Pretoria Pit Church Service

This morning, the 22nd of December, the second service of remembrance for those lost in the Pretoria Pit disaster of 1910 was held.

The Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr Gillian Wroe, writes: ‘Today’s service held in St Bartholomew’s Church and led by the Rev Carol Pharoah was well attended by civic dignitaries, councillors and members of the public. Some of these were relatives of the 344 men and boys who died in the explosion on that awful day. The poignant and moving service included Bible readings beautifully read by Ellie and Charlie, Head Girl and Boy from Westhoughton High School and ‘The Pretoria Pit Song’, by the Houghton Weavers, performed acapella by Jane Torrance. That was a spine tingling moment.

Following the church service we processed into the cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony. Pictured alongside me are the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton and the Mayor of Blackrod.’