Extract from the Leigh Chronicle around March 1924

A REMARKABLE FAMILY RECORD

50 Years an Organist and 47 Years a Local Preacher

The father and uncle of Mr R. Sankey of Park-lane, Leigh, organist of the Primitive Methodist Church, have completed a remarkable record of service in the cause of religion at Abbey Village United Methodist Church Chorley. Mr James Sankey, father of the Leigh organist, before he became organist 50 years ago, served a short apprenticeship as blower. He is quite proud of his long record, and is happy to say that his relations with the choir throughout the years have been very harmonious. He has very rarely missed a service, and on one occasion, when he had attended a musical festival at Blackpool on a Saturday, he cycled home early on the Sunday morning so as to be in time to officiate at the service. Mr Sankey, too, has taken his part in the development of church music. In his early days, owing to the fact that very few people could read, the minister read out the hymns verse by verse, the congregation singing each verse after it had been read. This was a somewhat laborious process, and the hymns were, in consequence, long and drawn out. With the better education of the people, and the introduction of singing in the day schools, there has followed a great improvement both in choir and congregational singing. Mr Sankey has other records to his credit, for he has been corresponding manager of the day school for half a century, and also for 47 years secretary of the Sunday school. There are other duties he also manages to carry out, for he is a member of the Old-Aged Pensioners Committee at Chorley, and a member of the local Education Sub-Committee(area 14).

Mr David Sankey, a brother of James, has for 47 years been a lay helper in the surrounding district, and after the death of his father he was appointed joint superintendent of the Sunday school. He has passed through all the chairs of the Rechabites (Blackburn district).

Extract from the Northern Daily Telegraph March 14th 1924

ORGANIST 50 YEARS

JAMES SANKEY'S RECORD.

4.30 a.m. Practices at Abbey Village.

How a lad of 15 working in the mill, became organist of the church which was the property of the mill owner, lies behind the report (published in the ‘Telegraph’ earlier in the week) that Mr James Sankey has completed fifty years as organist of the Abbey Village United Methodist Church, Withnell.

As a boy Mr Sankey, was intensely interested in music, and, even today he finds his chief joy in engaging in that art. He studied under the then organist of Plensington Priory and soon conceived a desire to play the organ at the Abbey Village Church.

In order to make himself proficient on the instrument he sometimes went into the church at half-past four in the morning and practised, with his brother David as blower, until it was time to start work in the spinning room at the adjoining mill which at that time was in the possession of Mr W.M. Park, who owned most of property (including the church) in the locality

Mr Park heard of James Sankey's hobby, and on one occasion; authorised the young musicians to buy a quantity of music for use at the church; the employer himself defraying the cost. It was at Mr. Park’s request that Mr Sankey, then a boy, 15 or 16 years old, became the regular, organist of the church.

For the last half century, he has faithfully maintained that position; working cordially with a choir which has in many directions proved an extremely able one.

The fifty years have, in Mr Sankey's view, seen great developments in regard to the singing, brought about, to a large extent by the wider curriculum of the day schools. In his earlier days very few people could read and the hymns were given out a verse at a time by, the pastor.

Seldom Absent

During the long period he has held office, Mr Sankey had seldom :missed or been late at a service. Frequently, after attending musical festivals at Morecambe, he has cycled the long distance home. On one memorable occasion he had been to Blackpool Musical Festival on the Saturday and decided to cycle home early on the Sunday morning in, order to reach Withnell in time for the morning service. In company with his two brothers, he left Blackpool against a very, strong wind; which greatly retarded progress as the trio were crossing Freckleton Marsh.

Afraid lest he should be late; James pedalled his hardest and soon left his brothers far behind. To keep them informed as to his whereabouts, he pinned a notice on a gate where it was likely to be seen, bearing the words, ‘I am going on’.

He reached the church in time for the service, though it was nearly midday when his brothers arrived home

In other respects, Mr, Sankey has long records of service to his credit. For almost fifty, years he has been corresponding secretary for the Abbey Village Day Schools and for a similar period secretary of the Sunday school. He is also a member of the Old-Age Pensions Committee and the, local Elementary Education Committee.

His son, Mr Reuben Sankey; is an organist at Leigh.