Revd Roger Farnworth

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I am a retired Church of England minister now living in Telford in Shropshire (UK).

When working, I was living in Manchester Diocese and was Team Rector of the Parish of the Good Shepherd, Ashton-under-Lyne (until the end of 2021). I was, at different times, Area Dean of Ashton (until 2016) and Borough Dean of Tameside (until 2021). You will find posts which relate to my ministry under the menu tab ‘Ashton-under-Lyne‘.

My ministry also encompassed roles in a number of Charities, including being Chair of the Board of Trustees of Action Together and LEAP/St. Peter’s Partnerships. I was Chair of the Management Committee of Holy Trinity Church and Community Centre, and at different times a Governor at a number of Church Schools (Holy Trinity School, Hurst Knoll School, Parochial School, St. James’ School & St. Peter’s School, all in Ashton-under-Lyne).

In retirement, I have two Trustee roles: I am a member of the Trust Board of Three Spires Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust formed by Lichfield Diocese; and I am a Trustee of Rukungiri Orphan Partnership, a charity which supports a school and vocational centre in South West Uganda through child sponsorship.

In the Autumn of 2013 my wife Jo and I were able to enjoy a 3 month sabbatical. We spent the first 3 weeks in Uganda, had a month on pilgrimage around Celtic Christian sites on the coast of Ireland and Scotland and then spent 4 weeks reading. You can follow our joint blog here: Jo and Roger’s Sabbatical Blog

Over the years I have had an interest in Honour and Shame as pivotal values in other cultures and on the effect of shame on individuals and groups in our own culture. On sabbatical, I was exploring what the gospel has to say to those who experience debilitating shame – a subject that formed the basis of my MA dissertation.

As my reading continues, I might to be able to write an enhancement on the MA dissertation. You will also find a number of articles relating to theology and ethics under the menu tab Comments and Reflections.

You’ll also notice in the menu an option to explore one of my other interests which is railways, model and full size. This has become a very popular part of the website and is likely to grow as I give it some attention in retirement.

Roger

122 thoughts on “Revd Roger Farnworth”

  1. raemacmethods's avatarraemacmethods

    Greetings and Happy Tuesday , I am working on a documentary about The Jamaica Railway , and would love to get some insight from you . Please email me so I can do a formal introduction.

    Thanks

    Rohan

    rohanmcleish@gmail.com

    Reply ↓
  2. raemacmethods's avatarraemacmethods

    Greetings and Happy Tuesday , I am working on a documentary about The Jamaica Railway , and would love to get some insight from you . Please email me so I can do a formal introduction.

    Thanks

    Rohan

    rohanmcleish@gmail.com

    Reply ↓
  3. Andy's avatarAndy

    Im currently working through your site in reference to the wagon lift on the Cornish side of the river. I have so many questions on the lift but am struggling to find answers.
    Any further links you know of?

    Andy
    http://www.4ndy.net

    Reply ↓
  4. John M Kennedy's avatarJohn M Kennedy

    A few weeks ago, at a community dinner event in North Toronto, Nov 22, 2024, I met a Fintona gal, from the County Tyrone, Leslie by name (or was it Jean), now living in Ontario, who has a ticket from the last journey of the one-horse Fintona tram. I was pleased to tell her that about 1960, I met a man in Dublin who was staying at the same small hotel as my friend Brian and I, and learned that he had driven the one-horse tram. Brian, a good poet, was particularly pleased to meet the driver, and this helped teach me to appreciate the social and historic significance of such minor meetings. There was something memorable to the incident, for reasons that, apart from aesthetics, escape me. The phrase “the one-horse team of Fintona” has a ring to it, for sure. Lo, almost 65 years later, Tyrone and Fintona and the tram strike a spark. Perhaps I will get to see the ticket my acquaintance has kept through the years and considerable travel.

    The pictures on your website offer a vivid impression of this curious, idiosyncratic half-mile journey, the open-top-deck tram itself, the horse and the rails. Your tale is much appreciated.

    After acting at the Edinburgh Fringe, as Queen’s Players, courtesy of impresario Michael Emmerson, Brian and I, students from Queen’s Belfast, our home town, were attending the Dublin Theatre Festival. A dramatist might make something of this Fintona wheel that has come round a charming circle, giving me at least a feeling of a small and very personal world.

    John

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  7. Pamela's avatarPamela

    Hi Roger

    I was most interested to read about the New Mossley Gas Works. I have been trying to do some research and would be most grateful if you could contact myself via the email provided. Thank you .

    Reply ↓
  8. John Cavanaugh-O'Keefe's avatarJohn Cavanaugh-O'Keefe

    Hi Roger Farnsworth —

    I have written a short book about Sodom, making some of the same arguments you make. My starting point is a little different: I’m focused on immigration.

    I’d be very glad to get your reactions. Can you tell me how to send you my book?

    Or: you can get in on Amazon (UK) or Kindle. “”Wrong about Sodom.” by John Cavanaugh-O’Keefe

    Reply ↓
      1. Barry Oliver's avatarBarry Oliver

        Hi Roger – I was researching Barrasford Train Station in Northumberland, I am now the owner of it. I came across your website when researching and love your photos of the Station. I’d love to share some of it now it is our home and renovated. Some original features remain.

        thanks

        Barry

  9. esodha's avataresodha

    Hi RogerI hope you are doing good, my back ground is from Kenya and Zambia, I currently live in the Midlands, UK and have done so for many years now, came across your impeccable link/work on the Uganda Railways (Lunatic Line),I am also into Kenyan history in particular and run a Website (friendsofmombasa.com) and have done so for many years now.Your work has inspired me immensely in terms of the coverage on  “Lunatic Line” as we all know, it is not easy to captivate all minute details from one huge source on East African history or any other and one has to have a vast amount of source/s to reach out to. I must say, you do that well.I would like to think that I have gathered a lot of historical books over a decade or so, some compilation gathered are scarce, not only in books but other collections; this all helps keep the website ticking over.I have added your esteemed link to my website and would like to thank you immeasurably for sharing your vast input and in turn allows me, thus hope to share/fan out all this information to different audiences/readers that are keen on East African history.Thank you again and keep up the good work you do it so diligently…Mr Sodhahttps://www.friendsofmombasa.com/british-empire-in-east-africa/e-a-uganda-railways-mackinnon-scalter-road/

    Reply ↓
  10. David Carr's avatarDavid Carr

    Hello Rodger

    i am a retired railway worker and my hobby is building gauge 1 locomotives

    question is do you have or know of anyone I can purchase from a diagram locomotive drawing of a E1 class 2-4-0 locomotive drawing ( No 58 )

    many thanks

    Dave

    Reply ↓
    1. Roger Farnworth's avatarRoger Farnworth Post author

      Hello Dave

      Thank you for your message, I have just picked it up now. I am sorry I don’t know where you can pick up the drawings for an E1 class loco.

      Kind regards

      Roger

      Reply ↓
  11. Andrew DAVID's avatarAndrew DAVID

    Dear Roger

    What a fascinating site you have created: the information on the Stockton and Darlington celebrations is most informative. Thank you.

    Andrew David

    Reply ↓

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