Altrincham Celebrations (1920)

Tercentenary celebrations in the town of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, centred around the Baptist and Free Church communities. Sermons were preached at the Baptist Church by a number of local notables. These touched on common themes, like the hardship endured by the Pilgrim Fathers and the perceived importance of the Mayflower voyage to democratic values in America. The Rev. Leyton Richards even argued that the event had “sown the seeds from which sprang... the idea of federated peoples... soon, it was hoped, to find effective realisation in the League of Nations”. This was followed by a gathering of young people at the Altrincham Hippodrome (now demolished), the highlights of which were a lantern show and a lot of “hearty singing”. Addresses were also given, including one by Professor A. Eckhof, of Leiden University, in his capacity as the Dutch Delegate of the National Celebration.

Manchester Guardian, “Altrincham and Pilgrim Fathers”, 8 October 1920.

October 1920