William Gaskell Minister

Born in Latchford of a prominent Warrington Unitarian family, he was an outstanding minister of Cross Street Chapel Manchester. In 1845, he was appointed professor of English History and Literature at Manchester New College. He established evening classes at Owen’s College and from 1858 taught at the Manchester Working Men’s College. He was editor of the Unitarian Herald and principal of the Unitarian Missionary Board. A writer of pamphlets and hymns, his wife Elizabeth wrote Mary Barton influenced by the poverty she saw in Manchester