[From Ramsey Courier 3rd June 1927]

ANDREAS CLUB, SOME NOTES AND DIGRESSIONS

By WILLIAM RADCLIFFE.

The institution of Benevolent Societies was an outcome of the evangelical revival, and in the early years of last century we find them being established in the Isle of Man. Their constitution was democratic, the members themselves annually electing a president, secretary. stewards and committee for the ensuing twelve months.

The meeting-place was generally the old parochial school, and though non-sectarian in basis, the Society usually attended Divine Service in the parish church on its annual festival day.

It is interesting to note that in several parishes there were also independent women's societies, managed on similar lines.

I cannot definitely say which was the earliest parish club in the Island, but the original 'rule book'? of Onchan Benevolent Society—a copy of. which may be seen in the library of the Manx Museum—shows that it was founded in 1810, while Andreas Benevolent was founded in 1812.

As this Society is now the sole survivor out of all the Insular parish clubs which existed a hundred years ago, and as at present it shows every sign of living till the Millennium, a few notes regarding its history and personalities should be of interest to the younger generation of Andreas parishioners, if not to a wider circle.

The original rules of 1812 were revised in 1842 under the presidency of Wiliam Crennell, Braust, while additional rules were formulated in 1878 when William Kneale, then Andreas post-master, was president.

Towards the end of last century it became obvious to the younger members that if something was not done to bring the Society into line with the great friendly Societies, such as the Oddfellows, Foresters and Rechabites—especially with regard to the admission of juveniles—it must inevitably go the wav of all other parish clubs.

In the vear 1900 I was elected president for the specific purpose of steering the little craft through the stormy waters of reformation, and when it had arrived at the desired haven, of re-drafting its code of rules, in which, however, some minor alterations were made during the presidency of J. W. Teare, Ballakelly, in 1923.

During my year as president I went to the trouble of finding out who had been president, secretary and stewards of the Society from the year of its institution in 1812 till the year 1900.

This was a difficult quest, as some of the records were rather imperfect, few addresses were given, and in several cases one could only determine the names by inference.

Nevertheless, I produced an almost complete list, which was printed as an appendix to the new book of rules, and in later years has been carefully kept up to date.

The president for the first two years was Thomas Allen, while the secretary was Charles Cowle, and I have always understood that they were the founders of the Society. Captain Robert Allen was also an early secretary and president. The Allens were no doubt members of the well-known Ballavarry family, while Charles Cowle was a member of the family that owned Ballakaneen and afterwards, Ballaghaue.

The Cowles, of Ballakaneen, were ardent Methodists, and when a chapel was built on the spot where John Wesley preached at Ballaghaue, on June 5th, 1781, it was named Ballakaneen in honour of the Cowles.

When this chapel was pulled down and a new one built in 1863, away from the original site, it was still called Ballakaneen.

In 1822 we first find the name of Lace Radcliffe, of Larivane, as a steward of the Society, a name that occurs in after years both as secretary and president.

Lace Radcliffe was in his time a well-known local preacher, equally versed in Manx and English. In my childhood, I often conversed with him in Manx. He died while preaching in Smeale Wesleyan Chapel nearly fifty years ago.

In 1822 also we find John Radcliffe secretary, a post he filled till 1828.

He belonged to Ballachurry, and was a member of the "Sundher" or "Sumner" branch of the Radcliffe family, who were among the first of John Wesley's adherents in the Island. Members of this family were the principal masons at the building of Andreas Church in 1800-1802,

His brother, William feft the Island in 1802, to become a Wesleyan minister, He is often confused with William Thomas Radcliffe, of later date, who became superintendent minister of Wesley's own Chapel in City Road, London.

Some years ago I was speaking to the late William Lace Clague; member of the London County Council, who in his student days was number one on the all-England list of the Queen's Scholarship examination, and holder of the world's record for 100 yards' flat-racing.

I was much surprised when he told me that one of his great-grandfathers was "Billy Radcliffe, of Kirk Andreas,"—the man who left the Island in 1802.

Another of John Radcliffe's brothers was Charles, a local preacher in the Ramsey-Peel Circuit, who left the Island to become a Wesleyan minister in 1810.

He had two sons, Charles Bland (so named in honour of Bland, the superintendent of the Ramsey-Peel Circuit) and John Netten.

Both became world-famous men, Charles as a great authority on nerve diseases, and John as the man who stamped out Cholera in London, and practically founded the service of Public Health.

Out of thirteen Manxmen whose careers are given in the Dictionary of National Biography (the British hall-mark of fame), two are the brothers Charles Radcliffe and John Radclifte, whose uncle was secretary of Andreas Club.

In 1828 John Cannell, the parochial schoolmaster, became secretary, holding this office for twenty years, with a break of three years during which Lace Radcliffe was. secretary.

John Cannell must have been a remarkable man. A native of Peel, he was a great expert in the Science of Navigation, and while at Kirk Andreas his fame as a teacher of this subject brought him pupils from England and, I believe, even from Norway.

Land surveying was another art in which he showed great ability both in practice and teaching.

He died in 1854, but his name endures among the older inhabitants of Kirk Andreas to this very day.

Alter John Cannell came John Radcliffe, son of the John Radcliffe already mentioned, and consequently first cousin to the two great London doctors. Altogether he held the office for 13 years, with a break of six years, during which the secretary was William Sayle, Keilthushtag.

His brother, Robert Radcliffe, father of the present Robert Radcliffe, of Ballayockey, also held various offices, including that of president.

The man who held the office of secretary for the greatest length of time was John Cormode, of Knock-e-nean, father of the present day Robert Cormode, Knock-e-nean, Thomas Cormode, of Ballawhane, and Walter Cormode, of Ramsey.

All these, and other members of this family, have been enthusiastic workers for the Society and have held the highest offices.

My friend, James Dugdale, who has lived to see two of his sons become president, was secretary for 10 years, and was followed by the late William Lace Radcliffe, grandson of Lace Radcliffe, the Manx preacher.

He held the office for 15 years, and was succeeded bv the present day secretary, H.W. Goldsmith, a grandson of one of the men who rowed Princé Albert ashore when he visited Ramsey in 1847.

In this brief sketch I have omitted many names of interest and importance, but I must mention a few others.

William Sayle, of Larivane, president in 1826 and 1830, was probably the best Manx scholar of the last century.

Thomas Hampton, steward so far back as 1825, and at later dates. was for a generation the highly successful master of the little school at the Lhen: father. of John Hampton, a former printer and postmaster, of Ramsey, and grandfather of the present. Dr. Hampton, of Douglas; while James Martin, of St. Jude's, now the father of the Society, has been for more than a generation one of the most sagacious and progressive members the Society has possessed.

Very few of the leading landowners: Kirk Andreas have, in the past, been associated with the Society as members, and it is therefore gratifying to find that in recent years a representative of one of the oldest families. in the parish,—W. C. Christian, Ballacorey,—has become one of its most enthusiastic supporters and has held the post of president.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2026