Elizabeth Gaskell Bicentenary Celebrations
2010 marks the bicentenary of the birth of Elizabeth Gaskell, the accomplished writer of novels and short stories.
She also wrote the remarkable biography of her friend Charlotte Bronte and has become familiar to many through BBC adaptations of her
works:
Wives and Daughters
,
North
and most recently
Cranford.
She was raised as a Unitarian
and was married to Revd William Gaskell, Minister of the historic Cross Street Chapel in Manchester.
Unitarians are pleased to be associated with the extensive bicentennial celebrations, both in the Cheshire market town of Knutsford (the real Cranford) and also Manchester. A number of events will take place at the 300 year old Brook Street Chapel in Knutsford, where Elizabeth Gaskell, her ancestors and family rest in the graveyard. For further information www.brookstreetchapel.org .
There is a memorial plaque to Elizabeth in the recently rebuilt Cross Street Chapel www.cross-street-chapel.org.uk .
For details of Elizabeth Gaskell's approach to religion and Unitarianism please: click here.
Worship Pack
The Worship Panel of the General Assembly has prepared a pack as a worship resource for congregations: www.unitarian.org.uk/pdfs/Gaskell_Worship_Pack.pdf.
For more information on the Gaskell celebrations and the highlights of the year please contact the Gaskell Society: www.gaskellsociety.co.uk
For a full list of events: www.elizabethgaskell.co.uk
