On Monday 16th October 1893, Frank Marsden, 22, married Sarah Helliwell, also aged 22, in Halifax Parish Church (St John the Baptist), now known as Halifax Minster. (The interior had been restored only a few years previously by George Gilbert Scott and his son John so would have looked quite spiffy!) 

Frank was a greengrocer, of Green Lane, Halifax; Sarah’s given address was Church Street, Halifax. No occupation is given for Sarah on the certificate, just the status of spinster, though in 1891 she is in the census as a worsted reeler.  Her father, John, is listed as a mechanic (in 1891 he describes himself as a dye works fitter)  and Frank’s late father, Jonathan, as a greengrocer. John and Lily Helliwell (Sarah’s sister) were the witnesses.

I’ve not found anything further about the wedding unfortunately, but there is a family photo taken some 10 years later from which I’ve clipped Frank and Sarah to celebrate their anniversary. I never met this couple, my great-grandparents, but do know from the next generation how much they remained at the absolute heart of their family and how much they were loved.

The featured image of the flowers at the head of this post is from a family wedding last summer – I thought that reflected a nice link to the present and sufficed to commemorate their anniversary!