The boundary changes of 1974 affected Lancashire more than any other county in England and
Wales. The industrial areas of the south of the county became Merseyside and Greater
Manchester counties, the area around Warrington was transferred to Cheshire. In the north of
the county, the Furness and Cartmell peninsulas became part of the new county Cumbria.
These changes present family historians with problems in locating the records. This half day
course will address these problems as well as looking at some of the social history of the
birthplace of the industrial revolution.

With Peter Park from 10:30am-1pm £17.50 (£14.00 SoG members).

The course can be booked online or by calling 020 7553 3290

Technorati Tags: family history, genealogy, Lancashire, lecture, Manchester, talk

Family Tree Maker Software half-day course for beginners from 10:30am-1pm and a half-day course for advanced users from 2-5pm.

The introductory lesson will teach the essentials skills for creating, upgrading and maintaining your family tree in Family Tree Maker 2009. Through practical demonstration and discussion, new users and owners of previous versions will learn to effectively use all the various components of this latest version. (To give the most time to the 2009 features, we will not be discussing previous versions of Family Tree Maker unless it pertains to the 2009 program).
Price £17.50 (£14.00 SoG members) for each course.
To book, telephone 020 7553 3290, email events@sog.org.uk or book online

Our tutor, Mike Bollinger has been teaching adult computer courses for the past 20 years. He is currently a computer instructor at the Handsworth Community Forum in Sheffield, as well as owner of Computer House Calls, an onsite computer servicing business. Mike’s knowledge and love of the Family Tree Maker program has grown from his enjoyment in using the software in researching his own family history. You will find Mike’s style of teaching enjoyable and entertaining as well as his ability to explain technical topics in plain English.

Technorati Tags: class, family history, family tree maker, software

Society of Genealogists Family History Library and Education Centre:
Free tours of the library, lasting approximately 1.5 hours will be held at 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm.

Free talks programme:
11:30 Getting the Most from the Census (John Hanson)
12:45 Starting your Family History (Else Churchill)
2:00 Getting the Most from the Census (John Hanson)
3:15 Treasures of the Society of Genealogists (Sue Gibbons)

As space is limited, all tours and talks must be pre-booked, tel: 020 7553 3290 or email: events@sog.org.uk
There will also be an opportunity to get advice about starting your research or furthering the research you’ve already done. There is no charge for non-members to use the library for research this day from 11-6pm. Beginners welcome.

Technorati Tags: course, family history, free, library, research

Friday, 19 March at 2:00
A hands-on way to learn to use internet “pay-per-view” websites at the Society of Genealogists. Use of the websites are free with course tuition. It is advisable to bring some family history research to do and a memory stick to save your work. This is a tutorial with Alec Tritton £12.00 (£9.50 SoG members). Please note the society library is closed to research this day and only those attending the tutorial will be allowed to undertake internet research as part of the course.

To book telephone 020 7553 3290, email events@sog.org.uk or book online.

As part of its lecture and education program, the Society carries out a number of outside visits and walks. Today I was lucky enough to attend an outside visit to the parish church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London excellently conducted by the Verger.

This Norman church is said to be the oldest church building in London, founded by Rahere, a courtier of Henry I in 1123. It has been the scene of many films and TV series, such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, the latest being the current Sherlock Holmes film in cinemas as I write. The church is just a little way out of the City walls in Smithfield which was originally a field used for jousting and a venue for executions and of course well known today as the site of London’s former cattle market.

The building has gone through many changes and today it is possible to see some of the original 12th Century church with many of the additions that have taken place up to and including the 20th Century.The original Priory was surrendered to the tyrant King Henry VIII who passed them on to Sir Richard Rich who took up residence in the Prior’s House. Under “bloody” Mary it became a Dominican convent until an Act of Parliament of 1559 once again restored it to a Parish Church.

The church had a Charnel House under the Sanctuary which today is a dressing room. Here we saw some of the vestments that are quite old and only used on special occasions such as a rose coloured set used on Mothering Sunday.

The visit finished with a look at fifteen minute film about the church and a fascinating look at some photographs showing the graveyard and local Elizabethan housing from 1877;  then off to the tea room in the Cloisters for a well deserved cup of tea!

The church is open to visitors most days and charges £4 for entry but of course you will have to look around yourself and not get the expert commentary of the Verger or the camaraderie in company with other Society members. In fact the next two outside visits to Lambeth Palace and Goldsmiths’ Hall are both fully booked, and the next after that is the visit to Wesley’s Chapel on 31st March 2010.

I highly recommend an afternoon or day out led by the Society but suggest you book early  to avoid disappointment!

Technorati Tags: Society of Genealogists, St Bartholomew the Great