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(ANCASHIRE J\(ONCONFORMITY; or,
SKETCHES, HISTORICAL & DESCRIPTIVE,

OF THE

Cowt.wcraftonoi' <xnb <DC5 $ue$pUvian £#urc#ee
in t$t Countp.
BY THE REV. B. NIGHTINGALE,
Author of the " History of the Old Independent Chapel,
Tockholes." -«• w *
THE CHURCHES OF BOLTON, BURY, ROCHDALE, ftc.

MANCHESTER:
John Hey wood, Deansgate and Ridgefield ;
2, Amen Corner,
LONDON, E.C.

3

THIS VOLUME

Huttronformisit D^tunj

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS and CHURCHES

WHOSE HISTORIES IT CONTAINS.

PREFACE.

After an interval of eighteen months another volume of " Lancashire
Nonconformity " is offered unto the public. The section of the county
covered by it is exceedingly rich historically, and Congregationally most
interesting. The populations are dense, the industries are many and
important, the vigour and enterprise of the people are everywhere manifest,
and, for the most part, the story of the churches is full of encouragement
and hope. How imperfectly that story is told in the following pages no one
feels more than myself; and the utter impossibility of securing absolute
accuracy has often been to me a grievous burden. I send forth my work,
asking only that it shall be considered a patient and an earnest effort, amidsc
many difficulties, to present Lancashire Congregationalists with a history
of their churches which shall not be quite unworthy. It is unnecessary to
repeat here what is said in the earlier volumes respecting the plan and
purpose of the work, and it only remains for me again to acknowledge my
indebtedness to my numerous friends.
Without exception, the Pastors and Deacons of the churches here
represented have generously given all needful information, and thereby
earned my deepest gratitude. The Rev. R. M. Davies, of Oldham, than
whom no man has done more for Lancashire Congregationalism, has con
tinued the loan of the County Union Reports, of which I have made large
use. Mr. Walley, artist, of Bolton, kindly supplied me with a photograph
of the picture painted by his father, and in other ways has given me
generous assistance. My obligations to numerous literary friends have
been acknowledged in the body of the book, but I would here take
the opportunity of thanking them for most valuable help, and for
permission to make use of their works. The Revs. J. Barton Bell, of
Ulverston, and S. MacNaughton, M.A., of Preston, have assisted in
reading the proof sheets ; and the illustrations have been mainly lent. If
this book shall be used bv the Great Head of the Church, though in ever so
small a degree, to enlarge His kingdom among men, by quickening an
interest in Congregationalism, I shall not deem the labour and time expended
in vain. BENJAMIN NIGHTINGALE.
Fishergate Hill, Preston,
July 31st, 1S92.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.— NONCONFORMITY IN BOLTON.
PAGES.
i. Nonconformist Pioneers  x  g
2. Bank Street Unitarian Chapel  6  15
3. Duke's Alley Congregational Church  16  30
4. St. George's Road Congregational Church  30  33
5. Mawdsley Street Congregational Church  33  30
6. Later Congregational Developments  39 — 43

¦CHAPTER II.— ROUND ABOUT BOLTON.
1. Walmsley : The Old Episcopal Chapel  44 — 54
2. Walmsley: The Unitarian Chapel  54 — 64
3. Egerton Congregational Church  64 — 69
4. Edgworth Congregational Church  6q — 78
5. Belmont Congregational Church  78—81
6. Rivington Unitarian Chapel  81 — 98
7. Horwich New Chapel  98 — 1 10
8. Horwich Lee Chapel  no — 115
9. Cockey Moor Chapel  115 — 127
10. Early Nonconformity in the Farnworth District —
Ringley Chapel  127 — 135
n. Market Street Congregational Church, Farnworth  135 — 143
12. Albert Road and Walkden Congregational Churches  143 — 147
.13. Francis Street and Little Lever Congregational Churches 147 — 153

viii. CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.— BURY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
PAGES.
I. Dundee Chapel, Holcombe  154 — 167
2. Park Chapel, Ramsbottom  167 — 178
3. Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, Bury  178 — 184
4. New Road Congregational Church, Bury  185 — 194
5. Bethel Congregational Church, Bury  195 — 203
6. Castlecroft and Blackford Bridge Congregational
Churches, Bury  203 — 210
7. Tottington Congregational Church  211 — 215
8. Stand Unitarian Chapel  215—226
9. Stand Independent Church  226 — 233
10. Radcliffe Congregational Church  233 — 238
*n. Stubbins, Dundee, and Others  238 — 239
CHAPTER IV.— ROCHDALE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
1. Blackwater Street Unitarian Chapel, Rochdale  240 — 244
*. Providence Congregational Church, Rochdale  244 — 247
3. Milton Congregational Church, Rochdale  248 — 249
4. Calderbrook, Smallbridge, and Others  249 — 254
5. Bamford Congregational Church  254 — 262
6. Heywood Congregational Church  263 — 268
7. Whitworth Congregational Church  269 — 279
8. Todmorden, Clough Foot, and Bacup  279 — 283
Notes  285—289
Index  290—308
" Wrongly numbered in book.

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Dr. Robert Simpson in 1795  ,  21
(From an old Print.)
George Whitefield Preaching at Bolton in 1750  29
(The original, painted by Mr. T. Walley, is in the possession
of Thomas Wilkinson, Esq., J.P., of Whitehill, Sharpies, who
has kindly permitted the use of a Photograph.)
Mawdsley Street Congregational Chapel, Bolton  38
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Hall f th' Wood, Bolton  40
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Prospect Tower on Turton Heights  46
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Facsimile of the Rev. Thomas Key's Ordination Certificate 51
(From the original document in the possession of Mr, G. H. Adshead,
Pendleton.)
Judge Jeffreys  53
(From an old Print.)
Walmsley Unitarian Chapel  ...  63
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Congregational Chapel, Egerton ... ...  68
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)

x. ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Congregational Chapel, Edgworth  75
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Rivington Pike Fifty Years Ago  82
(From an old Print.)
Druids Cutting the Mistletoe ... ... ... ... ... 83
(Lent by the Rev. T. B. Johnstone.)
Rivington Church  ...  ... ... 85
(Lent by Mr. James Croston, Editor of the new Edition of Baines's
" History of Lancashire.")
The Chapel, Smithell's Hall  89
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Rivington Unitarian Chapel   90
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
New Chapel, Horwich  102
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Unitarian Chapel, Ainsworth  126
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Irwell Valley, Farnworth  128
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Ringley Chapel Tower  134
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
The Old Congregational Chapel, Farnworth  136
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
New Congregational Chapel, Market Street, Farnworth ... 140
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Stoneclough by Kersley  142
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)

ILLUSTRATIONS. xi.
PAGE.
Albert Road Congregational Church, Farnworth ... ... 145
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Francis Street Congregational Chapel, Farnworth ... ... 148
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Little Lever Congregational Chapel  ... ... 151
(Lent by the Proprietors of the Bolton Journal.)
Holcombe Hill  ... ... ...  ... 155
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Summerseat ...   ... ... ... 164
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Warburton Church  169
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Radcliffe Church  217
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Walton Church  219
(Lent by Messrs. J. and G. Toulmin.)
Blackstone Edge  225
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)
Entering into Bacup  282
(By permission of Mr. John Heywood.)

LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
CHAPTER I.
NONCONFORMITY IN BOLTON.

I.— NONCONFORMIST PIONEERS.
In the great Civil War of the seventeenth century Bolton came
to be styled the " Geneva of Lancashire," because of its unwaver
ing support of Presbyterian or Nonconformist principles. In the
history of that period it may be said to occupy a unique position
because of its sufferings in the cause of civil and religious
freedom. On the 28th of May, 1644, there took place "the bloody
and barbarous Massacre at Bolton-in-the-Moors." Two previous
assaults by Lord Derby had been bravely repulsed ; and now,
smarting beneath a sense of defeat, Prince Rupert and Lord
Derby united their forces and made a vigorous and successful
effort to reduce this stronghold of the Parliamentary forces.
" Poor sighing and solitary Bolton '' became a " spectacle of
sorrow and amazement " to all England. Accounts vary as to
the number of the slain and captured, but probably some 800 or
r,ooo Boltonians fell, and about 700 were made prisoners, which
in those days of sparse populations would be a very large number.
In an account of this siege by an eye witness appears the
following vigorous description of the barbarities associated with
that event : —
3—i

2 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
At their entrance, before, behinde, to the right, to the left, nothing heard
but 'kill dead' — 'kill dead' was the word in the Town, killing all before
them without any respect, without the town by their Horsemen pursuing
the poore amazed people, killing, stripping, and spoiling all they could meet
with, nothing regarding the doleful cries of women or children, but some
they slashed as they were calling for quarter, others when they had given
quarter, many hailed out of their houses to have their brains dashed out
in the streets, those that were not dead in the streets already, pistoled,
slashed, brained, or trodden under their horses feet, with many insolent,
blasphemous oaths, curses, and challenges to heaven itselfe. . . They left
almost three score poor widows husbandlesse and hundreds of poor children
fatherlesse, and a sweet godly place a nest of owles and a den of dragons,
almost without inhabitant : only a few women and children are the remnant
left, without bit to eate, bed to lie on almost, or a. cup to drink in, or any
meanes of subsistence in the world.1
Branded as with letters of fire in the hearts and memories of
the Bolton people was that event, and it led to terrible reprisals
afterwards. On being taken prisoner after the defeat at Worcester
in September, 1651, Lord Derby was sentenced by court martial
to be beheaded, the place of his execution to be Bolton, which it
was said had been the scene of his cruelties in the siege of 1644.
The unfortunate earl indignantly repudiated the charges brought
against him, and said it " is a greater affliction than death it selfe
that I am sentenct to die at Bolton."2 Whether he or Prince
Rupert, or both conjointly, were responsible for the barbarities
inflicted upon the people already referred to, it is to be regretted
that his earnest and repeated appeals for mercy were not success
ful, and that a life in many respects most estimable was not
spared. It was, however, otherwise. On the 15th October, 165 1,
he was beheaded at Bolton Market Cross.
The occupants of the parish pulpit in Bolton at this time were
the Revs. John Harper and Richard Goodwin, M.A. Both of
these signed "The Harmonious Consent" in 1648, and "The
Agreement of the People" in 1649. 1° tne former document Mr.
Harpjr is described as "pastor" and Mr. Goodwin as " minister."
In the Parliamentary Survey for 1650 they are thus referred to : —
1 " Civil War Tracts of Lancashire " (Chetham Society Series, vol. ii.),
pp. 192-195. 2 Ibid. p. 319.

THE REV. RICHARD GOODWIN, M.A. 3
" There is a pish Church wthn Boulton and a Mancon house and
Certen gleabe lands therevnto belonging and enioyed w"1 the same,
and sixe little Cottages alsoe belonginge to the same, of the yearely
rent of three pounds, in the possession of Mr. John Harp[er] and
Mr. Richard Goodwyn, psent Incumbents of the same Church, by
and wth the eleccon and consent of all or most of the pishioners in
the same pish, and are men of able pts and godly preachinge
Ministers, and constantly teache on the Lordes dayes and lecture
dayes, but did not observe the last fast day appointed by Act of
pliament." J
With Mr. Harper we are not much concerned, but Mr. Good
win is a most interesting character to Nonconformists. He was
born in Sussex, trained at Emanuel College, Cambridge, ordained
by Bishop Bridgman at Great Lever, and for some time preached
at Cockey Moor. He married Sarah, the daughter of James
Crompton, of Breightmet, on the 3rd of August, 1641, being then
at Cockey Moor, and by his marriage he became the brother-in-
law of Oliver Heywood, who married Abigail Crompton. His
appointment to Bolton is mentioned in the minutes of the Bolton
and Bury Classis, under date May 20th, 1647, from which the
following is taken : —
" Richard Goodwin approved on to be Minister Assistant att
Boulton."
The Act of Uniformity in 1662 led to his ejection from the Bolton
living, and the Five Mile Act of 1665 sent him to Man
chester, where he lived in retirement studying chemistry. The
year 1672 brought indulgence to the persecuted Nonconformists,
and licenses to preach were taken out all over the country. Mr.
Goodwin returned to his friends at Bolton, and licensed a house on
the south side of Deansgate, at the corner of Meal House Lane, for
Nonconformist worship.
"The ornaments and fittings on these premises," says the Rev.
Franklin Baker in 1853, " used now as dwelling houses, are
sufficiently perfect to attest for what purpose they were originally
!" Commonwealth Church Survey" (Record Society Series, vol. 1), p. 30.

4 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
designed. In this edifice, or in a more ancient building recently
taken down, on the north side of Nelson Square, called Barrett's
Barn, the principles of Protestant Dissent were first asserted in the
town of Bolton-le-Moors." x This humble meeting-house was
often visited by Oliver Heywood, Henry Newcome, and other
Nonconformist celebrities of the day ; and as evidence of the
growth and popularity of Nonconformist principles in the town
may be taken the fact that Oliver Heywood, in June, 1696,
administered the Lord's Supper to over 500 communicants. Mr.
Goodwin continued his ministrations here until his death on the
12th of December, 1685, at the age of seventy-two years. He
was interred within the Parish Church, and is the first among the
roll of Nonconformist ministers in the town.
The Rev. Robert Park is mentioned both by Calamy, in his
" Nonconformist Memorial," and Mr. Baker, as sometime assistant
to Mr. Goodwin. He was a native of Bolton, and was trained at
the same college as Mr. Goodwin. He was vicar of Bolton
previous to the Civil War, " upon the approach of which," says
Calamy, "he withdrew into Holland, and was assistant to Mr.
Symmonds, in the English congregation at Rotterdam."2 At the
time of the ejection (1662) he was with Mr. Goodwin, and, like
him, "went out," finding a retreat in Broughton.
" No one," says Mr. Baker, " ever illustrated the fond attach
ment to home, so beautifully described by Goldsmith, more than
Mr. Park. Twice was he driven away from it by inauspicious
events, and twice did he return to it again." 3
He did not, however, long survive his ejection, but died in 1669,
at the age of seventy. Calamy gives the following estimate of
him : —
"He was a person of incomparable ability, learning, and piety,
and a very correct preacher. He was also a man of a ready wit,
and very facetious in conversation." 4
1 "Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton," p. 14.
2 "Nonconformist's Memorial " (1802), vol. ii., p. 355.
3 "Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton," p. 17.
4 " Nonconformist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii., p. 355.

THE REV. ROBERT SED DON, M.A. 5
Mr. Goodwin's successor was the Rev. John Lever, another
Bolton native. His education was received at Brazenose College,
Oxford, and in 1662 he was ejected from Cockey Moor. During
the time that Nonconformists were outcasts and wanderers, he con
tinued to preach and celebrate the rites of religion as he had
opportunity in Bolton and the neighbourhood. On the death of
Mr. Goodwin he was appointed his successor in the meeting place
in Deansgate. Death terminated his labours on July 4th, 1692,
in the fifty-eighth year of his age. It is interesting to note that a
namesake of his was vicar of Bolton during the time Mr. Lever
ministered to the Nonconformists in Deansgate. The tombstone
of this Nonconformist worthy is in the Bolton Parish Churchyard,
and the inscription, almost obliterated, reads thus : —
Here lyeth the body of
IOHN LEAVER,
Borne in this Town,
A Faithful Minister of the Gospel,
Who was baptised the 11 day of September, 1631,
And departed this life 4 day of July, 1692.
The Rev. Robert Seddon was his successor. He, too, was a
Lancashire man, his native place being Outwood, near Farnworth.
He was baptised at Prestwich Church in October, 1629, educated
at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated Master of Arts,
and was ordained at Gorton, when about twenty-four years of age,
on the 14th of June, 1654. He was ejected from Langley, in
Derbyshire, in 1662, and eventually made his way to his native
county, settling down at Bolton as successor to Mr. Lever.
" He took a house, which he afterwards purchased, at the top of
Bank Street, then called Windy Bank." 1
Mr. Seddon was well on in life when he came to Bolton, being
sixty-three years of age, and "suffering from a wasting complaint."
After three years his ministry was terminated by his death. His
remains lie in the Ringley Parish Churchyard, and his tombstone
is thus inscribed : —
1 " Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton" (Baker), p. 21.

6 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY'.
Here lyeth the body of y"
Reverend Mr. ROBERT SEDDON,
Preacher of the Gospel at Bolton,
Aged 68,
Who was interred March 25th, Ano. dom. 1696.
For powerful preaching, fervent love and prayer,
Few to this worthy comparable were ;
He was a burning and a shining light,
But now to Heaven gone to shine more bright.
It's but his dust is hidden in this chest,
His active part with Seraphims is blest.
It was during his ministry here, short as it was, that efforts were
first made in the direction of a new chapel for the Bolton Noncon
formists, and Mr. Seddon himself gave a large piece of land for
this purpose at the back of his house in Bank Street, and near the
place of the present Unitarian Chapel. The deed of gift is dated
February 17th, 1695. The erection of the chapel was at once
proceeded with, and towards the end of 1696 it was completed and
opened for worship. As already stated, Mr. Seddon did not live
to see this.

II.— BANK STREET UNITARIAN CHAPEL.
In the previous section it was stated that the new building erected
for the Bolton Nonconformists was opened towards the close of
1696. About twelve months before this the Rev. Samuel Bourn
had been called to the ministry here. He was a native of Derby,
and nephew of the Rev. Robert Seddon, his predecessor at
Bolton. He was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge,
leaving, it is said, without a degree, " not being satisfied with the
oaths and declarations then required." * For some time he taught
a school in Derby, next became chaplain to Lady Hatton, and
afterwards removed to London, where he was ordained. His
ministry proper began at Calne, in Wiltshire, where he laboured
1 " Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Bourn," by Dr. Toulmin, p. 2.

THE BOURN FAMILY. 7
for sixteen years. His uncle, the Rev. Robert Seddon, whilst
upon his death-bed, recommended him as his successor at Bolton,
and he yielded to the overtures made unto him.
His ministry commenced in the old Deansgate Meeting House ;
but a few months afterwards he and his congregation took posses
sion of their new house. It was licensed for worship Sept. 22nd,
1696, and shortly afterwards opened by Mr. Bourn himself. It is
said that at first he received at Bolton " some unhandsome treat
ment," hearing of which his old congregation at Calne invited him
to return. This, however, he refused to do, and continued to
labour at Bolton until his death. He was interred near the pulpit
as the chapel then stood, though now his remains lie in one corner
of the yard fronting the chapel. A flat tombstone over them
reads thus : — Here lieth the body cf
Mr. BOURN,
Who died March 4th, 1719, in the 73rd year of his age,
Having lived near 24 years in Bolton.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor : his righteousness endureth
for ever.
His funeral sermon was preached by his son, the Rev. Samuel
Bourn, from II. Kings, ii., 3. A small volume of sermons, now
somewhat scarce, preached by Mr. Samuel Bourn, senior, was
published by his son in 1722.1 Space forbids any lengthy notice
of the different members of the Bourn family ; suffice it to say
that the Rev. Samuel Bourn, minister successively at Tunley, near
Wigan, Chorley, and Coseley, near Birmingham, was the son of
the Bolton minister, and his grandsons were the Revs. Joseph
Bourn, of Hindley Chapel, and Samuel Bourn, of Rivington.
It was during Mr. Bourn's ministry, in 1 7 1 5, that news reached
the Bolton Nonconformists on a Sabbath morning of the advance
of the Scotch rebels. Alarm spread amongst the people; and
fearing that their houses would be attacked and pillaged, the
boards of the Communion seat in the chapel were removed, and
their plate and other valuables were deposited there. "Before
noon," says Mr. Baker, " it was ascertained that the intended
1 A copy of this volume is in the Bolton Free Library.

8 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
route was changed for the more direct road by the Four Lane
Ends." x
The same authority gives as Mr. Bourn's immediate successor
the Rev. Thomas Dixon ; but previous to him comes Peter
Withington, omitted altogether by Mr. Franklin Baker. He was
born in 1688, and in 17 13 became assistant minister to the Rev.
John Gardner, who had succeeded Matthew Henry at Chester.
The year following Mr. Peter Withington preached a funeral
sermon on Sunday, June 27th, for the celebrated commentator;
and on the third of August in the same year he and two others
were ordained at Knutsford, the Revs. J. Aldred, of Monton, and
Dr. Charles Owen, of Warrington, being amongst the ordainers.
Towards the end of 17 19 or beginning of 1720 he removed to
Bolton. A writer in the Christian Reformer for 1854 thinks he
was only assistant to the Rev. Thomas Dixon, but I believe he
had sole charge of the place. He died at Scarborough in June,
1722, whither he had gone for his health.
In the diary of a Lancashire lady, under date July 1, 1722,
mention is made of certain travellers from Scarborough coming to
Rochdale Chapel, concerning whom the diarist says : —
They came from Scarborough with mourning in their hats, and when I
inquired the reason, I was told that Mr. Withington, the minister at Bolton,
was dead, and interred at Scarborough. His life was very desirable.2
In Gent's " Hislory of Hull " the inscription upon his gravestone
at Scarborough is given thus : —
The Rev. Mr. PETER WITHINGTON,
Late of Bolton-in-le-Moors, Lancashire,
Died in 1722, aged 34.
I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness.
Dr. John Leland, of Dublin, writing in December, 1722,
says : —
It was with concern I heard of Cousin Withington's death, but am
unfeignedly glad that Bolton is like to be so well suppli'd.
] " Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton,1' p. 102.
2 "Christian Reformer" for 1854, p. 558.

