Memorial to John Whitaker

John Whitaker (1772–1820) was an alderman of Macclesfield Borough Council and a local magistrate. In 1796 he opened a free Sunday School in Pickford Street, which accommodated about 40 children. In doing this he was inspired by Robert Raikes who had initiated the Sunday School movement, and by David Simpson, a local Anglican priest who had earlier provided schools for poor children in the town. Unlike most Sunday Schools, Whitaker's school was non-denominational. In 1814 he followed this by opening a much larger purpose-built Sunday School in Roe Street. The school was financed by public subscription and by the children paying a small weekly fee. Whitaker died in 1820, but the school…

The memorial is constructed in stone and marble, and stands about 9 m high. It consists of a tapering pedestal standing on steps, above which is a cornice decorated with acroteria. On top of this is a plain block surmounted by a draped urn. On the south face of the block is a medallion containing a bust of Whitaker in low relief. On the south face of the pediment is an inscription reading as follows.