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Funeral of Isaac Ball at Mow Cop 1925
Researched by John Lumsdon
Perched on the wind-swept slopes of the famous landmark, which divides Staffordshire on the north from Cheshire, the gaunt parish church of Mow Cop was the scene this afternoon, (30/12/1925) of many simple and earnest tributes to the seven men who lost their lives in the pit explosion at Birchenhead Colliery. The occasion was the funeral of Isaac Ball, of the Rookery, Kidsgrove, one of the men who was able to escape from the pit, but who succumbed to burns and shock on Sunday. The plain funeral cortege passed slowly up the narrow roads that wind steeply from the Rookery, to the height on which the church stands. All along the route and in the cottages clustering round the church, blinds were drawn, and people stood bareheaded in the roads, as the sad procession passed by.
At the head of the cortege were the deceased colleagues of the Loyal Ancient Order of Shepherds, while at the rear came many of his former workmates. The single coach contained the widow and five children, including three small boys. Mrs Ball was deeply affected. The coffin was covered with a huge cross of chrysanthemums, to which was attached the simple inscriptions “To our Loved One, from Wife and Family.”
After a spell of bright sunshine, rain began to fall, and as the mourners followed the body into the church a heavy rainstorm broke over the district.
Bourne by fellow workmen of the deceased to the chapel steps, the coffin rested for the simple service beneath an arch of evergreens, which had formed part of the Christmas decorations. Grouped together with the relatives were representatives of the North Stafford Miners Federation, including Mr R.B. Boote, (president of the Kidsgrove branch) Mr. G. Wittaker (secretary of the Kidsgrove branch). Behind the members of the Mount Pleasant Lodge of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds of which the deceased was a member, was Mr. W. Staverley (manager of the Birchenwood colliery) with a number of the deceased fellow-workmen, many of who were in the pit at the time of the disaster. Two of them Allen Booth and Allen Holland had only recently recovered from injuries they received in the explosion. Villagers occupied the rear of the church.
The calm solemnity and impressiveness of the service was emphasised by the contrast with the wildness of the elements, a gale giving torrential rain against the church windows until midway through the service.
Then during the reading of the lesson, the rain ceased temporality and through a rift in the clouds the lowering winter sun flooded the church with a pale golden light. The slanting rays of the sunshine caught the flower-covered coffin and the rites of Christian burial were given an added and striking impressiveness.
The hymns, “Christ will gather in His own” and “Peace perfect peace” was sung. Special prayers “for the eternal rest of Isaac Ball”, were said by the Vicar, (the rev. J.W.G. Jones) who conducted the service. Many women were over-come by emotion while the deputy organist, Mr. F. Clare, played the dead march from “Saul.”
At The Graveside
About 200 people took part in the procession through the churchyard to the graveside where the committal sentences were said by the vicar. After the coffin had been lowered into the grave, where the cross of white chrysanthemums had been place on the sanded bed, Mr. William Turner, of the Mow Cop lodge of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepard’s read the oration of the Order. During the committal prayers, the widow stood by the graveside supported by her eldest son, Mr. Eliott Ball. There were many floral tributes and wreaths by a variety of contributors.