Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/359

 west end, with a wide double door; a west gallery extending over the porch, and approached by a staircase along the basement of the tower; and a baptistry covered with a separate hipped roof. The alterations just alluded to were carried out in 1874, and consisted of the erection of north and south aisles to the nave, providing accommodation for about 300 more worshippers. The district assigned to Christ Church in 1872 was converted into a parish in 1874, and the title of vicar given to the incumbent. The Rev. C. H. Wainwright, M.A., to whose exertions the new structure mainly owes its existence, was the first incumbent, and is the present vicar. The schools connected with the church are situated in Queen Street, and were built in 1872.

During the year 1866 the Lancaster Banking Company and the Manchester and County Banking Company each opened a branch in Blackpool, and like the Preston Bank, previously referred to, now transact business daily.

In July, 1867, the Prince of Wales Arcade on Central Beach was finished and opened, comprising a block of building, with extensive market accommodation, assembly rooms, etc., erected on the site between the Beach and Royal Hotels in an imposing and ornamental style of architecture; and on the 19th of December, the corner stone of the Temperance Hall in Coronation Street was laid by the Rev. R. Crook, and in the following July the erection was completed and opened. The temperance movement had been commenced in Blackpool four years anterior to that date, when a Band of Hope in connection with the United Methodist Free Church was formed, and the number of its members increased so rapidly in the intervening time that it was considered advisable to build the present Hall for their meetings, and for those of others who were interested in the same cause.

The marked success which had attended the construction of the North Pier induced a company of gentlemen to erect a similar one, running seaward from the margin of the promenade at the south of Blackpool. The first pile was screwed in July, 1867, and on the 30th of May, 1868, the South Pier and Jetty were thrown open to the public without any inaugural ceremony. It is built of wrought iron and timber, and has the following dimensions:—Total length 1,518 feet, the main promenade being 1,118 feet, and the lower promenade or jetty 400 feet; the entrance