. Groves and Christian friends,—lt is no
my choice that I take so prominent a part in the pro-
ceedings of this day. Many by whom I am now
surrounded can testify that I have endeavoured that
some persons more worthy than myself should have con-
ferred upon them this distinction, The honour, doubtless,
belongs to our friend, Mr. C. Groves, to whom this
whole town. owes a debt of gratitude, and myself and
district in particular. It is not too much to say that it
is owing to his efforts that we are met under such
favourable circumstances to-day. When the Lords of
the Privy Council rejected the small site on which we
first intended to build, his large heart and faith
embraced the wider and more perfect scheme which
we are now enabled to carry out. .Thereare, also,
two other gentlemen, viz., 4r. F. mip and Mr.
JOhn Eden, whose kind advice, encouragement, support,
and co-operation, I can never forget. And though the
latter has been a cheek at times upon my impetuous
spirit, yet it has always been for the wisest and beit
of purposes. Nor must I forget to mention, that
when we appeared to stick fast in the midst of peca-
niary difficulties, the firms of Messrs. Peek and Winch,
and Messrs. Collet and Hafriilton dispersed the dark
cloud by most liberal and timely aid, even though
they had given before again and again. And while '

I am on this head, Idesire to express my thanks
to all the contributors, wile, by their liberality,
have placed us in our present position. It may not
be out of place here to say something about my con-
nection with this district, not, indeed, for my own
sake, but rather for the sake of the contributors.
It is now Omit five years since my lot 'was cast in this
place, during which time I }aye endeayonred, amidst
many faults and much feebleness, to promote the welfare
of the people committed to my charge; and I am sure,
were it not for the migratory habits of the people, that
a great change for the better would show itself more
clearly. :Rut this calls for the exercise of much faith
and patience. Lei u; hope that the good--seed has
fallen upon these wanderers, and that it will At length
bring forth fruit to the glory and honour. of God.
About five years ego I took my first walk through
this district, with the Rey. Hew Hampton, who
was then the incumbent of St. James's, and i remem-
ber him saying that it was a most hopeless spot.
There were at that time twenty-two houses in
the district devoted entirely to the purposes of prostitu-
tion,' and these contained seyenty-five unfortunate
women. The labouring man who was anxious to
discharge the duties of his humble calling, was disturbed
at all hours of the night with brawls from these
wretched places ; but it is not so now, though my ,
people still require much further reformation. Many ,
of those poor women •to whom I have alluded found a
refuge in those excellent institutions, the penitentiaries
of our town, and those who did, not reforni left our
district one by one, till now (so far as I know) we
have not a prostitute left. In this work of moral
reformation I have been greatly assisted by those gentle-
men in connection with the Domestic Mission, who
now pass the compliment upon our district that,
'seeing it is pe Well cared for, they now turn their atten-
tion more fully to those places where their services
are more required ; and lest I shOnkl seem to be
bearing testimony of myself in this matter, I desire
to turn your attention to the Liverpool papers of
the 23rd of January, 1858, where you will find Mr.
Clough, superintendent of police, giving evidence be-
fore the learned Recorder of this town, and saying
that there is a decided change for the better in this dis-
trict. When I first hegan to preach the gospel in this
locality I was pelted with stool Pd obliged to
take shelter in the garret of a popr man; bpi, thank
God, this is no longer the case. I now feel myself per-
fectly !wave. in the midst of even the less reformed of
my people. No district, lam sae, is more accessible
to the Visits of the Christian minister. The erection.
of a church in this place has already been a great bles-
sing to.many ; and now that schools are being erected
for the accommodation of 400 children, I look for still
greater results. I know that some are ready to say,
an 4 baye said, that a large sum of money has been
expended in this district ; b4t if we
than we intended to spend,
it is because we have
live spent more
done more than we intended to do ; and yet
we have not done more than the district required.
Let us then honestly explain how this money has been
spent. The site of the church, with the election and
endowment, cost £3,800; £5OO of this sum was obtained
by grant from the Church Building
£949 has beenip;ozisl by the
O fromfggrants,
this
hs
Society. The site of
the schools, with the erection and master's house, will
cost £3,359, ef which
add the cost of the church and schools togettheer,
donations Lords of Privy Council on Education
tbheeengraobn.tdo4toodtalboyf t grand total, then,
£1,449 has been obtained by and £5,801 has
tradesmen of the town. Seeing, then, w
and how we have got it, let us next inquirewwehetahveergwe
have wasted our money upon architectural adornments.
Ist. The cost of the site alone for the ehureh and schools
was ;,100, and we have no control OYU the price of
land in this 2nd. Suppose, that
endowment of chart}} • then, the
-4, is Iv9TP4 ?ply £6OO, in the two
houses which join the church on tbe. upper side in Par-
liament-street, Nos. 70 and 72, producing a rental
of 090 4§9 pig? then we *9 a 000 1 f
y 9f
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