lived in church, all my life, still do. been in same house for nearly thirty years and boy have i seen some changes. when i was young church was a thriving community. it had every shop you could imagine. there was also the council offices, across from the commercial, two banks, chemist, dry cleaners, three chippies, fish shop etc could go on and on. plenty of businessess, including the shoddy (cotton mill ) top of grimshaw street which was then called duckworth street. we used to live across the road from it and can still recall the sights and sounds of the place. brings back many happy memories. has kids we would play with the shuttles, cones etc. there was rothwells, masterbar, blythes, woodyard, naylors, emerson and renwick, the foundry etc. unfortunately over the years many have closed and the others have reduced there workforce, which then had a knock on effect of people moving away to find work. also there was big areas of terraced streets that was demolished and as per usual left has empty spaces, which over the years become dumping grounds . there was three schools hyndburn park, church kirk lovely school, crying shame when that was pulled down, and earnest street. our lovely st james church, antely methodist and earnest st baptist church etc. luckily we still have our churches. i don,t include the beautiful church that was pulled down - sacred heart because its on the accrington side of church if you know what i mean. there was a police station and court, before it was made into a car show room, and many lively pubs and clubs. it is such a shame that its now almost a forgotton community. there is lots of scope for church it just needs marketing properly to the business world. there are several smaller businessess on bridge street which are helping with job prospects, but there is plenty more workable alternatives. bring back more retail shops etc in the open lands that are used as garbage grot spots. maybe then church people will pull together and get their pride back in this little hamlet. you would think a big marketing ploy would be the close proximity of ossie mills, why can,t we have something similar on say the spare land on church street where the school once stood, bring back enterprise, people will want to be close to thier employment, attract good community members and the friendly honest neighbours of yesteryear. i for one never have taken the name as hyndburn all my correspondence etc is in church, bring it back were it rightly belongs.
