The late Mr. T. L Travers in his book of Manuscript, dated December 19th, 1888. records as follows:— "Curious sayings and doings of old James Eckersley, of Lowton. a well-known and highly respected local preacher. A man very well versed in Scripture, and who at times could pray and preach as one inspired.. His Gospel was love of God and his fellow creatures. A most innocent and unworldly man, who all his life went about doing good. Never-the-less he was erratic and highly eccentric, his speeches occas ionally bordering on the most startling themes. He is still living, being 85 years oi age. and wonderfully active at the time these lines were written". I once heard him say from the pulpit that if he had had twenty lads, he would make them serve the Lord or he "would breke ther yeads"; well, he has three sons, who have followed in their father’s footsteps.

At one time describing the glories of heaven, he said, "There would be mountains o dumplins an rivers o broth, and’th women woula have a rare time on’t as ther would bi no dolly tubs nur washin beillers waiten fur urn on a Monday mornin". On another occasion he said he would like to see all his neighbours, and all that he had known, to be saved, and if he had the power he would "slek hell-fire eaut". One time he was holding forth and a man near the pulpit was nodding, where. upon old James. tapping him on the head, said, "Wakken up. Ruffley, thers a creawn o’glory wainn fur thee in heaven if theu has a bawd yead’..

Being in his company once, and a young lady being present. he turned to her and said. "Ah tell thi what, wench. thi fevther owds some quare notions abeaut heaven. He thinks thoos ut ur saved al bi flyin abeaut wi angels, seem th wonders oth universe, an travelin fro one Orb tut tother. Ah tell thi what ast think it strange when I’m i heaven if ah see thi feyther whizzin past hooked on to a comet’s tail".

Conversation overheard. October, 1889. between two old Lowton celebrities, both being rather deaf. one aged 85 and the other 75. J. Eckerslev: ‘Did’t go to’t Chappil Anniversary o Sunday;? R. Collier: ‘Aye’. J. Eckersiev: ‘What wur Mawt (Mort) pretchin abeawt’?
R. Coller: ‘Well, he wur quite Apastolic like, he gan us a deol o Schripther. an he startet othe beginin an finished off athe eendin he gan us o text, but rawnt abeawt o good deol. Ah should like furt year him again, for he gan mi o deol o comfort in mi yead’.

Old Penks’ (Penkethman) account Of Bishop Ryles’ Sermon at St. Mary’s Church, Lowton, 1890.

"Hes one othe reet soart o passons. He didn’t daily but went reet at his wark. an he didn’t begin furt exalt his-sel nor howd up’ th sacriments for salvation. Nowt but plain straight forrud tawk, an when eed dun he gan o’er beawt anny moor bother".

Mr. Penkethman was a staunch supporter of Independent Method ism and lived at Lowton Hall Farm. where he died about 40 years ago. I used to hay-make for him during my school holidays, and I remember he was strongly opposed to Sunday haymaking. On one occasion his principles cost him dearly, for on a Saturday evening in July, 1872 after a period of fine weather, he had a twelve acre field of hay ready for being stacked. The workmen, afraid the weather might break expressed a wish to stack it on the following day, Sunday. Mr. Penkethman was against the suggestion, declaring he had never allowed haymaking on the Sabbath day, and he never would. The Sunday was fine until late afternoon, when a thunder storm came on, and it rained, as it had never in living memory done before or since. A larger area of land was flooded than has ever been known, and the weather never really picking up for some weeks, the hay was spoilt, and made only fit for bedding the cattle, or the manure heap.

The men said the man was a tool for not taking advantage of the fine Sunday, but Mr. Penkethman had the satisfaction of knowing that he had kept the Sabbath day holy, and as a good Methodist would no doubt console himself with the thought that his earthly loss would be to his eternal gain.

Richard Collier was a prominent member of the Chapel. and a local preacher, and as such he christened me when I was a child.

Mr. Ruffley. when a young man, had been one of the worst characters in the village, but through the influence of the Chapel he became a reformed man, and faithfully attended the services until his death. I remember him once telling his religious experiences, and with fervour portraying the "glory of heaven, with its beautiful mansions, one of which was reserved for him, its streets pave’t wi gowd. an no hongry ballies theer, furt neawdding mugs. wud bi runnin o'er wi dowf".

Mr. James Mort was considered to be one of the best preachers connected with the Independent Methodist. and hailed from Lvmm’ where he worked on the highway. He was in great demand for preaching Anniversary sermons, and having studied Botany, he always chose a text bearing on the subject. such as:—"Consider the lillies of the field", or "The grass withereth. etc". He would begin his discourse b outlining the science of plant life, and vegetable kingdom. and then give it a spiritual meaning. This he could do exceedingly well, and he was undoubtedly a good and intelligent preacher.

Although I have wandered far theologically from the Methodist fold since my young days. it is with gratitude that I acknowledge my indebtedness to these pioneers of Lowton Methodism. most of whom were old men when I was a boy, for their instruction and good advice, in trying to make me, as they would say, into a good lad.

Richard Ridyard 1935