TODAY we delve into the history of the Parish of St Aidan, Mill Hill, which is set to celebrate its church's 75th anniversary.

Mr Wynn Shepherd, one of the church's historians, tells Looking Back the story: "In the 1890s, the people of Mill Hill who wished to worship God had to cross fields and water to attend an Iron School that had been specially erected in Bower House Fold, along with a church at Feniscliffe.

This was most hazardous during the winter months in dark or icy conditions and worshippers were known to fall into the brook while crossing a makeshift wooden bridge with no railings. This situation was therefore deemed highly unsuitable.

So, in January 1894, the Rev J Blackburn-Brown, vicar of St Francis' Church, Feniscliffe, rented rooms at Stakes Hall in Mill Hill, which were opened as Stakes Hall Mission, but known as the cathedral.' Stakes Hall had been an old farm kitchen that had to be cleaned and fumigated, as the main area had been used for dressing fowl. Adjoining buildings were being used by a tripe dresser and the yard behind for keeping cows, so it was agreed that the vision for proper facilities must go on.

That took the form of a new school and church in Norfolk Street, Mill Hill, which was dedicated in 1896.

It was 30 years later, when the Rev Harry Moss, was appointed the first vicar of the new parish of St Aidan in 1926 - which was known as a postage stamp' parish because of its small population of 3,000 - that the drive for a church building really gathered momentum.

Rev Moss was a real character and the people of Mill Hill rallied round him and his wife in times when money was short and the Depression began to bite really hard on family and church.

There were no rich people in the parish, but families held penny boxes' and they put in whatever coppers they could.

The new vicar's enthusiasm generated a much greater momentum, though, and the people of St Aidan's Mission Church began to raise the money needed to have their own building for worship.

Events were held and people even denied themselves certain basics to enable the church to become a reality.

The foundation stone of the present church was finally laid on the July 11, 1931, by the first Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev P M Herbert. Fourteen months later the building was finished and it was consecrated on September 24, 1932.

St Aidan's can claim the distinction of being the very first church to be consecrated in the Diocese of Blackburn.

Rev Moss died in 1947 and Rev James Henry O'Brien became St Aidan's second vicar. During his time, a porch was built onto the west door and was dedicated to Rev Moss as a tribute to his work."

l A photo exhibition, Through The Years, is being staged in church from September 22 to 24.