Beckside Lights

"Beckside Lights" is a collection of heartwarming stories written by John Ackworth, the pen name of Reverend Frederick R. Smith, a Methodist minister. This sequel to the popular "Clog Shop Chronicles" is set in the fictional village of Beckside, located somewhere between Manchester and Bolton. The book portrays the daily lives of a close-knit Methodist community through twelve engaging tales. Ackworth's stories, centered around the lively conversations of a group of Methodists gathered around Jabez Clegg's clog shop fire, are full of sentimentality but also infused with a delightful sense of irony. Notably, Ackworth avoids preaching and instead presents the stories as relatable slices of life. Furthermore, he demonstrates his deep understanding of the Lancashire dialect by incorporating phonetic versions of late 19th-century Bolton speech into the dialogue. Overall, "Beckside Lights" offers an entertaining and authentic glimpse into the lives of a Methodist community, leaving readers c