DR. THOMAS DIXON. 9
That passage suggests that he was more than an assistant.
The Rev. Thomas Dixon, Master of Arts and Doctor of
Medicine, was the likely supply referred to as Mr. Withington's
successor. He is said to have been the son of a Churchman, and
studied first under the Revs. John Coningham and John Chorlton,
of Manchester. He was settled as minister over the Dissenting
congregation at Whitehaven in 171 1. A writer in the Christian
Reformer lor 1854 says that he " settled as a Dissenting minister
at Bolton in 17 19, where he performed a triple and extraordinary
combination of duties, being at the same time pastor, physician,
and tutor ; and that he took his degree in Medicine after his re
moval to Bolton."1 At variance somewhat with this statement
is the following passage from the Congregational Magazine for

" His name is still remembered in Whitehaven as Dr. Dixon,
and he is spoken of with respect  He removed to
Bolton in 1723." 2
The latter statement is, I imagine, the more accurate of the two.
He appears to have been doctor previous to his Bolton ministry,
and as Mr. Withington only died in 1722, Dr. Dixon could not
have been at Bolton before that time. He continued his labours
here until his death, which took place August 14th, 1729, at the
age of fifty years. The tablet erected to his memory in Bank
Street Chapel describes him as " The prince of theologians and
physicians." During his residence at Whitehaven he conducted
an academy, and amongst his pupils were such eminent 'men as
Dr. John Taylor, of Norwich ; Dr. Benson, of London ; Dr.
Rotheram, of Kendal ; and Dr. Winder, of Liverpool.
The Rev. John Buck followed in 1729. He was minister at
Idle, near Bradford, in 1715; but the place of his' education is
unknown. Three years after his settlement at Bolton he received
a pressing invitation to become co-pastor to the Rev. John Hotham
at York, which at first he seemed inclined to accept, but eventually
1 P- 487.
2 P. 665.

io LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
declined. Death ended his ministrations at Bolton on July 8,
1750, whilst he was staying at Churwell, near Leeds, where he had
probably gone for his health. His remains were brought to Bolton
and interred within the chapel, according to the custom of the
times. No stone, however, marks the spot ; but a brass plate
records the interment of two infant children in the chapel shortly
after his settlement. Mr. Buck's library was sold soon after his
death, as the following advertisement shows : —
THE 1 8th inftant, will be expofed to Sale, a curious
Collection of Books, in moft Languages, Arts
and Sciences, at the Houfe of the late Rev. Mr.
Buck in Bolton.
CATALOGUES may be had of the Rev. Mr. Owen,
in Rochdale, the Rev. Mr. Dobfon in Bolton, Mr.
Fleetwood in Liverpool, Mr. Stansfield in Halifax,
and R. Whitworth in Manchefter.
NB. The Books may be feen any Time before the
Sale begins.1
After Mr. Buck's death the people were without a pastor for
nearly three years. Several candidates were brought before them,
with the result of destroying the peace and harmony of the church.
The thoughts of the Bolton people turned towards the Rev.
Samuel Bourn, of Coseley, whose name has already appeared in
this sketch. They appear to have had him in mind when it
seemed likely that Mr. Buck would accept the invitation to York,
and now, after a lapse of nearly twenty years, they turned in that
direction again. He was looked to as the one who would bring
together all parties, and heal all the divisions ; and he seems to
have been inclined towards the Bolton congregation. The Rev.
Job Orton, of Shrewsbury, writing to him upon the subject, says : —
You know there have been uneasiness and differences among them [the
Bolton people] since Mr. Buck's death ; and family quarrels, which have
been the worst sort, as least reconcileable. Perhaps you may have heard
how good Mr. Mottershead was treated by some of them, in turning him out
1 " Whitworth's Manchester Advertiser " for Feb. 12, 1750-51.

METHODISM DESCRIBED IN 1751. n
of the lecture, if my information be right. Are you sure your te mper and
theirs will suit ? You know the worst of things where you are ; but are you
not running an hazard at your time of life to enter on a new scene, and pro
bably to encounter fresh prejudices. You have at present great comfort in
many under your care ; perhaps more than most ministers have. Should
you have less at Bolton it will embitter your advancing years.1
This kind of pressure from his ministerial brethren, together with
the earnest entreaties of his own people, determined him to remain
at Coseley.
A successor to Mr. Buck was eventually found in the Rev.
Thomas Dixon. He was the son of Dr. Dixon, already named,
was born at Bolton, and educated at Kendal, by Dr. Rotheram.
His first settlement was at Thame, in Oxfordshire, in 1743, where
the congregation was small, and his salary about ^25 per annum.
In May, 1750, he entered upon his work at Norwich as Dr. John
Taylor's colleague.2 About this time the Methodist movement
was beginning to make itself felt, and in a letter to a friend, dated
September 28th, 1751, Mr. Dixon writes thus humorously about
it : —
For a few weeks past there has been a Methodist preacher in this city; he
preached four or five times every day ; but conscantly morning and evening
on the hill upon which the Castle stands, where he is greatly crowded,
especially on the Lord's days ; it was computed that the last Lord's day he
was attended by 8,000 or 10,000. . . He is so illiterate that he does not
speak true English. He teaches faith, regeneration, and instantaneous con
version, from whence good works will flow ; but morality, without the
immediate extraordinary operation of the Spirit, is oE no avail. Three
hundred, at least, he converses with in one day, who come to him one by one,
inquiring what they must do to be saved. He sells six pennyworth of hymns,
which, for the illiterateness of the composition and the strangeness of the
sense, if they have any, are perhaps not to be matched. Some of the people
had got a notion that he was an angel, or superior to a man ; but having been
so happy as to touch him, they declared that he is indeed a man, though much
beyond any man since the time of our Saviour and His apostles. We are not
apprehensive of his doing us any harm ; but, if any of our people should be
disposed to follow him, we should think it a real advantage to be rid of them.
think the Methodists behaving peaceably should not be molested. While I
1 " Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Bourn,'' p. 45.
2 " Christian Reformer," for 1848, p. 17.

12 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
injure no man, I have certainly a right to attend upon that preacher whose
nonsense most exactly suits my nonsense. 1
In August, 1752, Mr. Dixon removed to Bolton, and on the
26th of April in the year following he was ordained. His ministry
was of short duration, being terminated, like that of all his pre
decessors, by death, on the 23rd of February, 1754, in the thirty-
second year of his age. His funeral sermon was preached by the
Rev. Joshua Dobson, of Cockey Moor, and his remains were laid
beside those of his father in the chapel. He is described as " a
well-informed and liberal theologian, but not an eloquent speaker."
He was the first amongst the Bolton ministers who taught dis
tinctly Unitarian doctrine, and this eventually led to the secession
of a considerable number of persons, who assisted in the formation
of the Duke's Alley Congregational Church.
In the autumn of 1755 the Rev. Philip Holland began his
ministry at Bolton. He was the son of the Rev. Thomas Holland,
sometime minister at Wem, and by his mother was related to
Matthew Henry. Two of his brothers were educated along with
himself by Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton, viz., Henry Holland,
for many years Nonconformist minister at Prescot, and John
Holland, at Wem and Allostock, who conformed in 1763. Philip
Holland entered the Northampton Academy at the age of eighteen,
and on the completion of his college course settled at Wolver
hampton. He next succeeded his father at Wem, whence he
removed to Bolton. Concerning his Bolton ministry, Mr. Baker
remarks :- —
His preaching was so acceptable and popular that it became necessary in
the summer of 1760 to enlarge the chapel, in order to furnish accommodation
for the increasing number of attendants. Never, indeed, did the congregation
flourish more than during the period of his ministry. There were to be found
among its members many of the most respectable families of the town and
neighbourhood; and the pleasing intimacy which subsisted between him and
the vicar, a liberal-minded man, diffused a social and friendly spirit amongst
all parties.2
1 " History of Congregationalism in Norfolk and Suffolk," by Rev. John
Browne, B.A., p. 190.
2 " Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton," p. 60.

THE HOLLAND FAMILY. 13
Besides his ministerial duties, he conducted a boarding school,
" which soon acquired great celebrity." During thirty-three years
he lived and laboured in Bolton until his death, January 2nd, 1789.
His monumental tablet in the chapel states that he was sixty-seven
years of age. Theologically Mr. Holland occupied a position not
unlike that of his predecessor. The Rev. Job Orton, writing to the
Rev. John Hughes, of Bury, on the 13th of September, 1780, thus
refers to Mr. Holland : —
" I have lately read Mr. Holland's charge. I am sorry to find
my friend Holland sink the inspiration of the apostles and their
epistles lower than I think he can justify. I have freely written to
him on the subject." 1
One or two of these " charges," preached upon special occasions,
are nearly all the published works of Mr. Holland. During the
four years preceding his death, the Rev. William Hawkes was
assistant to Mr. Holland. He was born February 10th, 1759, and
educated partly at Daventry and partly at Warrington. His first
settlement was Dob Lane, near Manchester, whence he removed
to Bolton in 1785. On the death of Mr. Holland, some of the
congregation were wishful that Mr. Hawkes should be retained,
but he removed to the Unitarian Chapel, Mosley Street, Man
chester, where he continued his ministrations until his death on
the 1st of August, 1820.
In 1789 the Rev. John Holland succeeded his uncle, Philip
Holland, at Bolton. The same year he was ordained, Dr. Barnes,
of Manchester, and the Rev. William Turner, of Wakefield, taking
part in the service. His persistent and emphatic teaching of
Unitarian doctrine is said to have brought upon him much odium
from religious and political opponents.
"On one occasion," says Mr. Baker, "he was burnt in effigy,
and on another he was represented riding on an ass, as chief
mourner in a procession intended as a mock celebration of the
funeral of the author of ' The Rights of Man.' " 2
1 " The Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton," vol. ii., p. 595'
2 '• Rise and Progress of Nonconformity in Bolton," p. 68.

i4 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Another ministry of over thirty years' duration was closed in
August, 1820, Mr. Holland's resignation having become necessary
through failing health. He died on the 25th of June, 1826, and
his tablet will be found amongst those of his predecessors already
noticed. His publications were principally of a theological and
educational character.
The Rev. Noah Jones was the next minister. He was born
January 31st, 1801, and educated at Wymondley for the Con
gregational ministry. Change of theological opinion led to his
leaving college before he had completed his course. For a short
time he laboured at Walmsley Chapel, removing thence in Septem
ber, 182 1, to Bank Street, Bolton. His ministry was cut short by
serious illness in April, 1823. Subsequently he held pastorates at
Todmorden, Derby, and Gateacre, near Liverpool, dying suddenly
at the last mentioned place, on the 28th of August, 1861.
"His last resting-place," says his biographer, "is in the pretty
rural chapelyard at the village of Rivington, near Bolton." x
A secession from Bank Street in the year of Mr. Jones's settle
ment must be dismissed with a sentence. The seceders purchased
the Scotch Chapel in Moor Lane, and the Rev. George Harris
was appointed minister. This second Unitarian interest continued
to exist for nearly twenty years.
The Rev. Franklin Baker, M.A., educated at Glasgow University,
began his ministry at Bolton, as successor to Mr. Jones on the
14th of December, 1823, and was ordained on the 24th of Sep
tember in the year following. In 1854 the old chapel, which had
done duty for more than a century and a half, was taken down to
make way for the present handsome and more commodious
building. Mr. Baker, in connection with the event, gave four
lectures on Bolton Nonconformity, which were afterwards published,
and to which I am greatly indebted. The chapel was opened for
worship on Thursday, August 21st, 1856, the Rev. R. Brook
Aspland being the preacher. The style of the new structure is
early English of the 13th century, the plan being cruciform. The
1 "Christian Reformer" for 1861, p 755.

THE REV. FRANKLLN BAKER, M.A. 15
entire length inside is 68ft., and outside 76ft. ; the width of the
nave is 37ft. 6in., and across the transepts 68ft. 6in. It contains
accommodation for some 700 people, cost over ,£3,000, and is
built of stone obtained from the quarries at Horrocks Fold. The
site is the same as that occupied by the venerable sanctuary it has
superseded. Mr. Baker's ministry, by far the longest of any con
nected with Bank Street Chapel, terminated in 1864, when he
retired into private life. Three years afterwards he died. In the
Unitarian Chapel at Lancaster is a handsome marble tablet erected
to his memory, thus inscribed : —
In memory of
The Rev. FRANKLIN BAKER, M.A.,
Born at Birmingham, August 27, 1800 ; died there May 25, 1867.
He was for thirty [should be forty] years the devoted and highly respected
minister of the numerous and influential Unitarian congregation assembling
in Bank Street Chapel, Bolton, among whom he discharged the duties of his
sacred office with singular ability and success. In the last three years of his
life he resided at Caton, and joined the religious society who worship in this
chapel. He was decided in his theological opinions, an uncompromising
advocate of civil and religious rights, ever ready to aid in the spread of
knowledge and the progress of enlightened institutions. To the young he
was a faithful guide ; to the poor a sympathising friend. His death produced
a common feeling of sorrow in the town where he had spent the active and
matured years of his life. The tablet is erected by the one who knew him
best and loved him most.
The Rev. Jeffrey Worthington, B.A., a Manchester New
College student, succeeded Mr. Baker in 1864, and resigned in
1873. He is now at Taunton. The present minister — Rev.
Charles Clement Coe, F.R.G.S. — also educated at Manchester
New College, and who had previously laboured for nearly twenty
years at Leicester, succeeded Mr. Worthington at Bolton in 1874.
In that year the school buildings, which stand alongside the chapel,
were erected. At the beginning of last century, Manchester and
Liverpool excepted, Bank Street Chapel had the largest Noncon
formist congregation in the county. It numbered 1,094 persons,
of whom seventy were county voters ; and it still holds a high
place amongst the Unitarian congregations in Lancashire.

1 6 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.

III.— DUKE'S ALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Duke's Alley, the oldest of the Congregational Churches in
Bolton, owes its origin to the Methodist movement of a century
and a half ago. Mr. Wesley himself was a frequent visitor to
Bolton, and appears to have met with rough treatment from the
people. In his Journal, under date August 28th, 1748, he thus
writes : —
At one I went to the Cross in Bolton. There was a vast number of people,
but many of them utterly wild. As soon as I began speaking they began
thrusting to and fro; endeavouring to throw me down from the steps on
which I stood. They did so once or twice ; but I went up again, and con
tinued my discourse. They then began to throw stones ; at the same time
some got upon the Cross behind me to push me down.1
In October of the following year he again writes : —
" We came to Bolton about five in the evening. We had no
sooner entered the main street, than we perceived the lions at
Rochdale were Iambs in comparison of those at Bolton. Such
rage and bitterness I scarce ever saw before in any creatures that
bore the form of men. They followed us in full cry to the house
where we went ; and as soon as we were gone in, took possession of
all the avenues to it, and filled the street from one end to the
other." 2
Associated with Mr. Wesley, and, indeed, one of his principal
coadjutors, was the Rev. John Bennet. The desire to enter the
ministry took possession of him early in life, and at the age of
seventeen he was placed under the care of Dr. Latham, of
Findern, near Derby. He stayed, however, only a few months,
having relinquished all thoughts of the ministry. In 1743 he
became a preacher in connection with Whitefield and Wesley, and
after the separation of these two men he adhered to Mr. Wesley.
" In the capacity of a Methodist preacher he travelled," says Mr.
1 " Wesley's Journal," vol. ii., p. 109.
- Ibid., p. 157.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD AT BOLTON. 17
Davison, "into different parts of the country; but principally
laboured and superintended various societies in this neighbour
hood, his circuit embracing part of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and
Derbyshire." J These societies were called "Mr. Bennet's societies,"
his headquarters and place of residence being Chinley, in Derby
shire. To Mr. Bennet, rather than to John Wesley Bolton
Methodism owes its origin, as does also the Duke's Alley Congre
gational Church.
It has already been stated that Mr. Bennet was intimate with
George Whitefield. About 1750 this remarkable man visited
Bolton. "He preached in a field," says Mr. Davison, "in
Duke's Alley, his platform being placed somewhere about the site
of the present vestry, and his congregation occupying the ground
on which the chapel now stands. Some of our old men
[written in 1854] remember persons who were in the congregation,
and others have conversed with individuals who heard him dis
tinctly as they stood in Little Bolton. His sermon on that occa
sion was one of the most wonderful he ever delivered. A
drunkard stood up to preach behind him, and the wife of the
person who lent him the field twice attempted to stab the work
men who erected the platform for him." In the night-time some
of the people got into the barn and stables where his horse and
chaise were put up and cut both shamefully. This he called
''Satan showing his teeth." "At the close of his sermon on this
¦occasion," continues Mr. Davison, " he is said to have prayed,
with great fervour, that on the very spot on which he stood, a
temple might be raised to the honour of the Lord." 2
On the 2nd of May, 1751, land was taken by Mr. Bennet in
Hotel Street for a new building, which was speedily erected. A
difference, however, occurred between him and Mr. Wesley about
the Trust Deed, which eventually led to their separation. Mr.
Bennet and his friends, to the number of 107, out of 126 persons
who formed the whole society, agreed to leave the building they
1 "Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," by the Rev. W. H.
Davison. To this excellent little work I am greatly indebted for information
respecting Duke's Alley Church.
2 Ibid, p. 31.
3—2

1 8 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
had erected in Mr. Wesley's hands. The date of this secession
is April 3rd, 1752, two days after which Mr. Bennet commenced
preaching in the Market House, which had been procured for the
purpose. His congregation is described as extraordinarily large.
In the evening he preached at the house of Richard Ashworth.
At these two places, together with the old Meal House, services
were held until Duke's Alley Chapel was erected on the spot con
secrated by George Whitefield's prayer. The land was leased on
the Sth of September, 1753, and the chapel opened for worship the
following year. It will be remembered that Mr. Bennet's residence
was at Chinley, and shortly after the events above described he
declared himself an Independent. A chapel was built for him at
Warburton in Cheshire, " a thinly inhabited part of the country,
where Methodism gained some of its earliest trophies."1 Over
this society, " organised on the plan of an Independent Church,"
he was ordained minister. As such he continued to labour until
his death on May 24th, 1759. His remains lie in the chapel-yard
at Chinley, over them being placed a plain tombstone thus
inscribed : — In memory of
The Rev. JOHN BENNET,
of Lee End,
Who departed this life
May 24th, 1759,
In the 45th year of his age.
Also of his Relict,
Mrs. GRACE BENNET,
Who survived him 44 years,
And died in the Lord,
February 23rd, 1803,
In the 89th year of her age.
His son, the Rev. William Bennet, was for many years the
popular minister of the Congregational Church at Moorfields,
London. The constitution of the Duke's Alley Church is described by
Mr. Davison as — •
1 " Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 50.

