On a roadside outside Halifax is a tower. It’s a landmark, but it looks a little lost. Inside is a plaque remembering a woman called Ann. Until recently few knew who this woman was, or why she& #39;s important. Her memorial, hanging in the dark tower, wasn’t of much interest.

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Until the 1970s, the tower was attached to rather grand Georgian church. The church had been funded largely by William Walker, Ann’s grandfather. The edifice of 1775 was demolished in 1974, but we managed to save the tower, and rescued the Walker family monuments.

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In 1832, Ann fell in love with her neighbour, Anne Lister.The couple worshipped side-by-side at Lightcliffe church, sharing a velvet-lined box pew.

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On Easter Day, 1834, Anne and Ann exchanged vows and rings and then took communion together at Holy Trinity, York. Their historic union, sealed 180 years before England& #39;s Same-Sex Marriage Act, has been commemorated at the church with a rainbow plaque.

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In 2019, @BBCOne/ @HBO dramatised the remarkable life of Ann and Anne in the series, #GentlemanJack.

Last year, we opened the tower for the first time in many years. It was a momentous occasion: hundreds of people flocked from miles – to pay their respects at Ann’s memorial.

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Outside, @FOSMchurchyard have installed a simple plaque dedicated to Ann over the place we believe she is buried. A fundraising initiative by Ann Walker Memorial is well underway to fund the restoration of Ann’s original brass and enamel plaque.

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We’re proud of our connection to this courageous couple and hope to make the tower and memorials more accessible in the future.

You can read more in this blog by @FOSMchurchyard: http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/gentleman-jack-ann-walker-and-lightcliffe-church/

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