There can be little doubt that the origin of Newcastle Higherland Society was in the evangelistic labours of passionate souls in the Mother Church of Tunstall. It is certain that Hugh Bourne, whose signature is on the Deed, dated 1822, by which the site was secured for a “meeting house,” was one of the interested parties. A stone now in the vestry gives the year 1823 as the time of the erection of the building. The Circuit in 1932 consists of seven societies, viz., Higherland, Boundary Street, Penkhull, Hanford, Baldwin’s Gate, Cross Heath, and Wolstanton. The membership of the station is 380. Sunday Schools are flourishing with a roll of 142 Teachers and 962 scholars.
Properties are in an excellent condition, for in recent years, at very considerable outlay, Higherland, Penkhull and Wolstanton have been greatly improved both in convenience and suitability to the progressive demands of this day. It is proposed to build new schools at Cross Heath and Hanford.
The records of Newcastle cover more than a century of persistent and arduous toil. It is of note that Silverdale was the scene of passionate enterprise, for failures were followed by success until in 1872 Silverdale became an “Independent Station.”
In 1895 Stoke-on-Trent, taking with her three other churches, became a separate circuit,
This old-established circuit, with its numbers of devoted preachers, teachers and members, can rejoice in the relation of past toilers and achievements. Sons of worthy parentage have gone to other spheres of labour, serving in the Christian ministry in our own country with acceptance and prosperity. One became president of the New Zealand Methodist Union Church in 1920. Another entered the ministry in America. The Rev. Dr, Wardle Stafford, of the Wesleyan Church, as a lad sat in the Higherland School during the days of his father’s superintendency of the Circuit. Others have left to find open doors of opportunity in both conspicuous and successful endeavours. The civil life of Newcastle and District has for many years been served by true and efficient brethren, some of whom are now well to the front in devotion and public activitles.
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