SECESSION FROM BANK STREET. 19
"Open and liberal. No form of church government is
indicated in the deed which was made under the direction
of Mr. Bennet. The house is set apart for the use of a Con
gregation of Protestant Dissenters. The only restrictions it con
tains are those which guard the property from being used by any
other than a congregation of orthodox dissenters. Its basis is
Calvinistic, and its references are to the Westminster Confession." 1
As stated in the previous sketch, a considerable number of per
sons seceded about this time from the Bank Street congregation,
because of the Unitarian tendencies of the minister, who joined
the Duke's Alley Church, thereby bringing unto it considerable
strength and influence. The first minister of Duke's Alley proper
was Mr. James, one of Mr. Whitefield's men. Of him there is no
information. His successor was the Rev. John Whitford, first
follower of Wesley, afterwards of Whitefield, says Mr. Davison.2
He was minister of the Congregational Church at Cleckheaton
in 1762, leaving in 1766 for Kipping, near Bradford, but his
pastorate here is said not to have been " prosperous, and his re
moval was a necessity." 3 Exactly when he settled at Bolton is not
known, but here also his stay was short, an "unhappy temper
destroying his influence and usefulness as a Christian teacher." 4
The church remained without a pastor for several years ; but in
1772 the Rev. James Wraith accepted the charge. This good
man was born at EUand, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, May
28th, 1734. When four years of age he removed to Mirfield, and
was educated in the Grammar School there. At the age of twenty-
three years he became a village preacher, and for fifteen years he
laboured as such, " with no other recompense than the duty and
1 "Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 48.
2 Mr. F. Peel, in " Nonconformity in Spen Valley '' says that Mr. Whit
ford never was one of Wesley's preachers, though doubtless he sometimes
preached for him. In his Journal under date September 25th, 1748, Mr.
Wesley refers to him in the following terms : " Believing my strength
would not allow of preaching five times in the day, I desired John Whitford
to preach at five." (Journal, vol. ii., p. 112.)
3 Miall's " Congregationalism in Yorkshire," p. 243.
4 " Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," by the Rev. W. H.
Davison, p. 55,

120 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
the pleasure of doing good." In the spring of 1772 he was " re
quested to visit a destitute congregation at Bolton." This he did,
and, accepting their unanimous invitation to become their minister,
he was ordained as such in the autumn of that year. For ten
years he laboured in Bolton, "delivered four sermons every week
at home ; one or two evenings were spent in the adjoining
parishes." His next charge was Wolverhampton, where again he
spent ten years of his life, and after a short ministry at Chorley he
removed to Hampstead, London. His labours at this place ex
tended over twenty-one years, being terminated by his death on the
1st of May, 18 15, at the age of eighty-one years. His funeral
sermon was preached by his assistant and successor, the Rev.
Jacob Snelgar, from Luke ii., 29, 30.
The Rev. Robert Simpson (afterwards Doctor Simpson) is the
next on the roll of the Duke's Alley ministers. He was born on
the 15th of February, 1746, at a little farmhouse near Milnathort,
Kinross-shire, Scotland, which had been the homestead of the
family for several generations. His ministerial training he received
at the Heckmondwike Academy, then under the presidency of the
Rev. James Scott, and on the completion of his college course he
settled at Haslingden about 1780. He stayed only ten months,
having received and accepted an invitation from Elswick, near
Kirkhim. Nor was his second charge much more lengthened
than his first; for in 1782 he removed to Duke's Alley, and was
ordained there on October 2nd in that year. Amongst those who
took part in the service were the Revs. Joseph Cockin, of Kipping,
and James McQuhae, of Blackburn, the latter gentleman giving
the charge to the minister. Mr. Simpson's ministry was so
eminently successful at Bolton that an enlargement of the chapel
became necessary about 1785. In March, 1791, he resigned his
charge to succeed Dr. Addington as Tutor of Mile End (after
wards Hoxton) Academy. Here he continued until May, 181 7,
when failing health brought about his retirement. He did not
long survive this retirement, for, " after a night of dreadful agony,
he gently fell asleep about noon on Sunday, December 21st, 1817."1
His remains were laid in Bunhill Fields on Tuesday, the 30th. He
1 " Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 101.

DR. ROBERT SIMPSON IN 1795-

22 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
was one of those who assisted in the formation of the London
Missionary Society in 1795; he also helped to originate the
Evangelical Magazine in 1793.
Dr. Simpson's successor at Bolton was the Rev. Wm. Maurice.
He was born at Chapel Town, near Sheffield, on the 23rd
of December, 1762, his father being a nailer. He was educated
at Northowram by the Rev. Samuel Walker, the Heckmond-
wike Academy being removed thither after Mr. Scott's death.
Like his predecessor, Mr. Maurice settled first at Haslingden
for a few months, and afterwards took the oversight of the
Orchard Street Church, at Stockport. There he was ordained in
1786. In October, 1791, he resigned for Duke's Alley, Bolton.
His useful labours called for increased accommodation again in
the chapel. " A majority of the church," says Mr. Davison,
"agreed to the erection of a new chapel, and land was taken
for that purpose in Black Horse Street." L At this time Mr.
Maurice received an invitation to settle at Devonport, where
he had preached as a supply for a few weeks during his vaca
tion. He wrote to his people stating his readiness to remain
with them, and urging to all possible haste in the erection of
the new building. A small minority, however, opposed to the
scheme stirred up such unpleasantness that it had to be abandoned,
and Mr. Maurice removed to Fetter Lane, London, in March,
1797. Here he remained until his death, March 31st, 1802, his
body also being interred in Bunhill Fields, where so many Non
conformist worthies sleep. It witnesses to the esteem in which he
was held by the Fetter Lane Church, that they subscribed for his
widow and children, who were " totally unprovided for," the sum
of ^456 13s., "which through their efforts was soon made into
^1,629 9s. 6d." The Duke's Alley Church remained four years
without a minister after the removal of Mr. Maurice. At the end
of that time the Rev. Joseph Sowden accepted the pastorate.
He was a native of St. Columb, in Cornwall, and was educated at
Lady Huntingdon's College, Trevecca. His first pastorates were
in Yorkshire at Morley, Booth, and Sowerby. The latter place
he resigned for Stepney Chapel, Warrington, but so great was the
1 " Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 115.

ORIGIN OF MA WDSLE Y STREET CHURCH. 23
attachment of his people that on preaching his farewell sermon he
was unanimously and earnestly requested to stay amongst them.
Mr. Davison, in his " Centenary Memorials," confuses him with
the Rev. Benjamin Sowden, for sometime minister at Holden
Chapel, when he describes him as itinerating about Gisburn and
Tosside, in Yorkshire, "for very little remuneration."1 Mr.
Sowden's name appears as minister of Stepney Chapel for the
first time in the Baptismal Register in March, 1800, his last
signature being dated April 25th, 1802. About this time he
removed to Bolton. The new minister brought together large
congregations, and the chapel again became too small. At a cost
of ^900 an enlargement was made in 1803. "The prosperity,"
says Mr. Davison, " which characterised the first years of Mr.
Sowden's mininistry was not continuous. Various circumstances
connected with the church and with his own family interfered
with his comfort and usefulness."2 Consequently in 1813 he
removed to Mount Street Chapel, Blackburn, now Presbyterian,
but for some years Congregational. Here he laboured until his
death, which took place suddenly on January 22nd, 1822, in the
seventy-seventh year of his age. According to his own wish, he
was buried under the pulpit of Mount Street Chapel, the Rev.
Joseph Fletcher, D.D., of Chapel Street, Blackburn, preaching
his funeral sermon. A friendly secession during the early part
of Mr. Sowden's ministry at Bolton, which had something to do with
the formation of Mawdsley Street Congregational Church, will
be noted subsequently in the account of that church. Another
interregnum of five years occurred, after the removal of Mr.
Sowden. The vacant pastorate was, however, filled up in 1818
by the Rev. Joseph Fox, from the Academy at Idle. His ordina
tion took place on November 5th in that year, the following
ministers taking part in the service : Revs. William Jones, Bolton;
S. Vint, Idle Academy; Joseph Fletcher, M.A., Blackburn;
Edward Parsons, Leeds ; William Roby, Manchester ; Alexander
Steill, Wigan. The services are described as " solemn and
interesting," and it is said that " after a cloudy and dark
1 Pp. 125, 126.
2 Ibid., p. 129.

24 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
day" for the church, "the prospect begins to brighten."1
"In 1818," says Mr. Davison, "the schools adjoining the chapel
were enlarged at an expense of ,£180. In the autumn of 1824
the singers' gallery was erected in the chapel, and a new pulpit
introduced at a cost of upwards of^i7o."2 After much useful
service, Mr. Fox resigned his charge at the end of 1826 for Fish
Street Chapel, Hull. At this place he remained until March,
1831, when he removed to Howard Street, Sheffield. Subsequently
he held pastorates at Albion Street, Leeds, and Morley. He
died on the 10th of August, 1871, at the age of seventy-eight
years. The next minister at Duke's Alley was the Rev. Samuel Ellis,
who also was educated at the Idle Academy. His first settlement
was at Settle, in Yorkshire, where he was ordained July 28th,
1824. From this place, in 1827, he removed to Bolton. Mr.
Davison thus writes of the improvements effected during his
ministry : —
"In 1840 the new schools and the present front of the chapel
were erected in Ridgway Gates. Several cottages were purchased
for the purpose, which stood on the site of the present schools and
square. At the same time the organ was introduced. The entire
cost of this alteration was over ^2,044." 3
In September, 1843, Mr- Ellis resigned his charge at Bolton,
and, on account of " severe domestic affliction," lived at Bowdon
for some years in retirement. In 185 1, however, he became
pastor of the Congregational Church at Wilmslow, in Cheshire,
where he continued to labour until his decease on the 26th of
February, 1865, at the age of sixty-four years. His funeral sermon
was preached by the Rev. Joseph Fox, his friend and predecessor
at Duke's Alley, then resident in Manchester.
In 1844 the Rev. R. Brown, from Wrexham, began his ministry
at Bolton, in succession to Mr. Ellis. In December, 1847, he
resigned, and for many years resided in Liverpool without charge.
1 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1818, p. 568.
2 "Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 143.
3 Ibid., p. 144.

A COVENANTERS BIBLE. 25
He was followed by the Rev. Benjamin Backhouse in March,
1849. He was trained at Spring Hill, and settled first at Rod-
borough, in Gloucestershire, whence he removed to Bolton.
During his ministry here the body of the chapel was re-pewed.
In June, 1851, he resigned, and became pastor of the Old
Meeting House, Scarborough, "a church founded by a Scotch
Covenanter, whose Bible, pierced through and through with a
sword thrust intended for the, owner, is preserved as a curious
relic of the days of persecution."1 Mr. Backhouse laboured at
Scarborough for twelve years. After living at Bedford without
charge for five years, he was sent out in 187 1 by the British and
Foreign Bible Society to be their agent in Australasia. In this
work he continued until his death, which took place at Victoria,
on August 30th, 1877, at the age of fifty-five.
The Rev. William Hope Davison, from Cheshunt College, com
menced his labours at Duke's Alley in succession to Mr. Back
house on the 1 8th of July, 1852. His ordination took place on
Wednesday, October 6th, following, when the Revs. G. W. Conder,
of Leeds ; Joseph Dyson, of Farnworth ; W. H. Stowell, D.D., of
Cheshunt College ; and John Stoughton (now Doctor) of Kensing
ton, took part in the service. Two years afterwards the church
witnessed the Centenary of its existence, and services were held to
celebrate the event. On Sunday, November 5th, 1854, the Rev.
R. Vaughan, D.D., of Lancashire College, was the preacher, and on
the Tuesday following, Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool. On Wednesday,
November 8th, a large public meeting in the Temperance Hall
was presided over by Thomas Barnes, Esq., M.P., the speakers
being the Revs. W. H. Parkinson, Rochdale ; R. Slate, Preston ;
J. Dyson, Farnworth; J. R. Jones, R. Best, and J. J. Owen, all of
Bolton. By these services the. sum of ^473 16s. 6d. was raised
to clear off the debt contracted in 1840 by improvements
previously noted, and for alterations in the chapel and schools
since required. In connection with these services Mr. Davison
prepared, and subsequently published, his interesting " Centenary
Memorials," from which I have so largely drawn in these sketches.
At a meeting of the Church held February 26th, 1861, it was
1 "Congregational Year Book" for 1878, p. 304.

26 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
resolved to erect a new and larger structure in St. George's Road.
This resolution was carried into effect, and the Church took the
new name from the building into which it entered. Mr.
Davison's subsequent career will be found in the history of
St. George's Road Church. A few of the friends of the old
place remained, and an invitation was given to the Rev. W.
Robertson to become their minister. He had been educated
at Edinburgh, and held pastorates at Wednesbury and Ban
bury. He began his labours at Bolton in 1863, removed
in 1867 to Leamington, subsequently to Romsey, thence to Chard,
and is now resident at Weston-super-Mare, without charge. After
this the chapel appears to have been closed for a short time ; but
at a meeting held September 29th, 1869, it was resolved that it be
re-opened, and that the Church commence anew with fifty-seven
members. On the 20th of July, 1870, a call was given to the Rev. James
Clough, who for three years had been Baptist minister at Astley
Bridge, Bolton, but it was declined.1 An invitation was then given
to the Rev. John C. Nesbitt, from Lancashire College, on January
26th, 1871, which was accepted by him on February 7th. He
presided for the first time at a Church Meeting held the following
September, and was ordained February 15th, 1872. He resigned
his charge here on June 30th, 1875. Subsequently he laboured
a few years at Galashiels and Gourock, and is now pastor of
Emmanuel Union Church, Leicester.
The Rev. H. W. Stranger, formerly of Elswick, near Kirkham,
accepted an invitation to the Duke's Alley Church, in January,
1876. He continued his ministrations until March, 1878, when
he resigned. He is now resident without charge at Sale, near
Manchester. The Rev. W. Spurgeon, of Dudley, was then invited
at a stipend of ^200 a year, but the invitation was declined.
The church remained vacant until August, 1879, when the Rev.
Taliesin Davies began his ministry here. This is described as a
"stormy" period, and on May nth, 1880, the church was dis
solved. On the 30th of June it was re-formed, and Mr. Davies
1 Mr. Clough is now minister of the Congregational Church, Greenheys,
Manchester,

ORIGINAL SITE OF DUKES ALLEY. 27
continued his ministry until November, 1882, when he removed to
Bilston. He now resides at Wooburn, Bucks, without charge.
In that same month the Rev. B. J. Harker, the present minister,
entered upon duty here. He had previously laboured at Domjay,
Llandisilio, Eccleshall (Staffordshire), and Banff, N.B. It will
give some idea of the changes which have taken place in the Con
gregational ministry at Bolton when it is stated that though Mr.
Harker has barely laboured eight years in the town he occupies
the position of senior amongst his brethren. He is the author of
several works, chiefly of an antiquarian and topographical
character. It will be necessary to add a few sentences descriptive of the
building whose history has thus been given. The chapel, as pre
viously stated, was erected in 1754, but there is some doubt as to
its exact site. It is curious that Mr. Davison, in the work to
which reference has several times been made, makes no attempt to
clear up the point. He simply says that the original chapel was
"a large room without gallery, furnished with benches, and had
small leaded windows. It has only attained its present form and
dimensions after five successive enlargements and alterations."1
I imagine, however, that the present Duke's Alley Chapel is not
the original one enlarged and altered, but one of much later date
than 1754. Behind it is an old three-storied building, held
together by big bolts, whose best days are over. A small date
stone thus inscribed is over the door-way : —
J.H.
This Chapel
was built in
the year
I7S4-
This is not conclusive as to its original use, for it is quite possible
that the date-stone has been inserted into the building by a later
hand. I do not, however, think this is the case, but incline
towards the belief that this was the first Duke's Alley Chapel.
I copy an interesting passage bearing upon this point from the
1 " Centenary Memorials of Duke's Alley Chapel," p. 48.

28 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
pen of the Rev. T B. Johnstone, M. A., of Bolton. He expresses no
doubts, but speaks quite positively, respecting the site of the old
Duke's Alley Chapel :—
It was a building behind the site occupied by the present one, whose
original foundations may yet be traced by any one who cares to pass through
the narrow entry from Ridgway Gates to Velvet Walks. The site of the
present chapel was then an orchard, which was afterwards converted into a
burial ground, and the graves are enclosed within its walls. Some of the
gravestones were utilised as flags with which to pave the aisles. The ground
inside the chapel is honeycombed with graves and brick vaults. But the
former building was a yet more peculiar structure. From Deansgate the
worshippers passed through a narrow entry about three feet wide, which ran
about fifty yards in a northerly direction. They came on the east side to a
tall building, now used as cottages, and here the evangelical Nonconformists
of those days conducted their religious services. There was only a large
room, without galleries. It had been furnished with benches, and light
streamed in from small leaded windows. The place was very rude and
primitive, and by no means imposing, and the only entrance to it was not
inviting. The place is sacred in its name and its associations. The narrow
entrance used to be called " Grace Alley," from the fact that the members
of the congregation following Calvin made much of the free grace of God,
in opposition, as was thought, to the Arminianism supposed to characterise
the Wesleyans in Hotel Street, from whom many of them were sprung.1
The present chapel front is towards Ridgway Gates. A sliding
door admits into the vestibule, where there is a formidable heating
apparatus. To the right and left are stairs leading into the gallery.
The pulpit is just on the other side of the heating apparatus, and
so should surely not be wanting in warmth. The chapel is high,
well-lighted both above and below, with small square windows.
The pews are of the old-fashioned, straight-backed kind. Altogether,
internally, the appearance of things reminds one of the " former
days," when the church worshipping here was a name and a power
in the town. Judging from the accompanying picture, all about
here was " beautiful for situation " when Whitefield, a century and
a half ago, poured forth his eloquence to the multitudes assembled
upon the site now occupied by the chapel, but that cannot be said
to-day. The surroundings of the chapel are not favourable, and it
has long been felt by the Bolton Congregationalists that the Duke's
1 "Bolton Journal," January 28th, 1888.

30 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Alley friends would do well to go and break up fresh ground.
Efforts have been made recently to induce the trustees to dispose
of the building for that purpose, as yet with no result.

IV.— ST. GEORGE'S ROAD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
On February 2-6th, i86r, the Duke's Alley Church resolved to
erect a larger building for worship, and at the close of the Lord's
Supper in March, 1863, the following resolution was passed :—
" That this Church will, according to a resolution passed at a
meeting of this Church and congregation, held February 26th,
1 86 1, remove to the new building prepared and erected for its use
in St. George's Road, on the 3rd day of April, 1863, being the
1 nth anniversary of its formation."
The foundation stone of this new building was laid on Good
Friday, April, 1862, by Thomas Barnes, Esq., M.P.
The following descriptive sentences are copied from the " Con
gregational Year Book" for 1864 : —
The new church occupies a commanding position at the junction of Bath
Street with St. George's Road, and is a most prominent object from many
points of view. The main architectural features of the church are Gothic,
with a tower surmounted by a lofty spire. It is built entirely of local stone;
the walling resembles Yorkshire "parpoint," and the dressings are of
Hollington, the lighter colour of which produces a slight but pleasing contrast.
The exterior, fronting Bath Street, has a large centre gable containing a
six-light window pierced with elaborate geometric tracery. The doorways
in the tower and porch are large, deeply recessed, and ornamented with rich
carvings  The basement floor comprises a large and commodious
hall, intended to be used as a Sunday School, and to be devoted to lectures
and general congregational purposes ; as well as infant school, class-rooms,
and other accommodation. The capacity of the church proper is about
1,200 sittings.1
1 P. 292.

CONTINUITY OF THE CHURCH. 31
The building was opened by the Rev. Henry Allon (now Doctor
Allon), of Islington, on Good Friday, April 3rd, 1863, and on that
day the church entered into its new home. The following also
preached in connection with the opening services, which were con
tinued some weeks : Revs. Dr. Vaughan, Samuel Martin, Professor
Henry Griffiths, M.A., F.G.S., Dr. Parker, and Hugh Stowell
Brown. " Shortly after the opening of the new place," writes the Rev.
J. R. Wolstenholme, M.A., " the continuity of the church which
removed into it was disputed by those who remained at the old
place, Duke's Alley. The matter was referred to arbitration, and
the following were the arbitrators : Enoch Mellor, M.A., J.
Guinness Rogers, B.A., Alfred Barnes, and R. M. Davies ; the
Rev. J. Gwyther acting as umpire. These gentlemen declared
that the church at St. George's Road had established its claim to
be the original Duke's Alley Church."1
Mr. Davison's pastorate continued until September 28th, 1873,
when he preached his farewell sermon. For some time his health
had been impaired by his unwearying labours. From June, 187 1,
to September, 1872, he was laid aside by a serious illness, which
greatly told upon him. His pastorate, especially in its later years,
shows a considerable amount of missionary activity. In 1866 he
commenced work at Tyldesley, consequently the church there
may be said to be a memorial of him. About twelve months
afterwards a "cause" was started at Daubhill, and a church
formed. In March, 1872, a mission and Sunday School were
begun in Blackbank Street, which have since developed into the
Blackburn Road Congregational Church. Mr. Davison, on
leaving Bolton, settled at Chatham, and is now residing at Tooting,
without charge. His son, the Rev. W. H. Davison, M.A., is
the able and respected Secretary of the Scottish Congregational
Union. The Rev. C. A. Berry, from Airedale College, succeeded Mr.
Davison at St. George's Road on New Year's Day, 1875. During
1 " Bolton Congregational Magazine " for January, 1888.

