	1921 to 1925
	The Lych Gate In the spring of 1921 the lych gate was built to replace the old arched iron gate. It was erected under the will of James Bardsley, one time sidesman and People's Warden at the church. Prior to the formation of the Hazel Grove and Bramhall UDC, Mr Bardsley had been Clerk to the Norbury Parish Council. The Playing Fields Not only had the day school building once more become a hive of social activity, but the purchase of approximately six and a half acres of land on Hatherlow (21) in 1921 enabled the more active members of the congregation to indulge in their favourite outdoor pastimes. (22) 1914-18 War Memorial In April 1923 a stone tablet engraved with the 41 names of those who fell during the 1914-1918 war was dedicated by the Bishop of Chester, as also was a tablet to Mr Screeton, and a banner embroidered and presented to the Church by his widow. Bell Restoration As the memorial chancel fund increased so did the ambitions of the PCC. The bell frame was in need of repair so the council decided to seize the opportunity to recast and augment the tower bells. Because the clamour of the bells had been part of the Hazel Grove scene for so long, it was decided to throw open the fund to the general public. The estimated cost of this project amounted to £680 plus a new frame, made up as follows: Bell no. 1 ... ... ... £48 2 ... ... ... £51 3 ... ... ... £57 4 ... ... ... £63 5 ... ... ... £73 6 ... ... ... £95 7 ... ... .. £117 8 ... ... .. £176 (tenor and clock bell) The removal of the bells from the tower attracted many visitors as they rested in the churchyard before being transported to Messrs Taylor & Co at Loughborough. The expert advice given by Taylors was that as the third and fourth bells dated 1617 were such fine examples of the old bell founders craft, they should be preserved. These can now be seen resting on two beams in the lower bell tower.	On their return to Hazel Grove four recast bells, along with the four new bells were paraded around the village on suitably decorated lorries. When they rang out at seven minutes past four on the 24th October 1925, another red letter day was marked up on the calender of the Norbury Bell ringers. The New Chancel The visit of the Bishop of Chester to the Church on that Saturday afternoon marked the culmination of over 40 years of anticipation and seven years of intensive effort. For in addition to the building of the chancel (23) and the restoration of the bells the old east windows had been restored and reset in the new chancel, the east end vestries had been enlarged and small vestries provided at the West end, the belfry and all the 'windows had been enlarged, the galleries had been reseated, the roof had been repaired and reslated, the broken pinnacles on the tower had been renewed, and the stone work repointed and the whole church decorated (24) inside and out. With the installation of electric lighting (25) the marks left around the galleries where the old gas fittings had been were hidden behind shields on which were depicted the various arms of the New Testament saints. The cost of the whole restoration amounted to approximately £6,000. Unfortunately, owing to the limitation of building space the organ could not be accomodated in the chancel, as originally intended, but was moved in its entirety to the east end of the gallery. The task of keeping the new chancel clean fell to the senior member of the Norbury Girl Guides (26). For them Friday night became "chancel night." (21) Hatherlow comes from hadder (heather) and law (a rise or low hill) (22) The Playing Fields were first used by the Sunday School Football team when they played Mount Tabor Sunday School on the 21st November 1921 (23) Mark Lane and Co. carried out all the structural alterations (24) Decorations were by G. Griffin and Sons. (25) Electrical work was by Bardsley and Sons (26) The Girl Guides were formed in April 1921
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

1921 to 1925

The Lych Gate

In the spring of 1921 the lych gate was built to replace the old arched iron gate. It was erected under the will of James Bardsley, one time sidesman and People's Warden at the church. Prior to the formation of the Hazel Grove and Bramhall UDC, Mr Bardsley had been Clerk to the Norbury Parish Council.

The Playing Fields

Not only had the day school building once more become a hive of social activity, but the purchase of approximately six and a half acres of land on Hatherlow (21) in 1921 enabled the more active members of the congregation to indulge in their favourite outdoor pastimes. (22)

1914-18 War Memorial

In April 1923 a stone tablet engraved with the 41 names of those who fell during the 1914-1918 war was dedicated by the Bishop of Chester, as also was a tablet to Mr Screeton, and a banner embroidered and presented to the Church by his widow.

Bell Restoration

As the memorial chancel fund increased so did the ambitions of the PCC. The bell frame was in need of repair so the council decided to seize the opportunity to recast and augment the tower bells. Because the clamour of the bells had been part of the Hazel Grove scene for so long, it was decided to throw open the fund to the general public. The estimated cost of this project amounted to £680 plus a new frame, made up as follows:

Bell no.
1 ... ... ... £48
2 ... ... ... £51
3 ... ... ... £57
4 ... ... ... £63
5 ... ... ... £73
6 ... ... ... £95
7 ... ... .. £117
8 ... ... .. £176 (tenor and clock bell)

The removal of the bells from the tower attracted many visitors as they rested in the churchyard before being transported to Messrs Taylor & Co at Loughborough. The expert advice given by Taylors was that as the third and fourth bells dated 1617 were such fine examples of the old bell founders craft, they should be preserved. These can now be seen resting on two beams in the lower bell tower.

On their return to Hazel Grove four recast bells, along with the four new bells were paraded around the village on suitably decorated lorries. When they rang out at seven minutes past four on the 24th October 1925, another red letter day was marked up on the calender of the Norbury Bell ringers.

The New Chancel

The visit of the Bishop of Chester to the Church on that Saturday afternoon marked the culmination of over 40 years of anticipation and seven years of intensive effort. For in addition to the building of the chancel (23) and the restoration of the bells the old east windows had been restored and reset in the new chancel, the east end vestries had been enlarged and small vestries provided at the West end, the belfry and all the 'windows had been enlarged, the galleries had been reseated, the roof had been repaired and reslated, the broken pinnacles on the tower had been renewed, and the stone work repointed and the whole church decorated (24) inside and out. With the installation of electric lighting (25) the marks left around the galleries where the old gas fittings had been were hidden behind shields on which were depicted the various arms of the New Testament saints. The cost of the whole restoration amounted to approximately £6,000.

Unfortunately, owing to the limitation of building space the organ could not be accomodated in the chancel, as originally intended, but was moved in its entirety to the east end of the gallery.

The task of keeping the new chancel clean fell to the senior member of the Norbury Girl Guides (26). For them Friday night became "chancel night."

(21) Hatherlow comes from hadder (heather) and law (a rise or low hill)

(22) The Playing Fields were first used by the Sunday School Football team when they played Mount Tabor Sunday School on the 21st November 1921

(23) Mark Lane and Co. carried out all the structural alterations

(24) Decorations were by G. Griffin and Sons.

(25) Electrical work was by Bardsley and Sons