Near a mile from Crawshawbooth up the hill on the old coach road to and from Burnley is the small village of Goodshaw Chapel, there is only the road through, there is two public houses, an old church, an old Baptist chapel at the north end of the village, and there were also a pair of stocks. […] Until about the year 1830, two very peculiar musical friends resided here. One was Thomas Healey, the organist at the … more >>
Near a mile from Crawshawbooth up the hill on the old coach road to and from Burnley is the small village of Goodshaw Chapel, there is only the road through, there is two public houses, an old church, an old Baptist chapel at the north end of the village, and there were also a pair of stocks. […] Until about the year 1830, two very peculiar musical friends resided here. One was Thomas Healey, the organist at the church before it was rebuilt. […] He removed to Burnley shortly after, and died there in 1858. Healey removed to Back Lane near the Bull and Butcher Inn, here he taught a day school for some time, but his main hobby was music. He therefore taught a good many, both Vocal and Instrumental music. He was called the “Father” of Burnley musicians and in 1871 their respect was shown by erecting a monument from the proceeds of a grand concert held on the Cricket Field, Turf Moor, Burnley. It was held on Saturday, Aug 5, 1871, and consisted of 1,000 performers, Vocal and Instrumental, comprising the Choral Society, all the choirs of Burnley and neighbourhood, choirs of Padiham, Lowerhouse, Higham, Accrington, Sabden, Colne, Barrowford, Marsden, Lane Head, Holmes Chapel, Cornholme, Bacup, Crawshawbooth, Bury, Worsthorn, Manchester, the United Tonic Sol Fa classes of the district, the 17th Lanc. Rifle Volunteer Band, Nelson, Haggate, Bands, Burnley Hand Bells, and 4 Harmoniumists - Messrs T. Pollard of St. Peters, Hacking of St. Leonards, Padiham, Birkett, St. Mary, T. Pollard, Brunswick. The Programme consisted of 32 items, selected from the works of Handel, Mornington, Verdi, Danby, Pelton, Haydn, Stevens, Root, Seward, Bradbury, Krugh and Mozart, all the performers voluntarily gave their services and the cost of the monument was £300. The following is on the stone in Burnley Cemetery: - In Memory of Thomas Healey the Father of Burnley Musicians who died April 9th, 1858. Aged 75 years. Erected by the united choirs and musical societies of the district with the proceeds of an Open Air Memorial Festival in which 1154 Vocal and Instrumental performers took part on August 5th, 1871. The tune “Finsley” his own composition is carved on a scroll at the top of the monument.
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