32 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
his ministry the debt upon the church premises was liquidated, and
the Iro.n Chapel in Blackburn Road erected. In addition to his
ministerial duties, Mr. Berry threw himself enthusiastically into
social and political work connected with the town ; and it will
be long before his name is forgotten. His ministry at St.
George's Road was closed on September 23rd, 1884, having
accepted an invitation to Queen Street, Wolverhampton. The
tempting offers of Mr, Beecher's pulpit in America, and more
recently of the late Samuel Martin's at Westminster, Baldwin
Brown's at Brixton, and the Secretariat of the Congregational
Union of England and Wales, witness to his popularity, and his
refusal of them to the happy relations existing between himself and
his present charge.
The Rev. J. R. Wolstenholme, M.A., whose father, the Rev.
Robert Wolstenholme, was for some years minister of the Spring
head Congregational Church, near Oldham, was educated at
Spring Hill College. He began his ministry at Eastwood, in
Nottinghamshire, in 1868, removed thence to Wakefield, and
commenced his labours at Bolton on September 7th, 1884, where
he continues to minister acceptably unto his people. Towards the
close of 1891 the church determined upon undertaking some
mission work in a very needy district of the town. They secured
part of an old foundry, situated at the corner of St. George's Street
and Kay Street, and turned it into a very commodious and useful
Mission Hall, with two or three classrooms at. the side capable of
accommodating a Sunday School of 350 scholars. These premises
were consecrated by a prayer meeting of the workers, who had
volunteered to work the mission, on Monday, January 25th, 1892,
and were opened by a tea meeting on the following Saturday, at
which the Rev. J. R. Wolstenholme presided, and the Revs. W.
Hewgill, M.A, and H. W. Turner, B.A., were the speakers. The
opening services were continued on Sunday, January 31st, by Mr.
John Gordon, of Manchester, and the Rev. J. R. Wolstenholme.
St. George's Road Church, under its new and old names, has a
history of which it may justly feel proud. As already noted, it
has taken its share in the work of spreading Congregationalism in
the town and neighbourhood, whilst amongst its ministers may be

BOLTON PRESBYTERIANISM. 33
numbered some who have stood in the front rank of the denomi
nation. It came into being as a protest partly against narrowness
and ecclesiastical tyranny, and partly against laxity and error ; and
for nearly a century and a half it has held on its way in this two
fold mission.

V.— MAWDSLEY STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Mawdsley Street Church may be said to have originated in part
with the Scotch secession from Duke's Alley during Mr. Sowden's
ministry in 1803, referred to in the account of that church. The
seceders formed themselves into a church of the Presbyterian order,
built a chapel at the foot of Moor Lane,andhadoneor two ministers.
In 1807 they were in difficulties, and at that time Dr. Simpson
visited Bolton, and advised them to form a second Congregational
Church. This they agreed to do, and the Doctor was asked to
send a student to supply. The Presbytery had also resolved to
send another minister to revive the drooping cause ; consequently,
when Dr. Simpson's student arrived, the place in which he expected
to preach was pre-occupied by his Presbyterian brother. The
student sent was a Mr. Knight, who preached for six weeks in the
Sessions Room, which then formed part of the Queen Anne Inn,
in Chancery Lane. He was followed by William Jones. Front
Chancery Lane the congregation removed to the Old Shambles in
Deansgate, where a larger room was rented. A church was formed
here on January 13th, 1808, consisting of the following five persons
dismissed from Duke's Alley Church : John Smith, William South-
worth, John Reilly, Richard Gregson, and William Titterington.
The Rev. Samuel Bradley, of Manchester, delivered an address to
the young church, and at the close of the service Mr. Jones, who
was present, received an invitation to the pastorate. This he
accepted, and entered upon his stated labours July 28th, 1808.
On the 22nd of September following Mr. Jones was ordained.
The Rev. Wm. Hacking, of Darwen, began the service ; the Rev.
3—3

34 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Joseph Fletcher, M.A., of Blackburn, gave the introductory dis
course ; the Rev. P. S. Charrier, of Liverpool, asked the
questions and " charged " the minister ; the Rev. L. Redmayne, of
Horwich, offered the ordination prayer ; the Rev. Joseph Johnson,
of Warrington, addressed the people ; and a Mr. Hartley, of
Lutterworth, preached in the evening. Some twenty-three ministers
were present, " five of whom educated at Hoxton, took part in the
service." 1 The Rev. James Johnston, in his Memoir of Mr. Best,
relates the following interesting incident in connection with this
service : —
In the course of his answers Mr. Jones referred to the opposition which he
had encountered at home, and, in particular, to the threat of his father, that
he would break his son's legs if he found him going to a Dissenting place of
worship ; whereupon Mr. Charrier peremptorily stopped him, and, stamping
his foot amid the breathless silence of the excited auditor}, cried out to the
surprised minister, " No reflection on parental authority." 2
On that same day Mawdsley Street Chapel, though unfinished,
was opened for public worship. Mr. Thomas Greenall, who had
followed Doctor Simpson from Elswick to Bolton, and in the
meantime risen to a position of affluence, generously advanced
^2,000 for the work. It is interesting to note that his only son,
the Rev. Thomas Greenall, for many years the Congregational
minister at Burnley, was trained for the ministry by the good
doctor, whom he so greatly admired ; and his daughter became the
first wife of the Rev. Wm. Jones, whose grandson was the late
Rev. Daniel Jones Hamer. Mr. Jones's pastorate continued for
thirty-four years, being terminated by his death October 19th, 1842,
at the age of fifty-nine years. His pen gave forth several minia
ture works of a sermonic and theological character, and along with
the Rev. Joseph Wadsworth, of Clitheroe, he edited The Voice of
Truth, a monthly periodical, which had a run of a year or two.
Mr. Jones was one of those strongly marked personalities who are
not soon forgotten. Corporeally, he was of more than the ordinary
size, his voice was such that Dr. Simpson, in sending him to
Bolton, described him as " a Boanerges, who would lift off the
1 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1808, p. 494.
2 P. 53-

AN UNLUCKY MINISTER. 35
roof," whilst he appears to have had a large fund of humour. The
late Mr. J. C. Scholes tells an amusing story about Mr. Jones, in
which his father played a prominent part. It occurred at Mr.
R. M. Holden's printing establishment, which Mr. Jones was in the
habit of visiting. On this occasion he had to mount the top storey
in the building — not an easy task for him, and Mr. Scholes
continues : —
On reaching the summit of the last flight of stairs the preacher was
breathless almost to exhaustion ; but to his intense relief a seat (?) was
awaiting him. This had been hastily though cautiously prepared by my
father (then a mischievous lad not out of his teens), during the ascent of the
robust visitor, whose approach was unmistakably announced by an audible
" puffing and blowing." The seat comprised a slender sheet of " mill-board"
(used for book sides) ingeniously placed over a lidless box, care being taken
to hide the vacuum beneath. On my father's invitation, Mr. Jones hobbled
to this uncouth resting place, and with considerable force, consequent upon
his fatigue, threw himself thereon. No sooner was the whole weight of his
cumbersome body brought to bear upon the supple "mill-board," than, as
might well be supposed, the temporary lid gave way, and down went the
preacher into the empty box, leaving little more than head, arms, and legs
at the surface. The half-suppressed titters of the workpeople now swelled
into a hearty laugh at the minister's untimely downfall, and my father made
himself scarce while the "struggling author" shook his clenched fists and
vociferated between his gasps for breath, " I've a rod in pickle for thee, Jim ;
I've a rod in pickle for thee ! " 1
The Rev. J. D. Elliott, of the Western College, was appointed
his successor, entering upon duty May 21st, 1843. He was
ordained on the 26th of July following, and a few months after
made his way into the Established Church. He was followed in
1845 by the Rev. W. L. Brown, M.A. He was educated in part
at Glasgow, and in part at Aberdeen, and settled in 1840 over a
small church at Lerwick, in Shetland. His next charge was
Liscard, near Liverpool, whence he removed to Bolton. He
remained pastor of Mawdsley Street until 1850, when he resigned,
but after a few months, at the request of some of his Mawdsley
Street friends, he continued his ministrations at Albert Place
Chapel, and subsequently in the Temperance Hall. In 1854 he
1 "Bolton Bibliography," p. 85.

36 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
left Bolton for Lynn, in Norfolk, where he remained a short time,
removing thence to Totteridge Chapel, in Herefordshire. Here
he remained until 1877, when failing health led to his withdrawal
from the ministry. His days of retirement were spent at Lytham,
where he died April 21st, 1879, at the age of seventy years.
The Mawdsley Street pulpit was supplied for some time after
Mr. Brown's removal by the Rev. James Rhys Jones, of Kilsby,
in Northamptonshire. An invitation to continue his ministrations
for a few weeks led eventually to a large secession from Mawdsley
Street Church. This body rented the Presbyterian Chapel in
Moor Lane, and Mr. Jones was invited to accept the pastorate.
This he did on December 25th, 185 1. A church was formed,
and the Albert Place Chapel, which had been vacated by Mr.
Brown and his party, was purchased.
At this juncture it will be proper to devote a few sentences
to the chapel just named, which several times crosses the
path of the reader of Bolton Nonconformity. It originated
in the missionary activity of the Duke's Alley Church, during
the pastorate of the Rev. Samuel Ellis. Mr. David Nimmo,
engaged by the church as a Town Missionary, gathered a
congregation which first met in the Temperance Hall, where a
church was formed. On April 14th, 1843, Mr. Nimmo was
ordained pastor. In 1846-7 Hope Chapel was erected in Albert
Place, and two or three years after this Mr. Nimmo removed to
Peckham. As already noticed, the Rev. W. L. Brown ministered
here, and after him Mr. Jones, who removed to Birmingham in
1855. Albert Place Chapel will long continue to be memorable
as the scene of Dr. George Macdonald's labours for some years.
It is now in the hands of the United Methodist Free Church.
In the early part of 1852 the Rev. Robert Best entered upon
his pastorate at Mawdsley Street, memorable both as to its length
and the noble work accomplished. Trained at Homerton by Dr.
J. Pye Smith, he settled first at Fleetwood, but remained only a
few months. Kirkham was his next pastorate, where he entered
the lists against the iniquitous Church Rates, which were at that
time not unfrequently levied. He suffered for his Nonconformity
there, being summoned and fined through refusing to pay the rate,
and there it was that he issued " Congregational Independency as

NEW BUILDINGS. 37
old as the Apostles," being intended as a reply to a pamphlet by
the Rev. Henry Wray, M.A., senior curate of Kirkham. Mr.
Best's recognition service at Bolton took place on the 18th of
August, 1852.
In 1868 Mawdsley Street old chapel was taken down, the last
service held therein being on Sunday, May 10th, when Mr. Best
preached morning and evening, and in the afternoon the Rev. D. J.
Hamerconducted a young people's service. On Thursday, July3oth,
1868, the foundation stone of the new edifice was laid, upon the old
site extended, by Sir James Watts, of Abney Park, Manchester.
The building was completed and opened for public worship early in
1870. The first service was held on March 9th, and the preachers
who are associated with the event were the Revs. Dr. Allon, Dr.
Dale, Joshua Harrison, Charles Garrett, John Ashworth, J.
Baldwin Brown, B.A. Mr. Alfred Barnes gave an illustrated
lecture on Church music. I copy from the " Congregational Year
Book" of 187 1 a few sentences descriptive of the new chapel : —
It is surrounded on four sides by streets. The style of the new building
is Italian. The principal front, facing Great Moor Street, consists of a
massive portico of polished Yorkshire stone, with double pilasters, sur
mounted by a pediment. Between the pilasters, and supported by rich
Corinthian columns (monoliths), a semi-circular arch is turned with boldly
moulded architraves, and carved keystone. This arch being deeply recessed,
with the inverse side panelled, has a very effective appearance. Over the
doorway is a large moulded panel, bearing the inscription, in Roman letters,
' Founded 1808. Rebuilt i86g. Peace be within thy walls.' The total
length of the building is go feet, and the breadth throughout 59 feet, and it
affords accommodation for 1,200 persons.
The amount raised by the opening services was ^730, the
total cost of the building was over .£7,000, which in a few years
was entirely met by the congregation. About four years after the
opening of the chapel the old Mawdsley Street School, which had
existed since 1818, was taken down, and on April 24th, 1875, the
memorial stone of the present Sunday and Day School was laid
by J. K. Cross, Esq., M.P. This effort cost about £3,400,
towards which a five days' bazaar, in February, 1876, brought
in £957. On Sunday, May 7th, in the same year, Mr. Best
preached special sermons in commemoration of the opening of the

MAWDSLEY STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.

HALL-T-TH- WOOD. 39
School. In 1887 it was enlarged, and is now regarded by the
schools of the district as in every way a model building. Mr.
Best's long, varied, and most useful ministry was terminated with
his death on the 3rd of August, 1887, at the age of sixty-five
years. His remains were laid in the family grave at Tone
Cemetery. On the 10th of April, 1889, the Rev. H. W. Turner, B.A.,
was recognised as Mr. Best's successor. He is the son of the Rev.
A. Turner, Congregational minister of Ashford, in Kent, received
his ministerial training at Cheshunt, laboured some eight years at
Peterborough, and amidst many signs of success continues to
minister to an appreciative people at Mawdsley Street.
Mawdsley Street Church has worthily contributed towards the
extension of Congregationalism in Bolton. The Rose Hill Con
gregational Church, to be noticed presently, originated with it,
and in November, 1891, the Church secured the use of certain
buildings in the growing suburb of Tong Moor, in order to estab
lish a mission, with a view to the ultimate development of a
self-sustaining church. The work is at present under organi
sation. It is in the extreme north of this Township that the
venerable mansion called Hall-i'-th'-Wood is situated, which is so
closely associated with the great cotton industries of Lancashire.

VI. -LATER CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
The Rose Hill Congregational Church in the southern part of the
town, as just stated, originated with the Mawdsley Street Church.
About the year 1840, when the Rev. Wm. Jones was minister of
that Church, it was resolved to begin operations in this part of the
town, and for that purpose a small building was purchased which
originally belonged to the vegetarians, and subsequently to the
Wesleyans. This building, which was called " Dumpling Chapel,"
was used in the first instance as a Sunday School only, the workers

HALL I TH WOOD, BOLTON.

ORIGIN OF ROSE HILL CHURCH. 41
attending Mawdsley Street Chapel for worship. In 1864 a larger
edifice became a necessity, and the present school chapel was
erected, Mr. Thomas Wilkinson, J.P., of Whitehill, Sharpies,
laying the foundation stone. The names of some of the earliest
friends of the movement are James Haddock, Daniel Haddock,
Charles Crook, Richard Wood, Alfred Wood, David McKittnck
(now of Preston), John Boyle (now of New York), Joseph Boyle,
and Robert Boyle. The " Lancashire Congregational Calendar "
for 1866-7 says : —
The Church at Mawdsley Street having erected a schoolroom capable of
holding 300 people in this densely-populated but neglected district offered to
raise ^40 per annum for the support of an evangelist on condition of a like
sum being granted by the Union. A suitable agent has been located who
reports " that during the year he has spent twenty-five hours per week in
visiting, has conducted two services on the Sabbath, and four cottage
services during the week."
The grant was made, a church formed, and Mr. Fielding (since
deceased) was the "suitable agent" appointed to the work here. He
was followed soon after by the Rev. R. H. Noble, who is now the
pastor of the Southgate Road Church, London. In 1870 the
church was formally constituted, a few friends from Mawdsley
Street being drafted off for the purpose, and Mr. James Hall and
Mr. J. R. Phillips, who has for several years been the respected
minister of the Werneth Congregational Church, Oldham, were
appointed deacons. In the following year the Rev. David
Williams, who had previously laboured at Park Chapel, Blackburn,
Great Harwood, and Adlington, accepted a call to the pastorate of
the new church, which he held until the close of 1888, when he
retired from ministerial duty. Subsequently he went out to British
Guiana to take temporary charge of the Mission Chapel, New
Amsterdam, whilst its pastor, the Rev. L. Crookall, paid a visit to
his family in England. His almost tragic and sudden death there
on the 21st of August, 1890, will be fresh in the memory of many
readers. The present minister, the Rev. W. F. Lloyd Jones, from
Nottingham Institute, began his labours here in the midsummer
of 1891. Handsome and commodious new school buildings were
erected in 1890, the corner stones being laid on May 10th. Mr.

42 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Thomas Wilkinson laid the first, Mr. E. Deakin, junr., of Belmont,
the second, and Mr. Joseph Boyle the third. The cost of the
whole undertaking, including some alterations in the old building
to render it more suitable for public worship, was about ^3,600.
The other two Congregational interests are the offspring of St.
George's Road Church, and were commenced during the ministry of
Mr. Davison. In 1 868 the Sunnyside Institute at Daubhill was taken
by this Church for religious purposes, and a few months afterwards
the Rev. Henry Banks, who had been trained partly at Didsbury
Wesleyan College and partly at the Nottingham Congregational
Institute, was engaged as minister. He remained about eighteen
months, having pastorates subsequently at Hindley, near Wigan,
and Park Chapel, near Ramsbottom, and is now resident in Man
chester, without charge. His successor was the Rev. E. Daniels,
from Hollingworth, in Cheshire, who remained until 1874, when he
removed to Felling, near Gateshead. From this place he went to
Byker, near Newcastle, where he died April 26th, 1878, aged forty-
one years. The Rev. H. H. Scullard, who had previously laboured
at Falkenham, in Suffolk; Mill Hill, near Blackburn; Woodbridge,
in Suffolk ; Belper, and Horwich, began his Bolton ministry in
1874. In 1876 the present school chapel in Derby Street, with
sitting accommodation for 360 persons, became the home of what
had thus far been known as the Daubhill Congregational Church.
The cost was about ^3,000. Mr. Scullard saw his ministerial
jubilee in 1888, and his people commemorated the event by pre
senting him with an illuminated address and a marble timepiece.
Failing health led to his resignation shortly afterwards, and he died
at Southport on January 6th, 1890, at the age of seventy-three
years. His son, the Rev. H. H. Scullard, M.A., is the pastor of
the York Street Congregational Church, Dublin, and recently has
won considerable fame in the literary world by his essay on " St.
Martin of Tours." The present minister of the Derby Street
Church, the Rev. J. D. Thomas, was educated at Bala. He has
laboured at Buckley, in Flintshire, and Runcorn, in Cheshire, re
moving from the latter place to Bolton in September, 1889, where
he continues to exercise a useful ministry.
The Blackburn Road Congregational Church began with a
mission and Sunday School in Blackbank Street in March, 1872.

BLACKBURN ROAD CHURCH. 43
In the early part of the following year a branch church was formed,
and Mr. T. G. Latham was engaged as assistant to Mr. Davison.
He remained only a short time, removing to the Congregational
Institute, Nottingham, to prepare for the Christian Ministry. He
died March 10th, 1886, whilst pastor of the Congregational
Church at Barrow, near Whalley. On the 14th of January, 1877,
the present Iron Church was opened in Blackburn Road, the cost
being about ,£1,150. The Rev. J. E. Clayton, from Lancashire
College, had entered upon his labours here a few months previously
as first minister, and after six years he removed to Whitworth, near
Rochdale. He is now pastor of the Cockermouth Congregational
Church in Cumberland. The Rev. R. Lambert, from Poulton-le-
Fylde, followed in May, 1884, and resigned at the close of last
year. These three churches are good illustrations of the useful
work done by the Lancashire Congregational Union — all of them
having obtained generous grants for several years from its Funds.
Partly, however, through the liberal help of the Mawdsley Street
and St. George's Boad Churches, and partly because of increasing
strength and growth in the Churches themselves, they have attained
to pecuniary independence.

CHAPTER II.
ROUND ABOUT BOLTON.

