We met local author and historian, Theresa Taylor Emberton today in the apt surroundings of St Thomas Church, Pendleton to chat about her latest book. St Thomas Pendleton, A Parish and Social History is three years of meticulous research in Salford, Manchester and London archives to produce this definitive history of the church known to generations of Salfordians as "Pengy Church." From a cluster of cottages surrounding a village green to the centre of an industrial landscape, towards the economic depression of the 1920s to the house clearances of the 1960s. It explores the lives of those who have lived in Pendleton for the past 250 years including the infamous mill owner, William Douglas better known as Black Douglas because of his harsh treatment to pauper children forced to work in his mill. Delighted to see chapters devoted to the Rev Samuel Proudfoot who came to St Thomas in 1921 and truly was a socialist priest with a deep concern for the welfare of his parishioners and wrote may tracts about the slums of Salford and living conditions, also credited with encouraging Walter Greenwood who was a church goer there to write his classic novel, Love on the Dole. Read how both World Wars impacted not only on the church but also local communities. the role the church has played in the last 200 years and what future role it will hopefully play. The book is essential reading for those interested in Salford and it's rich history, but also for social historians and those with an interest in the role a church plays within it's community. At 500 pages with photos, maps, references and appendices this is the definitive book on St Thomas Church and in my opinion a shoo in for the next Frank Mullineux Award Available: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomas-Pendleton-Parish-Social-History/dp/1999984692