Rev Ralph Kinder, M.A. (Lumb's first Vicar)

Ralph Kinder M.A. 1848 – 1873

The best description of Ralph Kinder is found in the memoirs of his son Rev. Edward Herring Kinder M.A. “That he was a true servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, everyone who knew him can vouch; a moderate churchman, loyal to the prayer book, with a marked reverence for the house of God. He was earnest and energetic, always very accurate, with an aptitude for figures. He was a good disciplinarian, as the scholars who used to march to the number of considerable over 200, from the schools at Lumb and Water, could say; and some of them could perhaps speak feeling on this point. Today he would be called ‘severe’.

He was a man of many parts. At one time he was busy at the turning laithe, at another working hard in the hay field; together with Richard Ashworth, in 1863, he painted the Forest Holme school. In 1869, at the first show of the Whitewell Vale Agricultural Association, we find him President, taking the chair at the dinner at the Miner’s Arms. He was the means of preventing the wife and daughter of Mather, the blacksmith, being drowned, when Mather himself was swept away in the great flood. When living at Holme Nook, at great personal risk he rescued a woman from the water in another flood.”

Mr Kinders first home when he came to Lumb was at Shawclough, then he removed to Bank Top. Next he was at Piercy Clough, later at Holm Nook, and subsequently back at Piercy Clough. In the years 1854 and 1856 Mr and Mrs Kinder lost two of their children, and it is typical of the active and practical nature of the man that the gravestone now erected to their memory at the south-east of the church was carved by his own hands, in his study. Another work which he interested himself was the foundation of a village library, which was opened in 1861.

	Rev J. W. Baron, M.A. (Vicar 1873 – 1877)

James Wilkie Baron M.A. 1873 – 1877

The Rev. James Wilkie Baron M.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge, was appointed Vicar of Lumb by the late Bishop Frazer, on 1st May 1873. He held the living for five years, and would be the first to pay tribute to his eminent predecessor. Building activity continued unabated in the parish during his incumbency, during which time the vicarage was built, the school wall completed and a clock placed in the tower.

Robert Alexander McKee M.A. 1877 – 1882

Robert Alexander was the eldest son of the Rev. James McKee, born at Ward House, County Leitrim Ireland in 1847. Little is known of his time at Lumb, but his successor wrote’ “Coming immediately after Mr. McKee, I can myself testify to the excellent condition in which I found the affairs of Church, Schools, Vicarage house, and Parish at large, and to the good church tone which prevailed. As a remarkable evidence of Mr. Mckee’s activity, I may mention that during his five years incumbency, there were no fewer than 217 baptisms, as against 555 for the preceding thirty years.”

	Rev F. H. Lockett, M.A. (Vicar 1882 - 1909)

Francis Hall Lockett M.A. 1882 - 1909

Francis Lockett was presented by the Bishop of Manchester and was instituted on 24th October 1882. He was instrumental in raising money to pay off the vicarage debt in 1889 by a Sale of Work and organised a Bazaar in 1902 which realised £700 for a new Infant School.

He is said to have had a wonderful ear for music, but in his later years was afflicted by deafness, which made his manner appear abrupt.

Mr and Mrs Lockett ended their days at Lumb and both rest in St Michael’s churchyard.

Charles Edward Little M.A. 1909 – 1916

He arrived at Lumb a bachelor but married in Dec 1909. He was responsible for the formation of the Mothers’ Union and the Girls’ Friendly Society. During his time at Lumb he purchased a safe which was erected in the vestry. It is thanks to this that many valuable papers and documents relating to the church have been preserved. During his short time at Lumb, many other outside events took precedence on funds; The Bolton Colliery disaster of 1910, the Titanic disaster of 1912 and then the First World War. Consequently, funds for repairs were low and the Church suffered. Charles Little died in 1916 and is buried in the churchyard.

Walter Pearson 1916 – 1926

Walter Pearson commenced duties at Lumb in October 1916. He was responsible for the erection of the memorial porch to the men of Lumb who fell in the WW1. He also set up the St Michael’s Dramatic Society of which he took a keen interest. In 1926 he exchanged livings with the Rev T Caleb and left Lumb to become Vicar of Noman’s Heath.