I —WALMSLEY : THE OLD EPISCOPAL CHAPEL.
There is a lovely bit of scenery some four or five miles north of
Bolton which doubtless attracts many a pedestrian thither, but it
is the ecclesiastical traditions and associations of the place which
have most interest for Lancashire Nonconformists. A lofty fell to
the right, known as Turton Heights, the high lands of Rivington
to the left, and Longworth and Darwen Moors in front, enclose a
charming little valley which includes the hamlets of Walmsley,
Egerton, and Dimple. Formerly the whole district went by the
name of Walmsley, and it is in its earlier, rather than in its more
modern and restricted sense, that the name is used in this sketch.
The three hamlets are in the Turton Township and in the Bolton
Parish, and travellers from Bolton to Darwen " must needs go "
through them. Nowhere can Nonconformity show a more noble
history than here, and in no part of Lancashire did it root itself
earlier. For its cradle and birthplace we must go to a clump
of trees about a hundred yards to the right of the Bolton and
Darwen road, and about four miles from the first named town.
These protect all that remains of the old Walmsley Chapel. From
the walls, which to the height of two or three feet still stand, the
outlines of the original building can be traced. A few gravestones,
overgrown with grass, yet linger about, the oldest bearing the date
1750 and the most recent, belonging to the Kays of Turton, 1858.
When the chapel here was first erected it is not easy to say, but it
certainly was in existence more than three hundred years ago. In

OLLVER HEY WOOD'S MOTHER. 45
the "Inventories of Church Goods," taken in the year a.d. 1552,
the following notice of Walmsley Chapel appears : —
"Itm att JStalrrtsUg Cljaptl, a Chales, a bell, & other Ornametes
for a p'ste [priest]." '
Nor do we know anything about its founder. It is supposed
that some member of the Walmsley family built it, giving it his
name ; but though branches of this family are found in Tockholes,
Ribchester, and other parts of Lancashire during the sixteenth
century, none of importance are found at Turton. It was intended
as a chapel-of-ease for the convenience of those who found it too
far to go to the Parish Church at Bolton, and no easy matter to
climb the Heights of Turton for the church on the other side.
The first known minister of this little chapel, which could not
have accommodated more than fifty persons, was the Rev. Joshua
Hill. In Oliver Heywood's Diaries there are one or two interesting,
references to him. Oliver Heywood's mother was Alice Critchlaw,
of Longworth, near Walmsley Chapel ; and in a short account of
her life he says that she was born in 1594 ; " was as careles, carnal
and froward as any til she was about 19 years of age, at which
time it pleased god to take to himselfe her gracious mother, whom
she tenderly affected, and for whose death she made excessiue
sorrow." He further says that at this time (1613) "there lived a
godly young minister at the place, one Mr. Joshua Hill, whom the
Lord used as an instrument to open her blind eyes." "
This was probably the Joshua Hill who appears afterwards at
Bramley Chapel, Leeds, and whose leanings towards Nonconformity
are evident from the fact that he was summoned to appear in the
Archbishop's Court " to answer a charge for not wearing a surplice
and other acts of Puritanical Nonconformity." 3 He died, however,
"a few hours before the summons reached his house," and so
escaped the malice of his persecutors.4
The Rev. John Harrison followed, though at what date is
1 Chetham Society Publications, vol. cvii., p. 24.
2 " Oliver Heywood's Diaries," by J. Horsfall Turner, vol. i., p. 41.
3 Hunter's " Life of Oliver Heywood," p. 22, and note.
1 This was in 1636.

PROSPECT TOWER ON TURTON HEIGHTS.

HONOURABLE NAMES. 47
uncertain. He was the son of a gentleman of good fortune,
near Wigan, of the "Puritan stamp," is said to have been
" the flower of the family," and received an excellent University
training. His relations with the Heywood family appear
to have been very intimate. Oliver Heywood tells about
his mother taking him when he was young to Walmsley
Chapel to hear Mr. Harrison ; and afterwards Mr. Harrison
preached his marriage sermon and also the funeral sermon for his
wife. From Walmsley he went to Ashton-under-Lyne, whence he
was ejected in 1662. After his ejection he lived privately for
a little time at Salford, where he became deprived of the use of
his limbs through his "indefatigable labours, fastings, and night
studies." Subsequently, he returned to Ashton, where he died in
1669, aged fifty-seven years. Calamy says that he was " an excellent
preacher, and a man of great devotion." He wrote " Censures of
the Church Revived" in 1659, in defence of the Manchester
Presbytery against some animadversions of several gentlemen of
the Episcopal persuasion. His funeral sermon was preached by
Mr. Ellison, his successor at Ashton.1 Mr. Harrison was followed
at Walmsley by the Rev. Thomas Pyke. In the document
containing a list of the ministers forming the Bury Classis,
dated October 2nd, 1646, he appears as minister at Rad
cliffe, and so must have been at Walmsley previous to that
date. From Radcliffe he was ejected in 1662, and in 1668 2 he
is found ministering to the Dissenters of Blackley, near Manchester,
who, on account of persecution, were obliged to meet in secrecy.
He died there in 1676, at the age of fifty-four years, and was
interred within the precincts of the old Episcopal Chapel at
Blackley, on the 21st of August. His funeral sermon, from John v ,
28, 29, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Lawton, of Newton Heath,
near Manchester. One of his sons — John — married the daughter
of the Rev. Robert Bath, the ejected minister of Rochdale. John
Pyke appears to have been profligate and poor, and the Rev.
Henry Newcome, M.A., in his Autobiography, relates his thoughts
1 "Nonconformist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii.,. p. 35T-
2 Calamy gives the year of the Indulgence, 1672, as the date of his^
ministrations here; but the Rev. J. Booker, B.A., in his " History of Blackley
Chapel " (p. 94), says that he was officiating here "as early as 1668."

48 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
on a visit to him. Under date December 18th, 1680, the Diarist
says : —
"Went to visit Jo. Pyke, who was sick. It grieved me to the
heart to see his wife so ragged (the daughter of good Mr. Bath,
and he the son of honest Mr. Pyke). Good Lord, what sin brings
upon poor wretches even in this world ! " 1
" Pike Fold," near Blackley, is still a reminiscence of this early
Nonconformist minister, and is said to have been the place where
he resided. The Rev. James Smith comes next. He was at
Walmsley from 1647 to March, 1648. In 1650, according to the
Report of the Parliamentary Commissioners, he was at Atherton,
and is described as a " very honest man, and of good lyffe and
conversacon."2 It will be evident from the foregoing that even the earliest known
Walmsley ministers were Nonconformist rather than Episcopal,
and it is not too much to infer that the people were like unto
them. We are now led up to the advent of one who may rightly
be called a pillar of Lancashire Nonconformity. Michael Briscoe
was born about 16 19, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and
settled at Walmsley when he was about twenty-nine years of age.
There appears to be some doubt as to whether Mr. Briscoe first
went to Turton, then to Walmsley, or ministered at the two places
simultaneously. In 1650 the Parliamentary Commissioners report
as follows : —
Alsoe wee p'sent that there is wthin Turton, wthin the p'ish of Boulton (two)
Chappells, the one of them called Turton Chappell and the other called
Walmesley Chappell, distant the one from the other two statute myles and a
halfe, and distant from the p'ish Church of Boulton five myles, and (some
pte of) Turton is distant from Boulton nyne myles or thereabouts, and that
the said two Chappells are fit to bee made a p'ish, and to have theire
bounderies and severall p'cincts allotted to them as formly they (have had
and maye be for) the most conveniences and benefits of the Inhabitants
1 " Autobiography of Henry Newcome" (Chetham Society Series,
vol. xxvii., p. 235.)
2 " Commonwealth Church Survey " (Record Society Series, vol. i.),
P- 57.

THE REV. MICHAEL BRISCOE. 49
resorting to them ; And that Mr. James Livesey officiates at Turton, a pain
full godly orthodox Minister, And was elected by the vnanimous consent of
the congregac'on of Turton, and hath in pte of his sallery the intre^t of twenty
shillings, now in the hand of John Wood, and given towards mainteynce of a
Minister at Turton by one Widowe Haighe, deceased, and that the residue
of his wages and sallary are payed vnto him by the ffree gifte and contribucon
jf the congregacon ; and that Mr. Michael Briscoe, a godly and painfull
Minister, did officiate at the said Chappell by order from the Comittie of
plundered Ministers, and was outed by some of the Chappelry that did not
affect him, And hath had forty pounds or thereabouts allowed him by the
said Comittee from Walmsley Chappell aforesaid.1
From the extract just given, Mr. Briscoe must be associated with
Turton Chapel, at any rate in 1650, either as assistant minister or
as having sole charge, the former being probably the truth. These
were times when the Presbyterians and Independents were
struggling with each other for the supremacy, and Briscoe's
Independency caused him to have somewhat rough sailing in these
parts of Lancashire. Writing on the 3rd of August, 1648, he states
how he was then being " badgered by the Presbyterians," and no
doubt it was the same faction who caused him to be " outed " from
the Turton Church a little later. Mr. Briscoe's income was not so
large that he was placed above the fear of want, nor was it always
forthcoming at the proper time. The following interesting docu
ment relating to this matter, kindly lent by the late Mr. Bailey, of
Stretford, is worth insertion.
September 17th, 1652. — Whereas this comittee, the 26th of March,
1651-2, granted the yearly summe of ffifty pounds out of the proffitts of the
impropriate Rectories of Poulton and Melling, in the county of Lanc'e,
seq'rd from Sr Thomas Tilsley and the Lord Morley, Delinqts. to and for
increase of the maintenance of Mr. Michael Briscoe, min'r of the Chappell
of Walmisley, in the said county, and the said Mr. Briscoe now alledgeth
that he cannot reape the benefit of the said graunt. It is therefore ordered
that the said ord'r bee discharged that in lieu thereof the yearely summe of
ffifty pounds bee allowed and paid to the said Mr. Briscoe out of the sur
plus of the proffitts of the impropriate tithes (not yet disposed of) of Modes-
ley, Bispham, Ireby, Olverston, Stretford, Chorleton, and Inse, seq'd from
the Earle of Derby, delinq't, and Mr. John Cansfield and Sir Jorden Cros-
land, Papists and Delinq'ts, and Sir Cecill Traford and Mr. Thomas
Gerrard, Recusants, together with all arreares of the said fifty pounds a
yeare due to the said Mr. Briscoe since the said 26th March, 1651, wch the
1 " Commonwealth Church Survey" (Record Society Series, vol. i.), p. 32.
3—4

50 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Comrs for Seqcons in the said county, are required to pay unto the said
Mr. Briscoe according to the Act of Parlt. in yt. behalf. — T. Harrison, Wm.
Cawley, Pet. Temple, Ro : Gratwicke.
Between the Rev. Thomas Jollie's Church at Altham and Mr.
Briscoe's at Walmsley there was a very intimate relationship, and
in 1652 Mr. Briscoe received a letter from the Altham Church
asking permission to have fellowship with them. Permission
was eventually granted, and for many years afterwards these two
churches appear side by side with each other upholding the cause
of liberty and truth. Mr. Briscoe left Walmsley about 1654 for
Toxteth Park, Liverpool, where he preached jointly with the Rev.
Thomas Crompton until his death in September, 1685, at the age of
sixty-six years. He is said to have been a "good Scholar and a fine
Orator. His Sermons were Judicious, but his Voice was low ; which
was more than Compensated by his taking way of Delivery."1
Space will not allow me to give the numerous and interesting
references to Mr. Briscoe which may be found in Jollie's Church
Book, Heywood's Diaries, Adam Martindale's Life, and the Auto
biography of Henry Newcome. But the bare mention of these
is sufficient to show that he numbered amongst his friends and
acquaintances the foremost Nonconformist ministers of his time.
A daughter of Mr. Briscoe married Samuel Angier, whose cousin
was the first wife of Oliver Heywood. There appears to have
been no minister at Walmsley for a while after Mr. Briscoe's
departure. Things did not run smoothly, and spiritual life declined.
Mr. Jollie notes the sad condition of the Walmsley Society in his
Church Book thus : —
"1661. The church at Walmsley being sadly divided and
neglecting ordinances, this, sent a most pathetical letter to them
to persuade them to unite and pursue the ends of their covenant."'
Again : — " 1666. Church work little minded at Walmsley."
And again : — " 1668. Consented to let the orderly brethren of
Walmsley Society join with this occasionally."
Mr. Thomas Kaye, or Key, a member of Mr. Jollie's Church,
was called to minister amongst the Walmsley people shortly after
1 Calamy's " Account of the Ejected or Silenced " (1712), vol. ii., p. 740.

THE REV. CHARLES SAGAR. 51
this. The original certificate of his ordination in 167 1 is still in
existence, and is now in the possession of Mr. Adshead, of
Pendleton. Following Mr. Key is Charles Sagar, also from Mr. Jollie's
Church. He was the son of John Sagar, of Burnley, being born
there in 1636. He was educated in part at the Burnley Grammar

rJ
0
0

Of* AO /tf TjfrntfoAn o*/vy£Jih
<^ f iP
FACSIMILE OF THE REV. THOMAS KEY'S ORDINATION CERTIFICATE.
School, proceeding eventually to St. John's University, Cambridge.
He was appointed to the mastership of the Blackburn Grammar
School, January 21st, 1655-6, holding the position for nearly
eleven years, his resignation being brought about by The Five Mile
Act of 1665. In 1672 he took out a license to be a Presbyterian1
1 " Presbyterian " and " Congregational " were often used interchange
ably in the licenses.

52 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Teacher of Blackburn." He was at Walmsley only about twelve
months (1686-87), removing thence to Darwen, where he laboured
until his death, February 13th, 1697. He was buried at Black
burn, February 1 7th.1 It was in the days of Mr. Key and Mr.
Sagar that the Nonconformists suffered so heavily. At the head
of the Entwistle reservoir is a lovely glen called Yearnsdale, where,
tradition states, the outcast Nonconformists of this district fre
quently met for worship. A writer on the history of Walmsley
Chapel thus refers to the matter : — ¦
Under the cover of night they used to assemble in a wild and lonely spot
named Yearnsdale Holmes, and there, amidst the solitude of the place and
the stillness of the night, offered up their praises and prayers to the great
Lord of all, and encouraged each other to press forward in the glorious cause
of liberty, truth, and virtue. But even in this secluded spot they did not
consider themselves safe, and they almost invariably had to appoint one of
their party as a watchman upon one of the surrounding eminences, to apprize
them of the approach of any hostile party. I never visit thatwild and lonely
spot without feelings of reverence.2
This was the period when Judge Jefferies, who is described as
'the most diabolical judge that ever sate on the bench," 3 visited
Preston, and inflicted the most brutal sentences in his power upon
prominent Nonconformist preachers.
From the time of Sagar to about the year 1706 there is an inter
regnum concerning which we know nothing ; but much the same
thing obtains in the case of many of these old Dissenting places of
worship. After the Revolution of 1 688 the Dissenters appear to have
retained the chapels in which they had worshipped (though Episcopal)
for several years, and probably this was the case at Walmsley.
In 1706 the Walmsley people licensed the house of Evan Dew-
hurst (now the Globe Inn) for worship, and the Rev. James Milne
was appointed minister. After this date the old chapel got back
into Episcopal hands. According to Baines it was rebuilt in 1771,
and, as already stated, it is now taken down, only a few tomb
stones and parts of the walls remaining to mark out the spot where
1 For additional information respecting this celebrated man, the reader is
asked to consult " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. ii.
2 " Christian Reformer " tor 1834, p. 740.
3 Cassell's " History of England," vol. iii., p. 525.

<3%y&. '.y/m^J,, Y/wc P///-m> Ui:M.'o-'6diwc-/r

I, DliB C'mml

*V.

54 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
early Lancashire Nonconformity suffered, but also triumphed. An
entirely new structure, considerably nearer Bolton, at the cost of
,£3,000, was erected about fifty years ago for the Episcopalians of
Walmsley.

II.—WALMSLEY • THE UNITARIAN CHAPEL.
In the previous section we saw the Nonconformists of Walmsley,
after being deprived of the Episcopal Chapel, in which their
fathers had long worshipped, holding their meetings in Evan Dew-
hurst's kitchen, now the Globe Inn. This is said to have been
licensed for worship about 1705 or 1706, and the Rev. James
Milne is named as minister. Mr. Milne's ordination certificate,
however, would seem to suggest a little later date as the time when
his ministry at Walmsley began. The following is a copy : —
"June ye 30th, 1709. — Whereas James Milne, aged about twenty-four
years, hath addressed himself to us ministers of ye Gospel in the ye county
of Lancr., whose names are subscrib'd, desiring to be ordain'd Presbyter,
and having given sufficient testimonial of his diligence and p'ficiency in his
studies and unblameableness of life and conversation, and all excercizes
duely performed, these may certify to all to whom it may concern that upon
ye day, and in ye year above written, we have p'ceeded solemnly to sett him
apart to y» office of a Presbyter, and work of ye ministry of ye Gospell, by
laying on of hands with fasting and prayer : by vertue whereof we do
declare him to be a lawfull and sufficiently authorized minister of Jesus
Christ, to exercise his ministry in any place where divine Providence shall
call him, particularly Walmesley, in y6 county of Lancaster, for ye present,
exhorting ye people in ye name of Jesus Christ willingly to receive and
encourage him in ye execution of his said office, y he may be able to give up
such account to Christ of their obedience to his ministry in ye Lord as may
be to his joy and their everlasting comfort, in witness whereof we have
hereunto putt our hands ye sd 30th of June, in ye year 1709.
Ra : Ainsworth.
Sa : Bourn.
John Walker.
Edward Rothwell.
James Wood. G : Griffith.
James Brownlow. Wm. Pendlebury.
Renald Tetlaw.
John Heywood."

THE LL CENSED KITCHEN. 55
Tradition has it that the Walmsley Nonconformists still worshipped
alternately with the Episcopalians in the old chapel. We know
that this was the case in many other places, and the following
letter from the Rev. H. Lawson, curate of Turton, to Mr. Milne,
supports the tradition: —
Sr., — It's strange you can't content yourself with the Privilege you have
of Walmsley Chapel, but you must Encroach upon my Liberty's of
christening children, &c, which particularly belongs to me, I'me sure no
ways Consistent with your order ; if you persist in the same you'll hear
more from Your Servant, *
Turton, March 2 l, 1710. H. Lawson.
To Mr. Milne, att Jo. Horrocks, att Dunskirk. These.
It is not easy to reconcile this letter with the tradition respecting
the license of Evan Dewhurst's kitchen. The letter, however,
speaks about the use of the chapel as a "privilege," probably
only recently granted ; we may, therefore, surmise that the
Nonconformists worshipped in Evan Dewhurst's house
previous to the giving of it; or if, as tradition says,
the privilege meant only the occasional use of the chapel,
their regular worship would be in the licensed " kitchen."
Mr. Milne, however, soon began to agitate for a chapel which
could be called their own, and found no small difficulties in this
undertaking. The Turton curate, as already noted, had no great
likings for his Dissenting brother, and the new chapel project he
endeavoured to hinder and destroy. The following anonymous
letter to Mr. Milne relates to this matter : — November ye 21, 1712.
Sir,— These few lines are not many, yet I crave your lesure for to heed
them. Yet you may think them strange, but ye . . will not err much
from y truth. My desire is to let ye know y' it is not convenient for to
urg ye tenants of your nabouring gentlemen to contribute to y1' new Chapel,
for they have given it under their hands for to disinherit them if this con
trivance which you have in hand do come to perfection, and y4 is this ;
Esqre Chetham and Hilton, Esqre, of Torton, hath beene att all y Councell
both at Chester Bishops and his Court, Justice of Peace, and other Coun-
clors for to know what they can do and what they cannot ; ye meeting at
Walmesley Chappel ye proposals which they moved to your congregation
they assyne to be their plee agenst you. i had it from good hand y' Mr.

