Thomas Morgan Pentecostal Church 1976

Cadishead and Irlam Guardian, July 30, 1976 at Irlam Library.

Although the Pentecostal Church was founded in the days of the New Testament, it came to the Irlam District only this (20th) century.

 

The man who brought this old established church to Cadishead nearly 40 years ago and is still its representative today is Pastor Thomas William Morgan.

 

Mr Morgan began his work in Cadishead 38 years ago when he was ordained at Wakefield, Yorkshire, and returned to the district where he grew up and went to school.

 

He had no formal education for the church and explained: "I just felt the call of God start the work - and it has grown ever since." Mr Morgan said his devotion to the church began as a result of a vision.

 

Originally a member of the Methodist Church, Mr Morgan broke away with about half a dozen other people to form the Pentecostal Church in Cadishead, because he believes unlike the Methodists, in baptism by submersion.

 

"I was a Methodist preacher but I differed from the Methodists because I saw baptism by submersion was the way of the Gospel," he said.

 

The Pentecostal Church in Cadishead first started to meet in an old Methodist Mission, on the site of their present church on Liverpool Road. The members of the Pentecostal Church eventually bought the old Mission: "As the church grew we decided on a long term plan to take down the old Mission and rebuild a new church," Mr Morgan said. "And this is exactly what happened."

 

Although the War impeded building progress because materials were scarce, work began after 1945 when the first phase of building was begun. A new Sunday School was built on the side of the old Mission and when this was completed the original building was pulled down and replaced by the present church.

 

The Pentecostal Church in Cadishead belongs to the Assemblies of God, one of the sects which make up the Pentecostal faith; the other two being the Elim and the Apostolic.

 

There are at present more than 600 Pentecostal Churches throughout Great Britain and Ireland and many more in different parts of the world.

 

Mr Morgan and his wife, Alice, have a daughter, Olive, and grand-children, living in Canada who are members of the Pentecostal Church there. Mr and Mrs Morgan have visited Canada several times and Mr Morgan has preached in Canadian Pentecostal Churches. Their other daughter, Ruth Bracegirdle, Lives in Albert Street, Cadishead.

 

The Pentecostal Church, in common with other churches, Mr Morgan explains, lays emphasis on one particular point - baptism of the holy spirit. The Charismatic Movement is being followed by other denominations, Mr Morgan believes.

 

"The same thing has been discovered by members of all other denominations, even Roaman Catholics," Mr Morgan said, "although we were the first in the district to begin this particular action."

 

The only major difference between the Assemblies of God and the other sects of the Pentecostal Church is in their government. Mr Morgan explained: "As far as we are concerned in the Assemblies of God, each church governs itself independently, without any outside authority whatsoever."

 

CONFERENCE

As a minister of the Assemblies of God, Mr Morgan attends annual conferences, where new ministers are ordained and other business of the church discussed and cleared. I September the World Pentecostal Conference will be held in London. This conference is held every three years in different capitals of the world.

 

Although Cadishead's Pentecostal Church was built independently by its members, the church has no debts and is financially stable, without having to hold fund raising functions.

 

Despite starting with only about six members in 1938, the Pentecostal Church in Cadishead now has a large congregation, although this was reduced slightly at the time of the Steelworks closure. "I think we should express our gratitude to God for his help over the years," he added.

 

Mr Morgan said the Pentecostal Church tries to keep its services as bright as possible. Although the church does not hold concerts or musical events, as some churches do, Mr Morgan said anyone is welcome to play an instrument at church services if he is a reasonably competent musician.

 

The Pentecostal Church in Cadishead holds two conventions a year and Mr Morgan said these are usually very popular, drawing people from other congregations. The conferences often attract so many people, the congregation have to overflow into the Sunday School.

 

FOUNDED

Mr Morgan explained the Pentecostal Church was founded on the Day of Pentecost and is mentioned in the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles. "This is no new sect," he said.

 

Although he was born in Manchester and brought up in Cadishead, Mr Morgan is interested in the Welsh language and Wales. His father was Welsh and this led to Mr Morgan's interest, so much so that although he does not speak the language he has taught himself to read a little Welsh.

 

Mr Morgan would like to see churches of all denominations given more coverage by the press. He said that while abroad in Canada and America he read newspapers which devote pages to lists of services. "Really the press seem to be more interested in things of a religious nature over there and I would like to see this over here with people turning more to God," he said.

 

Image:

Pastor Thomas Morgan who brought the Pentecostal Church to Cadishead nearly 40 years ago after breaking away from the Methodist faith with a number of other people. He is pictured at home reading from his Bible.

 

 

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