56 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Cheetham is for to make what intrest agenst you at ye high Court to frus
trate your designes at home, and to be in trugth you are contriving your
Ruin, for as sure as this tends to black and whit yes Gentlemen thinck it 's
your only act and deed y* you have a new Chappel amongst you. i wish
you to consider things well and looke to yourself. You may construe (?) ys
as you please att your own lesure. So i rest your ever Loving friend until
death, farewell. ye truth of this will clear itself in time, ffor Mr. Milne,
parson, Living att John Horrockses at Dunscar in Torton.
Mr. Milne does not appear to have been turned from his
purpose, either by the threats of the parson, or by the warnings of
his anonymous friends, for in 17 13 the new chapel was erected.
This building, altered of course considerably during the flight of
time, lies about sixty or seventy yards to the left of the Bolton and
Darwen road, and about 300 yards nearer Darwen than the old
Episcopal Chapel already named. It contained no pews, but
movable forms with oaken backs. The ground floor was un-
flagged, and according to the custom of the time the dead were
interred within it.
The following passage from a " History of Walmsley Chapel "
will give some idea of the difficulties with which Mr. Milne and
his people had to contend : —
On the enactment of the uniformity worship law, the Vicar of Bolton
seized upon the chapel, but he found considerable difficulty to obtain com
plete possession. The Presbyterians kept the keys, and for some time
worshipped in it alternately with the persecuting and property grasping
Episcopalians. The Vicar, however, was ably seconded in his nefarious
proceedings by a person of the name of Lawton, who then officiated as his
curate at Chapel Town, in the township of Turton, and near Walmsley
Chapel. This furious bigot often preached at Walmsley, and generally
brought with him a set of ruffians to browbeat the persecuted Presbyterians.
Among others were a set of vagabonds who named themselves the " Lambs
of Tong Fowd," and who, whenever and wherever they met a Presbyterian,
were in the habit of knocking him down, trundling him about, and " purring "
him till they made him shout " Down with the Rump " and " Long live
great Caesar." On one occasion, when Lawton came to preach there a vile
person, named Tom o' Jenny's, called at the public house adjoining, when
the landlady urged him to go to Chapel, and after some demurring, he
consented and went. On his return he was asked by the hostess how he
liked the parson. He answered : " O woman ! I was never better pleased
in my life. Whenever I go to hear the Presbyterians they are always telling

THE MILNE FAMILY. 57
me of swearing, drunkenness, and thieving, things which I am guilty of ;
but this is a brave old gentlemen : he did nothing but bang at the Presby
terians, and I came off scot free.1
Here Mr. Milne laboured until his death, in 1730. He is
said to have been of Scottish extraction, and married Jane, sister
to John Horrocks, above-named, with whom he resided for a time.
He had several daughters, and a son, John, who was twice
married. John Milne's first wife was Elizabeth, daughter and
heiress of John Davenport, of Farnworth. Mrs. John Milne died
April 1 2th, 1742, and in the letters of administration granted to
her husband on the 31st of that month, he is described as "of
Bolton-le-Moors, in the county of Lancaster, gentleman." John
Milne afterwards became a Presbyterian minister, preaching " his
first sermon at Wymondhouses on the 23rd of August, 1741."2
He subsequently laboured at the High Pavement Chapel,
Nottingham, for many years, where he died. He was buried in the
middle aisle of St. Mary's Parish Church, in that town, Seplember
14th, 1772. According to his will, dated March 27th, 1769, he
possessed landed property in Manchester and at Belshaw Outwood,
in Cheshire. His second wife was Sarah, sister and co-heiress of
Joseph Wilson, Esq., of Rivington Hall, near Chorley. She died
April 16th, 1797, being buried also in St. Mary's Church. The
Rev. James Milne, as already stated, died in 1730, and was interred
inside the chapel at Walmsley, where he had so long laboured, and
which he had built. In the south aisle his tombstone may yet be
seen, upon which is the following inscription : —
Here resteth ye body of
ROBERT MILNE,
Who died in ye 7th year of his age, Deer, the 24th, 1721.

Here resteth the body of the
REVD. MR. JAMES MILNE,
Minister of this congregation twenty-four years,
Who died in the 46th year of his age and in the year of Our Lord 1730.
The memory of the just is blessed.
E. M., 1735. J. M., 1736.
1 " Christian Reformer " for 1834, p. 738.
2 "Christian Reformer" for 1851, p. 522.

58 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
It will be noted that the tombstone points to the earlier date of
the commencement of Mr. Mjlne's ministry at Walmsley, and per
haps it is best to suppose that he had already been labouring there
a few years before he was ordained. Mr. Horsfall Turner, of Idle,
in his notes to the Rev. Oliver Heywood's Diaries,1 gives the Rev.
Robert Hesketh as minister at Walmsley Chapel, and if so, it must
have been in succession to Mr. Milne. Mr. Hesketh was a
Glasgow student. His father, the Rev. Robert Hesketh, was for
some years minister of Piatt Chapel, near Manchester. Robert
Hesketh, junior, was minister at Carnforth, near Lancaster, in 1725,
removing thence probably to Walmsley. His subsequent
pastorates were at Eastwood and Northowram — Oliver Heywood's
old chapel — where he laboured until his decease, which took place
on the 19th of January, 1774, at the age of seventy-seven years.
His daughter, Phcebe, was married to Robert Fisher, of Marton,
near Blackpool, whose grandson is Councillor Henry Fisher, J. P., of
Blackpool.2 A Rev. Mr. Waterhouse comes next, about whom I have
no certain information. In the graveyard of the little chapel at
Risley, near Warrington, is a tombstone to the memory of Samuel
Waterhouse, V.D.M., who died July 5th, 1762, having been
minister of that " Society " fourteen years. This would fit in with
the time of Mr. Waterhouse's connection with Walmsley. There
was also a Rev. Nicholas Waterhouse, for many years an eminent
minister at Ringhay, Cheshire, who died in 1724, but whether he
had any connection with the Walmsley minister of that name I
know not. It was probably during the ministry of Mr. Water-
house, somewhere about the year 1745, that a Church and King
mob besieged Walmsley Chapel. Of this incident the Rev. R. G.
Leigh writes : —
The roughs of " Tonge Fowt " resolved to burn it, but the sturdy worship
pers resolved that it should not be burned, and arming themselves with
guns, pistols, scythes, and other lethal weapons,- they bored port-holes in the
doors, and removing panes of glass from the windows for the better con
venience of their artillery, they awaited the attack. But when the besiegers
1 Vol. iv., p. 317.
2 Vide vol. i. of " Lancashire Nonconformity " for further information
respecting the Hesketh and Fisher families.

A FAITHFUL DOG. 59
saw what a warm reception awaited them they considered that "discretion
was the better part of valour," and after a noisy council of war, they retired
discomfited.1 The Rev. John Helme comes next. He was trained by
Dr. Rotheram in the Kendal Academy, being a student there in
1741. He was minister at Penruddock, in Cumberland, for a
short time, and about the year 1750 came to Walmsley. He is
said to have been " very useful not only as a minister, but also
as a physician among the numerous country people in his neigh
bourhood." 2 He was exceedingly humorous, and stories are yet
current in the neighbourhood of his encounters with the Metho
dists, who were beginning to gain ground in his day. During the
prevalence of a great flood he was drowned in attempting to cross
a bridge at the Folds, near Bolton, his faithful dog being found
the next morning moaning over his dead body. He was buried
in the graveyard of Walmsley Chapel, and his tombstone states
that his death took place on February nth, 1760, at the age of
sixty years. His wife Margaret died on the 17th of December in
the same year,in the sixty-eighth year of her age. The Helmes appear
to have rooted themselves deeply at Walmsley, for several of that
name may be found in the chapel yard. The Rev. John Aspinall
followed. He is said to have been the first to keep a Baptismal
Register at Walmsley. This was begun in 1762, Mr. Aspinall
signing it for the first time on August 29th of that year. His last
signature is dated May ist, 1779. He removed to Risley, near
Warrington, where he died.3 The Rev. John Taylor comes next,
signing the Baptismal Register for the first time on the 6th of April,
1783. He was a Daventry student, and is said to have been a
good classical scholar. His ministry at Walmsley is described as
" brilliant," and crowded congregations assembled to hear him.
He collected considerable sums of money, with part of which he
caused the two side galleries to be erected. His ministry here
terminated suddenly and strangely.
1 From a series of valuable articles in "The Bolton Journal" on
" Walmsley Nonconformity," by the Rev. R. G. Leigh.
2 " Monthly Repository " for 18 10, p. 427.
3 I imagine this is the person who ministered at Elswick, near Kirk-
ham, for a short time. (Vide vol. i. of this work.)

60 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
" It had long been the custom with the Walmsley singers, '
writes one, '' when anyone of the congregation married, to sing
what they term the bridal hymn, from Dr. Watts' version. A
marriage had just taken place : the singers were determined to
have their frolic, and Mr. Taylor was equally determined that they
should not. He gave out another hymn or psalm, and some of
the congregation joined him; but the singers struck up the bridal
hymn, and hence there was as much confusion as ever occurred
in the church at Corinth. Mr. Taylor being of an irritable
temper, instantly resigned, and left Walmsley in disgust."1
He signs the Register for the last time on April 27th, 1788. He
was the father of Mr. Taylor, for some time editor of the Man
chester Guardian. Following Mr. Taylor comes the Rev. Thomas
Davies, his first baptismal entry being March 30th, 1789. He was
educated at the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, and his first
settlement was at Marlborough, whence he came to Manchester,
to be Mathematical Tutor of the New College there, from 1787-89.
He was doctor, chemist, mathematician, divine, and many other
things combined. On the room floor of the manse at Walmsley
are marks made by him in the pursuit of his varied studies, and
some barometers constructed by him are still in existence. He
first introduced vaccination with the cow-pox into the neighbour
hood of Walmsley, and exerted himself greatly to make the
practice general. During the ministry of Mr. Davies, efforts were
made by the Darwen Congregationalists to win back the congrega
tion from Umtarianism, but in vain. Their failure led to the
building of another chapel, an account of which will follow. Mr.
Davies's last entry in the Baptismal Register bears date June 2nd,
1810 ; he died on the nth of April of the year following, at the
age of fifty-five years. He was interred in the Walmsley Chapel
graveyard, and his tombstone states that he was a " native of Pen
Bank, in the county of Cardiganshire, South Wales," and had
been minister of the place for the period of twenty-one years.
Another Welshman, in the person of the Rev. Thomas Jones,
came to be minister at Walmsley, his first entry in the Baptismal
Register bearing date September 12th, 18 11. He was trained at
1 "Christian Reformer" for 1834, P- 742-

THE REV. WM. PROBERT. 61
Castell Howell, by the Rev. David Davies, and settled at Congle-
ton, Cheshire, in 1800. His ministrations at Walmsley were for a
time greatly appreciated by the people, but eventually a misunder
standing arose which led to his ejection, though not until ^300
had been spent upon the matter. His last entry in the Register is
dated July 31st, 181 9. The Rev. Noah Jones, a student from the
Wymondley Academy, signs the Register for the first time on
December nth, 1819, and for the last February 18th, 1821. From
Walmsley he removed to Bank Street Chapel, Bolton. Mr. Jones
was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Probert, of Alnwick, Northumber
land, who began his labours at Walmsley on the 3rd of November,
1821. He states that he "found the place encumbered with a
debt of ^200, and all in disorder among the people." Mr. Probert
was minister at Walmsley for almost half a century, and his
lengthened stay has caused the chapel to be best known to many
by the name of "Old Probert's Chapel." He was quite a
character in his day, and many stories are yet current in the neigh
bourhood which show him less to advantage as a minister than as
a man of wit and humour. Yet, it is said, that amidst great trials,
he laboured not without success, and many persons still living
declare that all their learning came from his hands. Like several
of his predecessors he was a Welshman, and wrote or translated
one or two Welsh books ; and some other works in Hebrew and
Chaldee claim him as author. The history of Walmsley Chapel,
several times referred to, was also from his pen. He last signed
the Register on October 30th, 1869, and died April ist, 1870. His
tombstone in the Walmsley Chapel graveyard bears the following
inscription : — In affectionate remembrance of the late
Rev. WILLIAM PROBERT,
Who died at Walmsley Chapel House, on the ist day of April, 1870,
In the 80th year of his age.
He was a native of Painscastle, county of Radnorshire, South Wales. He
had been minister of Walmsley Unitarian Chapel for upwards of 48 years."
The Rev. J. Hardinge Matthews succeeded Mr. Probert in
1 87 1. He was trained at the Home Missionary Board, Man
chester, and signed the Register for the last time as minister at

62 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Walmsley on January 27th, 1878. He now resides at Kingswood,
near Birmingham. The present minister, Rev. E. Allen, also
trained at the Home Missionary Board, who had previously
laboured at Lydgate, Yorkshire, and Padiham, began his ministry
here on June ist, 1878. The present chapel, as already stated,
lies some sixty or seventy yards to the left of the road leading
from Bolton to Darwen. A fine new walk goes down to it, and
the building is entered by going down three steps. The date of
its erection, 17 13, is over the doorway, and the belfry stands on
the front gable. The windows are mullioned, and the structure is
somewhat ancient looking, though important alterations have been
made. On entering, the pulpit faces us, behind which is a
large window with coloured glass, which has both a pleasing
appearance, and also protects both minister and people from the
heat of the sun. There is an organ in use which was originally
in Bank Street Chapel, Bolton. The chapel has galleries round,
and these, together with the side pews in the bottom, are
very old, but the centre was repewed with pitchpine about fifteen
years ago. Some thirty years ago the roof was raised, and four
years ago the whole place was thoroughly cleaned and beautified.
It will seat about 400 people. In addition to the tombstone of the
Milne family, already noted, there are two others inside the chapel
belonging to the Pilkingtons of Turton, one of whom was for many
years schoolmaster at the old school. The graveyard which
surrounds the chapel is evidently well patronised, and is deeply
interesting. The Kays of Turton, Haddocks of Bolton, Crooks of
Turton, Orrells of Turton, and Ashworths of Sharpies, all important
families who either have been or are associated with the chapel,
are well represented here. Clearly and emphatically also do the
tombstones witness to the healthfulness of the district, for 80, 81,
88, 90 years represent the ages of many who lie quietly sleeping
here. Two or three quaint specimens of graveyard rhyming may
also be met with, of which the following is a sample : —
Farewell, vain world, I've known enough of thee,
And careless am of what thou's thought of me.
Thy smiles, I trust not, nor thy powers do fear,
My body's dead, my head lies quiet here.
What fault thou seest in me take care to shun,
Look well at home, enough there's to be done.

Walmsley Unitarian Chapel <* " .J*&&:

64 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
The congregation is Unitarian, and has been for considerably over
a century. Tradition says that when the Rev. John Helme was
being ordained, his answers to the questions on doctrine and
polity not being satisfactory, the ministers present " took up their
hats and left the place," in token of disapproval. At his death he
left a Unitarian congregation behind him.

III. -EGERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Egerton Congregationalists may properly claim spiritual descent
from Briscoe and the sturdy Nonconformists of the days of the
Commonwealth, who worshipped in the little chapel whose history
has already been given. In the chapel of 17 13, now held by the
Unitarians, they may also claim to have an interest, for it was their
fathers who helped to build it and who worshipped therein. When
Unitarian sentiments began to prevail, there a number of
the people left the place, and for many years found no definite
meeting place. Efforts were made towards the end of last century
and the beginning of this to recover the chapel from the Unitarians,
but, though vigorously assisted by the Darwen Congregationalists,
they failed. A room was next opened at Eagley Mills, where, for
a year or two, the Rev. R. Bowden, of Darwen, and the Revs. Wm.
Jones and Joseph Sowden, of Bolton, preached and gathered a
small congregation. An old barn on the old road, not far from the
chapel of Michael Briscoe, served them as a meeting place for
worship. Mr. Bowden, of Darwen, opened this place, preaching
from the text, Isaiah xlv., 9, "Woe unto him that striveth with his
Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth."
This would be some eighty or ninety years ago. Subsequently a
more convenient place of worship was found for them in the village
school, until the erection of their chapel in 18 12. This chapel
was built upon land which formed part of the farm once occupied
by Evan Dewhurst, whose kitchen was licensed for worship in 1705.
At that time the nearest house to the chapel was half a mile away.

THE REV. JONATHAN WOOD. 65
The people lent their carts and horses, "worked upon the stone
and timber," or helped in other ways. Mr. Potter, of Darwen,
Mr. Cunliffe, of Blackburn, and prominent Nonconformists in
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, generously contributed towards
the removal of the debt which remained upon the building. It
was opened on November 19, 1812, the first hymn sung in the
new building being, " Arise, O King of Grace, Arise." The follow
ing is an account of the opening service : —
Nov. 19. A neat place of worship, capable of seating 500 persons, was
opened at Walmesley, near Bolton, Lancashire. The Rev. Messrs. Roby
and Bradley, of Manchester, preached in the morning ; and the Rev. J.
Fletcher, of Blackburn, in the evening. This neighbourhood was formerly
distinguished by the successful labours of the Nonconformists, and present
appearances encourage the cheering hope that a revival of evangelical
religion is now commencing '
In the Report of the Lancashire County Union for 1812,
" Whalley and Walmesley," were recommended as places deserv
ing the attention of the Union, and grants were accordingly voted.
From the same source we learn that Walmsley was "dependent"
to a greater or less degree upon the Union until the year 1836.
The Rev. Jonathan Wood, a Rotherham student, was the first
minister called to preside over this church. His ordination took
place on September 15th, 1814, when the following ministers took
part in the service : — Revs. Wm. Hacking, of Darwen ; Joseph
Gilbert, M.A., Classical Tutor of Rotherham ; Wm. Jones, of
Bolton ; James Bennett, D.D., Theological Tutor of Rotherham ;
Wm. Fletcher, of Blackburn; and R. Blake, of Darwen. It is
said that, whilst the service was being gone through, an alarm was
raised that the building was coming down, and Mr. Wood's
ordination had to be finished in the chapel yard. Including the
pastor, when the church was formed the number of members was
only five. Mr. Wood left on February 27th, 1817, and then the
church members numbered eleven. The Bev. Joseph Gill entered
upon his ministerial duties at Egerton on the second Sunday in
April, 1 8 18. From a brief memoir2 of this excellent man, who>
1 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1813, p. 329.
2 ¦' Congregational Year Book" for 1848.
3— S

66 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
was pastor at Egerton for about twenty-eight years, a few inter
esting particulars may be gleaned. He was born in the year 1776,
at Eton, near London, left an orphan at an early age, and thrown
in extreme destitution and helplessness upon the wide world.
Eventually he was led to Manchester, where he attended the Rev.
W. Roby's Chapel. His pastor, considering that he had " qualifi-
fications which peculiarly fitted him for the work of the
ministry," induced him to leave his secular calling, and, after giving
him a preparatory course of study for about two years, sent him to
Rotherham College. His first settlement was Hinckley, in
Leicestershire, where he was ordained on the 18th of October,
1809.1 After labouring for nine years he was led to Egerton,
principally through his old friend Mr. Roby. During his
ministry here he did a great work. He removed a debt of ^500
which he found upon the chapel, built a " commodious dwelling-
house for the minister," established a new interest at Belmont, a
village about three miles from his own place, the inhabitants of
which were in a most benighted and deplorable condition,"2 and
built a school at Egerton to accommodate 400 scholars, which was
said to be an "ornament to the neighbourhood." Declining
strength led him to resign his charge in 1846. He removed to
Pendleton, and joined the Congregational Church under the
pastorate of the Rev. A. E. Pearce. On the 30th of November,
1847, Mr. Gill died in the seventy-first year of his age. He was
interred behind the pulpit in the burial ground of the Egerton
Congregational Church, Mr. Pearce officiating at the interment.
The Rev. Anthony Bateson succeeded Mr. Gill at Egerton on
February 13th, 1848. He was sent to the Blackburn Academy
from the Grimshaw Street Chapel, Preston, under the pastoral
care of the Rev. R. Slate. On leaving college he settled at Hor
wich Lee Chapel, whence he came to Egerton. During his
ministry here, a census of the Egerton Church and School was
1 Date 1806 in " Congregational Year Book " is incorrect. See " Evan
gelical Magazine" for 1809, p. 365.
2 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1848, p. 59. From the account of
Belmont which follows, it will be seen that Mr. Gill was not the first to con
duct Congregational worship in that village.

DOCTOR MOFFAT. 67
taken, and entered in the Church Book, of which the following is
a copy : —
March 30, 1851. ,  . — Sunday  ,
Morning, Afternoon. Evening.
Congregation  116  164  95
Sunday Scholars  124  no  —
The average attendance during the past 12 months : —
Congregation  190  240  130
Sunday Scholars  130  118  —
The number of Sunday Scholars on books — males 136, females 124; total
260.
Mr. Bateson resigned his charge at Walmsley on May ist, 1853,
and went to preside over the church at Middleton, near Man
chester. He died there on September 30th, 1854, and was
interred in the family vault of his pastor and father-in-law, the Rev.
R. Slate, at Stand Chapel, near Bury. Mr. Bateson was succeeded
by the Rev. Joseph Gill. He was the son of the Rev. Joseph
Gill, a former Egerton minister, and had spent a good share of his
early life in the village. After being trained at the Blackburn Academy,
he was ordained as a missionary at Chapel Street, Salford, on the
14th of November, 1842. He sailed for Africa with the late
Dr. Moffat in the following January. His health failing, he was
obliged to return to England. He became pastor of the Egerton
Congregational Church, and began duty as such on the first
Sunday in August, 1854, but died on the 4th of August, 1856, at
the age of forty-one years. The Rev. John Greener followed on
the 19th of October, 1856. He was an Airedale student, and had
previously been settled at Shanklin, Isle of Wight. His ministry
at Egerton terminated on the 30th of September, i860, and after
being resident a short time in Manchester without pastoral charge
he joined the Presbyterian denomination. The Rev. R. G. Leigh,
a Lancashire College student, began his ministry here in 1862,
and was ordamed on the 4th of September of that year. He
resigned in 1868, having been invited to the pastorate of the
Albert Road Church, Farnworth, where he entered upon duty
on the 3rd of January, 1869. After a thirteen years' successful
ministry at Farnworth he removed to Mossley, and thence to

A GENEROUS FAMILY. 69
Hope Chapel, Salford, where he now labours. The Rev. J.
Clarke, another Lancashire student, began his ministry at Egerton
on the ist of January, 1870. In July, 1873, the foundation stone
of the present handsome chapel was laid by the late Mr. Haworth,
of Longworth Mills. It was opened for public worship in August,
1874, when sermons were preached by such notabilities in the
denomination as Dr. E. Mellor, Dr. Halley, Dr. Dale, and the
Rev. J. H. Parkinson. The building is Gothic in design, and will
seat about 650 persons. The total cost was ,£4,657 9s. 8d., a heavy
sum for a countiy congregation, but owing to the liberality of Mr. E.
C. Deakin and Sons the amount was soon cleared off. To this
family, whose father was the Rev. James Deakin, of Stand Chapel,
the Congregationalists in Egerton and Belmont are greatly indebted
for much generous help. Mr. Clarke resigned in 1879, and was
for some time resident in Manchester, without charge. The Rev.
L. Crookall commenced h:s ministry at Egerton in September,
1880. He was educated at Airedale College, and settled first as
pastor over the united churches of Haslington and Wheelock,
Cheshire, in 1877. In June, 1879, he became assistant to Dr.
Macfadyen, of Manchester, having charge principally of the Russell
Street Church, whence he removed to Egerton. He is now pastor
of the new Amsterdam Mission Church, British Guiana, having
succeeded the Rev. S. H. France, his brother-in-law. The present
minister, Rev. Morgan Jones, who was educated at Lancashire
College, began his labours here on the first Sunday in July, 1889,
and was ordained the Sth of October following. There are many
vigorous institutions connected with the church and signs of steady
progress. The church membership stands at 103.

IV.— EDGWORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In the first Report issued by the Lancashire Congregational
Union, dated January, 1808, is the following interesting passage
relating to the introduction of Congregationalism into Edgworth : —

70 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
In April last they [the committee] resolved to pay a year's rent of a large
room at Edgeworth Moor, a very benighted and populous part of the
county; whither Mr. Winder, of Blackburn, has, with steady zeal and
unwearied patience, a long time kindly gone to preach, in the face of many
discouragements. Respecting Mr. Winder, inasmuch as to him belongs the
honour of bringing Congregationalism into these parts, more must
be said. Prefixed to the Edgworth Church Book is a full and
interesting account of the origin of Congregationalism here,
along with brief notices of the Winder family, supplied principally
by Mr. T. Winder, of Bolton, grandson of the Rev. John Winder.
It proceeds as follows : —
Tradition says that some humble men from Haslingden and Tockholes,
whose hearts God had touched, came and preached the gospel of the grace
of God in Christ Jesus in Brandwood Fold, prior to the year of 1807.
Though no documentary evidence is at hand to support it, the
tradition may be quite true, for there was a considerable amount
of Missionary enterprise in the Congregational Churches of this
county in the beginning of the present century. Almost every
district had its "apostle," who, with commendable zeal, laboured
for years amidst many difficulties for small pay, because their
"hearts" had been "touched" by God. Mr. Winder may have
been amongst those " humble men ; " at any rate it is certain
that he was in the habit of coming to preach at Edgworth previous
to 1807. He was born at the Wyldes, Bury, on the 13th of
September, 1767, being the only son of the Rev. John Winder, M. A.,
curate of the Bury Old Church, who died in 177 1, when only
forty-seven years of age. His mother was the daughter of George
Hargreaves, of Bury, and his grandfather was Robert Winder,
of Preston. John Winder, junior, was educated at the Bury
Grammar School, and afterwards bound an apprentice to the firm
of Livesey, Hargreaves, Ansley, and Hall, printers, who eventually
failed in a large sum of money.
" He then went into the fustian trade," proceeds the account,
" with about £3,000 left him by his mother." He married Betty
Philpott, a daughter of John Philpott, of Manchester, in February,

THE REV. JOHN WINDER. 71
17S9. As Miss Philpott was entitled under her father's will to an
undivided moiety of certain freehold properties in High Street,
Great Turner Street, and Elbow Street, Manchester, a settlement was
executed before marriage which described Miss Philpott as being
" seized in fee tail of an undivided moiety of certain property,
hereditaments, and premises under the last will and testament
of her father and the fee simple of an undivided moiety of other
hereditaments and premises which had been purchased by her
father after the making of his said will. The said premises
were granted to her during her life, and after her death to and
for the use of John Winder ; and after the death of the sutvivor
in trust for the children of the body of the said John Winder or
the body of Betty Winder, to be begotten, equally as tenants in
common after his marriage."
John Winder remained some time in Bury, and while there had
five children born to him, namely, John, Thomas, Robert, George
Hargreaves, and P,lizabeth, between 1790 and 1798. The
account continues : —
During this period he carried on the fustian trade, but does not appear to
have done so with any great success, the trade of the country suffering from
the commercial distress caused by the foreign wars in which it was then
engaged. He appears to have been one of the churchwardens with Mr.
Woodcock at St. John's Church, but owing to some restrictive decision of
Mr. Unsworth, the clergyman, a difference of opinion arose which ended in
a split, and so Mr. Woodcock and Mr. Winder left the church.
The reader will find his name associated with the beginnings of
Congregationalism both at New Road Chapel, Bury, and at
Bamford. About 1799 he went to reside at Bellfield House,
Rochdale, having taken a situation there as bleacher under Ralph
Bayley. At Rochdale he remained only a short time, and there
were born to him two more sons, James and Joseph. He next
went into partnership with Robert Cunliffe, of Blackburn, and
took up his residence in that town, becoming a member of the
Chapel Street Congregational Church. Two more children were
born to him here — Benjamin and Mary. As at Bury, so here, he

72 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
preached in the surrounding villages, and amongst those visited by
him was Edgworth. His visits here led to his settlement, when as
yet there was no chapel and no congregation except such as he
himself had gathered. His first preaching place at Edgworth was
a room near Crown Point, and his first baptism was that of
Catherine, daughter of Ralph and Alice Harwood, of Edgworth,
born June 25th, 1807, and baptised December 15th of that year.
In addition to regular ministerial duty he taught a school at Hob
Lane, which was his only source of income ; for it is said that he
had lost all the money left to him by his mother. From the
Report of the Lancashire Congregational Union for 182 1 it
appears that a small grant was made to the place, " but not more
than what the congregation have to pay for the rent of the room
which they occupy. The people, being very poor, can afford but
little pecuniary aid to Mr. Winder, who preaches to them statedly,
and supports himself and family by other means." The church
was formed on November 27th, 18 14, and they continued to
worship at Crown Point until 1822, when the first chapel was
erected. This was opened for public worship in March, 1823,
the Rev. Wm. Roby, of Manchester, being the preacher, and the
collection realised £36 5s. It had accommodation for about 400
people, was twelve yards square, and together with the graveyard
cost £596. Towards this amount the church and congregation
contributed £191 5s. Mr. Winder collected in the county
£169 10s., and the remainder stood as a debt. There were three
creditors, Mr. Barlow being the principal who had a mortgage
upon the building of £150. A little before Mr. Winder's death
the creditors forgave the debt, and thus set the church free. It is
interesting to noie that with their new building the Edgworth
friends attained to pecuniary independence of the County Union.
A singular incident took place at Edgworth Chapel on Sunday,
July 4th, 1830, when Mr. Winder was preaching from Isaiah xii., 10,
" Fear not, for I am with thee."
Speaking about the fear of death, the subject having been suggested by
the storm then hanging over the district, the preacher was supposing the
possibility that in this storm some one or more of those present might be
struck dead. The words had hardly been uttered, when the lightning struck

A THUNDERSTORM. 73
the iron work of the chapel bell and ran along the roof outside, driving the
ringing stones completely from their places, and passed down a stove pipe
which went up to the roof in the middle of the chapel. Halfway down the
pipe where were three irons, which came from the beams of the gallery to
support the pipe, the electricity exploded with a dreadful crack, distributing
sparks of fire, and running along the iron into the beams of the gallery,
through the wood to the pillars supporting the gallery, and thus made its way
down into the floor. For a moment the congregation was hushed in silence ;
then screams burst forth, and the people all rushed to get out, expecting the
roof to fall upon them. Some climbed to the windows in order to escape
that way ; others crouched under the seats, and the rest scrambled over each
other towards the doors of the chapel in the greatest confusion. Fortunately
nobody was killed, and the injuries inflicted by the lightning were no more
than the scorching of the arms and faces of some of the females in the
congregation.1 Mr. Winder continued to labour at Edgworth until about 1864,
when he resigned. He went to reside with his son John, a
physician in London, but in 1847 returned to Edgworth, and died
a fortnight afterwards at the house of Betty Dearden, " a kind and
faithful servant." His remains were laid in the centre of the old
chapel, and a tablet was erected to his memory by his sons, one of
whom, Mr. James Winder, was first Town Clerk of Bolton. The
following is a copy of the inscription : —
To the memory of the late
Rev. JOHN WINDER,
Obiit. 20th of June, 1847, in the 80th year of his age.
His remains lie in the body of this chapel. He was the first pastor of the
congregation of Independents assembling in the neighbourhood, and founder
of this place of worship, among whom he laboured as a dutiful minister of
Christ upwards of 40 years, and went to his grave in peace.
In addition to Edgworth, he held services at Broad Meadows,
Entwistle, and Wnittlestonehead, originating a Sunday School at
each place. At the latler place a new chapel was erected in 1885,
capable of seating 250 people, which is worked along with
Edgworth. There is a service on Sunday afternoon conducted
principally by lay preachers from Darwen and district, and in the
1 " Historical Gleanings of Bolton and District," Second Series p. 344.

74 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Sunday School are some fifty or sixty scholars. During his
ministry of forty years he admitted into church fellowship fifty-one
persons, and baptised children and adults 1,220. During the
later years of his life he rode to the house of prayer upon his
favourite pony, " Bobby." His name will long be remembered in
the district with deep affection. After Mr. Winder's retirement
the pulpit was supplied by Mr. Hampton, of Bury ; Mr. Lamb, of
Manchester ; Mr. Ashman, a schoolmaster from Ashton-under-
Lyne, and others.
In 1855 the second minister, the Rev. George Dunn,
accepted the charge, beginning his labours on the first Sunday
in May. He was born near Darlington on the 23rd of December,
1818, and received his ministerial training from the Rev.
Gabriel Croft, of Pickering Academy. His first charge was
Thorne, near Doncaster, where he began his labours in 1839. In
1843 he removed and became pastor of Boroughbridge and Ellen-
thorp, leaving for Hollinwood, near Oldham, where he remained
until 1855, when he settled at Edgworth. Shortly after his settle
ment here it was proposed amongst other things to build a new
schoolroom. This was done at a cost of £400, the first sod
being cut by Mr. Barlow, of Crow Trees, on Whit-Friday, 1863.
Attention was next directed to the chapel, and after much
deliberation it was resolved to erect a new one. "The first sod of
this was cut" on August 7th, 1865, and the foundation-stone laid
on the 30th March'following by Sir James Watts, of Manchester.
The Revs. R. G. Leigh, of Egerton ; Wm. Roseman, of Bury ;
and J. A. Macfayden, M.A., of Manchester, were the ministers
who took part in the day's proceedings. The building was opened
for worship on Good Friday, April 19th, 1867, by the Rev. J. G.
Rogers, B.A., of London. It is described thus : —
It is in the early geometrical style of Gothic architecture, built of pitch-
faced parpoints and grit stone dressings, with open timbered roofs, stained
and varnished, and will accommodate on the ground floor 340, and in a
gallery at the west end about 100. There are minister's and choir vestries
with organ loft over. The principal entrances are at the east end or princi
pal front, one through the tower and one through a porch with a neatly tiled
corridor, separated from the chapel by a glass screen. At the north east
corner is a neat spire, 90 feet high, which, from the eminence on which it

-IS

Congregational Cwapel • Edqworth

76 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
stands, must form a landmark for many miles round. The chapel is 69ft.
long inside by 38ft. broad, exclusive of vestry, and is an average height of
27ft.1 The stone for the windows, tower, and spire were hewn out of
a quarry at Holcombe ; that for the walls out of a quarry at
Edgworth, near Isherwood-field.
Some young men helped to put in the foundation except where
the tower stands, which was put in by the contractor. The west
end, including the vestry and house for the warming apparatus,
was built of stone taken from the old chapel, and there will be
found the old date stone — 1822. The cost of the whole under
taking, including purchase of the graveyard and erection of fence
wall with gates, was ,£2,322 17s. nd. The architect was Mr.
James Maxwell, of Bury. A debt of over ^700 remained upon
the building after the opening services, which, in the course of a
few years, by the energy of the pastor, was removed. It should be
stated that Congregationalism at Edgworth is greatly indebted to
the Barlow family, members of which have contributed most
generously to the old and new chapels.
Previous to the erection of the chapsl, in 1864, Edgworth came
again upon the Funds of the Union. Year by year the reports
from this station are most encouraging. The following relates to
the extinction of the debt, and is worth insertion : — " The debt
upon the Chapel, which was reported last year as ^600, was
found to be really .£765, but we are thankful to add that the
whole has been paid off. There is still a small debt of ,£60 upon
the School, and this £60 it is intended to pay off during the
coming year. Besides removing the debt, ^161 has been spent
in completing and beautifying the chapel and building a fence
wall, making the amount raised, in addition to the ordinary
income, ^926 2s. 6d."2 In 1875 Edgworth again ceased to be a
grantee church. Mr. Dunn continued his labours here until his
death, which took place on Sunday evening, March 9th, 1884.
He was interred in the graveyard of the chapel.
In the chapel is a mural tablet thus inscribed : —
1 "Lancashire Congregational Calendar" for 1866-7, P- 117.
Ibid for 1872-3, p. 44.

THE REV. GEORGE DUNN. 77
In loving memory of
GEORGE DUNN,
A servant of Jesus Christ, and for 50 years a preacher of His gospel, striving
by his example, earnest teaching, and fervent prayer to win men to the
Saviour. He was for 29 years pastor of this church, and by his untiring
efforts the church and school were built.
Born at Croft, 23rd December, 1S18; died at Edgworth, 9th March, 1884.
" I have kept the faith."
This tablet is erected by his widow and children.
His biographer says : —
There is scarcely a house in and around Edgworth where Mr. Dunn's
voice has not been heard, either in preaching or in visitation of the sick.
Formerly, when medical aid was not so easy of access as at present, the
preacher prescribed medicine, and occasionally had to take the part of a
policeman in quieting disturbances. Latterly he served the township by
accepting the offices of overseer and member of the School Board. He took
great interest in the Temperance movement, being himself a practical
teetotaler during the whole time of his residence at Edgworth.1
The "Lancashire Congregational Calendar" for 1885 states
that Edgworth, " after being for some years a non-recipient church
again seeks the aid of the Union," to the extent of £\o for the
year, and that the people were wishful to have a settled pastor.
This wish was realised in July of the same year, when the present
minister, the Rev. T. Hadfield, M A., educated at Lancashire
College, entered upon his duties as such.
Considerable improvements have been made during the present
pastorate. An organ built by Mr. J. Binns, of Bramley, near
Leeds, at a cost of £350, has been added. It was opened on
Saturday, January 21st, 1888, by S. W. Pilling, Esq., of Mirfield.
On the following Sunday the Rev. James Wayman, of Blackpool,
preached ; and on Sunday, January 29th, the preacher was the
Rev. Professor Scott, of Lancashire College. The opening ser
vices realised abouc ,£70. In April, 1887, a bazaar was held,
opened by Colonel Winder, by which about ^45° was raised
towards renovating and beautifying the chapel. This has been
done, and now the Congregationalists of Edgworth are as well
1 "Congregational Year Book" for 1885, p. 190.

78 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
provided for in the way of buildings as can be desired. Con
nected with the Sunday School are some 250 scholars. The
number of church members is forty-six. Like all other country
places it suffers from migrations to the towns.

V— BELMONT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Belmont is a little village beautifully situated in a valley shut in
amongst the lofty fells to the north of Bolton. It lies about five
miles on the old road leading from that town to Blackburn, and is
principally noted for the extensive bleachworks belonging to the
Deakins. The Congregational interest originated here, according
to an authority which will he given later, with the Rev. Richard
Bowden, of Darwen, in the early part of this century. Belmont is
first mentioned in the Report of the Lancashire Congregational
Union for 1825, and it is in conjunction with Walmsley, Mr. Gill
working the two places. Ill health restricted somewhat his itinerant
exertions, and his lack of service at Belmont in that year is said
to have been " supplied by Mr. Speakman, of Tockholes, who
expresses the very great pleasure which he has enjoyed in witness
ing the number and the serious attention of the persons who have
there assembled to hear him." In 1828 there was a Sabbath
evening service at which the persons assembling numbered fifty or
sixty, and Mr. Winder, the Edgworth minister, is added to the list
of helpers. The Report for 1830-1831 says that the congregation
on Sabbath evenings consisted of eighty persons, that there was a
Sunday School with the same number of scholars, and that at the
week-night service the Revs. R. Fletcher and S. Nichols, of
Darwen, gave assistance. In 1833 we read: —
" The school is increasing, and a new schoolroom has been
built ; and there, by the gratuitous labours of the Blackburn
students, and the kind assistance of the Rev. W. Cover (?), Mr.
Wilkins, and Mr. Piatt, the gospel is faithfully preached twice or

ORIGIN OF BELMONT CONGREGATIONALISM. 79
thrice every Sabbath Day. This is a very important station, with
a population likely soon to amount to 1,500 or 2,000 souls, with
no other school or place of worship of any kind in the village."1
A church was formed on the 8th of February, 1835, consisting
of the following persons : William Cheetham, James Higham,
Thomas Spencer, William Dickinson, George Livsey, James
Dickinson, Alice Smalley, Margaret Lingard.2 In the same year
Belmont became a separate station in connection with the County
Union, from whose Funds it received a grant of ,£30. In 1840 a
chapel capable of seating 300 persons was opened, a long and
interesting account of which service is here copied from The
Evangelical Magazine for that year.
A new chapel of the Congregational denomination was opened for public
worship at Belmont, near the borough of Bolton, on Friday, the 27th of
August, 1840, and the following Lord's day, when appropriate discourses
were delivered by the Revs. Dr. Halley, from Manchester ; T. Bramall, from
Patricroft ; and WiUiam Jones, from Bolton.
This populous village, enclosed with its beautifully wild mountains and
waterfalls, has risen within the last forty years, from the establishment of
considerable manufactories. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was intro
duced chiefly through the labours of the late Rev. R. Bowden, ot Darwen.
The place afterwards became deserted for some years, but revived again in
1828, when the Rev. J. Gill, with his pious, persevering industry, renewed
the welcome sound, and soon succeeded in the erection of a schoolroom, in
which public worship was conducted by neighbouring ministers and students
from the Blackburn Academy, whose labours were so blessed that a church
was formed, now consisting of 34 members, and a sabbath school of two
hundred scholars and 22 teachers, aided by a grant of .£30 per annum from
the Lancashire County Union.
There being neither church nor chapel near, a few poor workmen, through
much self-denial, and many privations, partly by their own manual labour,
1 " Lancashire County Union Report," ending April, 1833.
2 These names are copied from the Church Book, as is also the date.
The " Lancashire Congregational Calendar" is therefore in error in giving
the date of the church's formation as 1814, unless one had been previously
formed, of which there is no evidence. The earlier date does not even
represent the time when operations commenced here, for Mr. Bowden, with
whose name the origin of the interest is associated, had left Darwen for
London in 1813.

8o LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
and partly through the benevolence of neighbouring congregations, have
seen the summit of their wishes in a house dedicated to the service of
Almighty God. The land being granted by a kind gentleman,1 and properly
secured on trust.2
The little cause suffered greatly for a time from the opening of
a school in connection with the Established Church about 1842,
and more seriously still from the stoppage of the printworks about
two years later. The account in the Union Report for 1844 is
most beautiful and pathetic, and is worthy of preservation. It
carries back the mind to the eve of St. Bartholomew when pastors
and congregations took a tearful and prayerful leave of each other
as they went out to endure hardships and privations indescribable.
Belmont is suffering through the stoppage of the printworks, on which a
great part of the people depended for a livelihood. The consequence is that
many of the members of the church and attendants at the chapel have been
obliged to leave the neighbourhood and seek employment elsewhere, and the
village itself is greatly impoverished. Prior to the separation a prayer-
meeting was held, when each commended the other to the blessing of God.
The remaining friends in their report say, " O, how reluctantly did our
brothers' and sisters separate from us." We trust that the savour of the
Gospel they received at Belmont will be carried with them wherever their lot
may be cast. From the causes named fifteen members have been removed in
the course of the year.
Belmont is last mentioned as an aided station of the Union in
the Report for 1868-9, and tne passage reads much in the same
way as Reports for the previous twenty years had done.
Everything at this station presents the appearance of decay, except the
Christian affection and spiritual interest of the very few people who continue
to attend the preaching place.
In 1878 the Rev. J. Hornby, who had been previously a
member of the St. George's Road Church, Bolton, began his
ministry here. Though, as previously stated, Congregationalism
commenced in the village well on for a century ago, Mr. Hornby
1 The Deed is dated June ist, 1839, and recites that Lawrence Wright,
Esq., of Mottram Saint Andrew in Cheshire, devised land for the erection of
a chapel thereon to William Hoole, Esq., schoolmaster, of Blackburn, and
others. "Evangelical Magazine," p. 649.

RIVING TON PIKE. 8 r
is the first and only settled pastor the church has had, and under
his ministry the work assumes a hopeful character. The Deakin
family, who reside in the village, attend the chapel, and it is largely
due to their generous help that Congregationalism here, as in the
neighbouring village of Egerton, is at present so healthy.

VI.— RIVINGTON UNITARIAN CHAPEL.
One may travel a long way and not find a place so interesting
and picturesque as Rivington and its neighbourhood. The town
ship is in the parish of Bolton, from which town it is distant some
six or seven miles, whilst three or four miles away in the opposite
direction lies Chorley, in whose Poor Law arrangements it finds a
place. It is hardly necessary to say that the most conspicuous
and not least interesting object is Rivington Pike. Rising to
the height of 1,545 feet above the sea level,1 it commands, on a
clear day, a magnificent view of the country tor many miles around.
To the north west lies Chorley ; farther on in the same direction
Preston's smoky chimneys come clearly into view, together with
the silvery waters of the Ribble, as they rush on towards the sea.
A wide range of high moorland reaching nearly to Bohon on the
one hand and Darwen on the other lies behind the Pike, whilst
looking south wood and valley, stately mansion and humble farm
stead, and the numerous reservoirs of the Liverpool Waterworks,
are seen to commingle in such a way as to make a picture of
surpassing beauty. Somewhat over three centuries ago the
mighty galleons of Spain came sweeping over the waters towards
our little "sea-girt isle" with the intention of dethroning Protestant
ism and establishing Popery here. Preparations were made on a
large scale for a huge bonfire on the top of the Pike as a signal
1 These are the figures given by Mr. Croston in his new edition of
"Baines's History of Lancashire; " but Mr. J. W. Crompton, of Rivington
Hall, says the correct figures are 1,196.
3-6

RIVINGTON PIKE.

DRUIDICAL CUSTOMS.

33

for the people around to assemble and resist the invader. Towards
the end of last century, when a great French invasion, under
Napoleon, the scourge of Europe, was daily expected, materials
for a beacon were again collected on the Pike. Happily, in neither
case was the fire required ; for the Spanish fleet never reached
England's shores, and the French scare ended in nothing. Five
years ago, however, Rivington Pike was honoured with a real
Jubilee fire, and it is to be hoped that nothing more alarming will
ever be found thereon. The small square tower which crowns the

DRUIDS CUTTING THE MISTLETOE.

head of the Pike bears date 1733, and was erected by John Andrews,
of Little Lever and Rivington, but for what purpose it is not easy to
say. Antiquarians of high repute profess to have found important
Druidical remains in this neighbourhood, and there still lingers
here a custom which one local gentleman thinks must be a relic of
Druidical worship. On the first Sunday in May every Rivington
person makes it a point of duty to be on the top of the Pike before
sunrise. From time immemorial this custom has been observed,
and it is thought to have some connection with the Sun worship

84 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
of our Druidical ancestors, or with the lighting of their sacred fires
on the ist of May.1 Just below the hill is Rivington Hall. Built
originally by the Pilkingtons, once very considerable landowners
in Lancashire, probably the birthplace of Bishop Pilkington, it will
at once be evident that the Hall itself is quite worthy of a history.
Some parts of it are very old, the dates 1694 and 1700 appearing
thereon. It was long the home of the Andrews, from whom,
through intermarriage, it has come into the possession of its
present owner, J. W. Crompton, Esq., J. P. Ten minutes' walk
from the Hall, with the face still turned from the Pike, will bring
us to the spot where lie the chief objects of interest to us in this
district. It is the rise and progress of Nonconformity in Rivington
which has to be sketched by us, and as elsewhere, so
here, we must first look for traces of it in the Episcopal Church
itself. Rivington Church stands on a slight elevation, having close
by the famous " Black Boy " public-house, and the old Rivington
Grammar School, founded by Bishop Pilkington during the reign
of Queen Elizabeth. The church is a little, quaint looking struc
ture, and manifestly of considerable antiquity. The graveyard is
rich in old tombstones, the oldest I could find being thus
inscribed : — 1616.
W. B.
1 From the Rev. T. B. Johnstone's " Religious History of Bolton "
(p. 59), I extract the following interesting passage respecting the religious
customs of our ancestors : "On the ist of May the feast of BeiVtin, or fire
of God, was observed, when human victims were devoted in sacrifice to
Baal, the Sun-god, whose returning beneficence, after the gloom and
desolation of winter, was thus welcomed. On 22nd June the midsummer
fire was kindled, and prayers were presented that Baal would be pleased to
ripen and prosper the fruits of the earth, and on the last day of October a
solemn thanksgiving service was held for the harvest which had been
granted. On Hallow-eve the great festival of SamWin, or fire of peace, was
kept, judgment was given by the Druids on all questions in dispute that
were brought before them for adjudication, and the sacred fire, from which
all the fires in the district (which beforehand had been scrupulously
extinguished) might be relighted, was kindled. A decoction of the mistletoe
was supposed, as Pliny tells us, to be an infallible ' cure of sterility and a
remedy against all poisons.' They call it by a word in their own language
which signifies ' Heal-all.' " (See engraving on previous page.)

RIVINGTON CHURCH.

86 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
A little way detached from the church is a small bellhouse, now
used as a depository for lumber. The bell, re-cast some time ago,
stands in a small octagon cupola on the western gable of the
church. At this end is also the principal entrance to the church,
evidently quite recently made. The old entrance is in the south
side, the pavement of which consists largely of old tombstones, one
of which bears date 1666. The hand of the modemiser has made
itself felt inside the church, yet there are a few relics left of the
bygone times. A small brass plate below one of the windows on the
right of the pulpit records, amongst other things, that the " Bodye
of George Shaw, gentleman, who was the fourth sonne of Lawrence
Shaw, of High Bullough, lyeth here," and that he "gave ,£200 to
be as stock for ever for the use of the church of Rivington, the
profitts whereof to be paid yearly to a preaching minister at this
church." He died Nov. 6th, 1650, aged seventy-three years. Farther
up the church and on the same side is another brass plate in memory
of " John Shaw, second son of Lawrence Shaw, of High Bullough,
in Angleyzargh." At the bottom of the plate is the figure of a
skeleton laid out in full length, and underneath are these words : —
AS I AM THOV SHALL BE.
John Shawe died Nov. 12, 1627, at the age of 55 years.
Space will not allow us to note more than one other interesting
object within this church. This is a tablet which professes to give
a list of the incumbents in so far as they are known. The first
name upon it is that of " Blackbourn," against which is the
following: — " Ord [ained] 1644. Ejec. [ted] March, 1647. Rest.
[ored] 1662." If this be correct, it is not easy to understand it,
unless Mr. Blackbourn, probably a Presbyterian, conformed in
1662, and thereby secured again his living. The next item on the
tablet is as follows : — "Newton put in 1647. Ejec. 1662. Ret.
at Blackbourn's death. Died 1682. Aged 40." This was the
Rev. Samuel Newton, but the date of his appointment is mani
festly wrong ; for if only forty years of age when he died, he was a
very young parson indeed when he was "put in." Moreover, in
the Parliamentary Survey for 1650, the name of the Rivington
minister is " Rauffe Nuttall," who is described as "godly, painfull,

AN INTERESTING TABLET. 87
and orthodox." * Mr. Newton's name does not appear in that
Survey at all, nor can I find it in the list of Presbyterian ministers
who signed the "Harmonious Consent" in 1648, or in the
" Agreement of the People " in 1 649. The reason for the non
appearance of his name in these ministerial lists is very obvious :
he was only a child at the time. It is, however, true that he
suffered ejection here in 1662, and Calamy2 says that he lived for
a time at Crompton, and preached as opportunity offered. In the
Unitarian Chapel close by, about which more presently, is a small
square stone in a wooden frame, hanging against the wall, with the
following inscription : —
Y« REVD. SAMUELE NEWTONE,
Driven from y Church
On Bartholomew Sonday, 1662.
Little of the history of this tablet is known. Some fifty years
ago it was found by a number of workmen while engaged in pulling
down a wall. Unfortunately it was broken before it was perceived
that writing was upon it. It was eventually secured by the friends
of the chapel, put together, framed, and placed in its present
position. The characters are quite ancient, and there can be little
doubt that it is a genuine memorial of that sad day, made by one
who witnessed, perhaps shared in, the sufferings of his pastor. Mr.
Newton returned to his charge at Rivington probably in 1672,
when liberty was granted to the Nonconformists, and, though
persecution broke out again very shoitly after, yet he remained
here until his death. Oliver Heywood says : —
"Mr. Saml. Newton, a N.C. [Nonconformist] Minr., buried at
Rivington, Lane, Mar. n, 168-t, aged 48. a worthy man."3
It will be noted that there is a discrepancy between Oliver
Heywood's Register and the tablet in the church already
referred to respecting the age of Mr. Newton at his death, but
even if the longer age be taken as correct he was too young to be
1 "Commonwealth Church Survey" (Record Society Series, vol. 1), p. 35.
2 "Nonconformist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii., p. 376.
3 " Nonconformist Register," by J. H. Turner, p. 66.

88 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
a minister in 1647, as the tablet states. * His funeral sermon, says
Calamy, was preached by Mr. John Walker, his neighbour and
successor, from 1 Sam., xxv., 1. Both Mr. Newton and his wife
were interred in the chancel of the church. Many years ago,
whilst alterations in this part of the church were being made,
what were supposed to be some of their remains were discovered,
but they were left undisturbed. The Rev. John Walker, successor
to Mr. Newton, appears in the "Harmonious Consent" as minister
at Newton Heath in 1648. From this place he was ejected in
1662, and is lost sight of afterwards until he succeeds Mr. Newton
at Rivington in 1682, That so staunch a Nonconformist should
have been chosen to succeed Mr. Newton at Rivington Church,
at the very time when persecution was raging throughout Lanca
shire suggests that Dissenters were both numerous and influential
in this neighbourhood. The Willoughby family, unto whom
Lancashire Nonconformity is deeply indebted, were resident in
this part, and probably it was largely through their influence that
the Dissenters of Rivington were kept in possession of the Episcopal
Church at a time when many of their brethren were outcasts and
wanderers. How long Mr. Walker was permitted to enjoy the use
of the sanctuary we do not know ; but eventually here, as else
where, pastor and people were driven to worship God in secrecy
and solitude. At Noon Hill, on the northern side of Rivington
Pike, is a considerable depression, and " seats were cut out of the
side of the hill, still visible, so as to form an amphitheatre, in the
centre of which was a stone pulpit."2 Here, tradition asserts,
more than a century before the Puritans of Bolton, Deane, Riving
ton, and neighbourhood were accustomed to assemble to hear the
letters which George Marsh, the martyr,3 of Deane, sent from prison
1 Calamy also gives his age as forty when he died.
2 " Manchester Socinian Controversy," published in 1825.
3 At Smithell's Hall Chapel ^ee annexed engraving), George Marsh was
examined by Mr. Robert Barton, and " in a passage near the dining-room is
a natural cavity in a flag, somewhat resembling the print of a man's foot,
and this appearance has occasioned a tradition " that George Marsh stamped
upon the place where he stood in confirmation of his opinions, and the
impression caused thereby by a miracle has been preserved as a memorial of
the injustice of his enemies. ("History of Lancashire," New Edition, by
Croston, vol. iii , p. 155.)

PERSECUTION OF NONCONFORMISTS. 89
to his Lancashire friends ; and here the persecuted Nonconformists
of the 17th century met to worship God according to the dictates
of conscience. The Revolution of 1688 would bring relief unto
the Nonconformists, and they appear to have kept possession of
the church until 1703, when the present Unitarian Chapel was
erected. This chapel stands a few yards to the right of the road
leading from Horwich to Chorley, and is little more than a stone's-
throw from the church. It is beautifully sheltered with trees, and

THB CHAPEL, SMITHELL's HALL.

its walls are half-hidden with ivy. Two . doorways face the road,
and three large stone steps, in the form of half-circles, lead up to
each. Over the door, to the right, is the date when the chapel
was erected — 1703. The windows are mullioned, in most of which
are the original diamond-shaped panes, and altogether this little
Dissenting meeting-house vies in quaintness of appearance with its
Episcopal neighbour close by. The interior is also quite in keep
ing with the exterior. The old square oak pews remain as when

ANECDOTE OF LORD WILLOUGHBY. 9r
first put in, except that some of them are rotting away ; the pulpit
stands against the wall, as when first placed there, except that two
of the decks have disappeared. Wonderful pulpits these old Pres
byterian pulpits were ; any man of a decent size must have had all
the divinity squeezed out of him before he could obtain entrance.
Surely their occupants would be able to discourse eloquently upon
at least one text, " Strait is the gate and narrow is the way, and
few there be that find it." Right in front of the preacher was the
large canopied pew of the WiUoughby family, upon the door of
which is a small brass plate, with this inscription : —
" The Right Honourable Hugh Lord WiUoughby, of Parham,
T.R.S., obit 1765."
The occupants of those pews have gone, their title has become
extinct, but a huge coffin-shaped tablet, reaching from the floor to
the roof, lies to the right of the pulpit, containing history, genealogy,
heraldry, divinity, and many other things all thrown together, and
is a memorial of their greatness. Some interesting stories respect
ing the Willoughbys are still current in the neighbourhood, one of
which the reader will be glad to hear. Lord WiUoughby, one
Saturday night, on his northward journey home, stopped at a
village, where he found a Dissenting chapel. The following day,
being the Sunday appointed for the administration of the Holy
Communion, he attended the ordinary service, and patiently
waited some time for the Lord's Supper. At last someone present
advanced towards him and inquired why he waited. He replied
that he understood it was the day for the celebration of the Lord's
Supper, and he desired to join in the service. " But you are an
utter stranger to us," replied the questioner, " and we don't know
whether you are qualified to receive it." " I thought," said Lord
WiUoughby, " it was our Lord's Supper ; if it is a private affair of
yours I have no desire to intrude upon you," and he at once
withdrew. The chapel is one of the most interesting I have seen, and in
almost every respect stands as it did when erected nearly 200
years ago. Here, then, the Dissenters, unable longer to worship
in the Episcopal Church of their fathers, came in 1703. Whether

92 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Mr. Walker was with them or not is uncertain. The tablet in
the church several times referred to says that he " went to chapel
in 1703." But by this time he must have been a very old man,
and if actually the first minister of the chapel he could not have
held this position more than a month or two, as will appear shortly.1
By a deed of gift of ,£100 dated January 16th, 1692, Thomas
Anderton, yeoman, of Rivington, secured for the " chappell " a
rent charge of ^5 10s. Bishop Gastrell refers to this : —
"^100 given formerly by Tho. Anderton, and ,£19 by his
sister, now [about 17 17] lost, supposed to have been applied by
[the]Diss. [enting] Trustees to ye Maint. [enance] of y" Teacher."2
The fact is, Thomas Anderton was a Dissenter, and, whatever may
be the meaning of "chappjll," gave his money for Dissenting
purposes. By an Indenture dated June 15th, 1704, John
Andrew, of Little Lever, conveyed for " 503. received by him
Land in Rivington for a Chapel to the Rt. Hon. Hugh Lord
WiUoughby, Baron of Parham," and others. The deed states
that " A Chappell or oratory of four bays had been recently
erected intended to be a place for Religious Worship only, and for
an assembly and meeting of a pirticular church or congregation of
Protestants dissenting from the Church of England for the free
exercise of Divine worship therein. Peaceable possession was
given. Witnesses — Ra. Ainsworth, Jas. Brownlow, Peter
Anderton." The next minister was the Rev. Ralph Ainsworth, whose name
appears on the chapel deed just given. He had previously
laboured in Cheshire, signing the Cheshire Agreement of Pres-
1 I imagine that the Rev. John Walker died about this time. In the list
of Lancashire wills preserved at Chester and issued by the Record Society
(vol. xx.) his name appears over against the year 1703, the date when his
will was proved. In a mortgage deed dated June 16th, 1715, John Walker,
of Heath Charnock, clerk, and John Bradley, of Rivington, schoolmaster,
appear as executors for Alexander and Benjamin Walker, sons of John
Walker, " late of Heath Charnock, clerk." From this I gather that John
Walker, senior, had at least three sons, and that one of them, John Walker,
was a minister, like himself.
2 "Notitia Cestriensis" (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix.), p. 18.

PARSON WOODS, OF CHOWBENT. 93
byterian and Congregational Ministers as minister of Whitley
Chapel in 169 1, which place he left for Bromborough, in the
same county, in 1700. In the early part of 1704 he became
minister of Rivington Chapel, and continued so until his death in
May, 1716.1 In Dr. Evans's list of Presbyterian and Indepen
dent Chapels, prepared during the years 17 17-1729, Rivington
Chapel is put down as having a congregation of 329 persons, and
the Rev. John Turner appears as minister in 17 17. He had
previously ministered at Preston, where in 17 15 he ably assisted
Parson Woods, of Chowbent, and Mr. Walker, of Horwich, in
keeping back the Scotch rebels. Mr. Turner settled at Rivington
in 1 7 16, and in the following year he removed to Wirksworth, in
Derbyshire, and thence to Northwich, in Cheshire. His last
charge was Knutsford, in the same county, where he died on
October 12th, 1737.2
In the Rev. Peter Walkden's Diary 3 the Rev. John Mayer is
mentioned as minister at Rivington in 1725. He took part in the
ordination of Mr. Robert Hesketh, at Carnforth, on October 27th
of that year, but beyond this I know nothing about him. In the
"Northowram Register," under date 1731, appears the following:
" Mr. Samll. Astley, Preacher at Rivington, was bur. at Bolton,
Feb. 8."4 He, too, must be dismissed with the remark, "No
further information." By an Indenture, dated January 20th, 1737,
the following gifts were added to Thomas Anderton's gift of
^"100, and conveyed to trustees: "Lord WiUoughby, ^100;
1 Urwick's " Nonconformity in Cheshire," p. 412. In the list of Lanca-
shire Wills (Record Society Series, vol. xx.), he is given as "Randle
Ainsworth," but Oliver Heywood ("Northowram Register," p. 269) calls
him " Ralph."
2 For more particulars respecting Mr. Turner and his family, the reader
is referred to " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. i.
3 Page 24. I am inclined to think that Mayer is a mistake for Walker-
Mr. Dobson, the editor of " Walkden's Diary," has unfortunately made many
errors through being unable to decipher Mr. Walkden's writing.
4 In the same work is also the following : " Mr. Astley, of Chowbent, and
Mrs. Jane Dewhurst, of Bolton, mar. March 1 [1726]. The Astley family for
several generations had been associated with Chowbent, and several members
of it in later years were Dissenting ministers." Vide " Lancashire Noncon
formity," vol.i ., pp. 10-16.

94 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
George Brownlow, late of Rivington, ^50 by will; Thomas
Anderton, late of Rivington, yeoman, ^20 by will ; James
Worsley, late of Rivington, and widow, ^15; Richard ' Kear-
shaw,' late of ' Anglezarke,' yeoman, ^5 ; John Darbishire, late of
Rivington, ^10 ; Thomas Johnson, late of Heath Charnock,
yeoman, ,£10; John Greenhalgh, late of Anderton, ^5, and ^5
saved out of interest; John Bradley, ^30." Amongst the gentle
men signing this deed was "John Walker, of the Street, Heath
Charnock, Clerk." He was the son of the Rev. John Walker,
senior, and tradition has it that, either as assistant to his father or
in some other capacity, he was minister at Rivington. We shall
meet with him again in the history of New Chapel, Horwich.
Old John Valentine, of Chowbent, in the 88th year of his age,
in a speech at Chowbent, on the 21st of June, 1815,1 names the
Messrs. Dawson as Rivington ministers, who were frequent
supplies at Chowbent, but of these I know nothing. As in the
case of many other old Dissenting interests, the early history of
this is wrapped in obscurity, because there are few or no documents
of a reliable kind to help us.
The Rev. Samuel Bourn, son of the Rev. Samuel Bourn, of
Chorley, and grandson of the Rev. Samuel Bourn, of Bolton, was
born about 17 14, received his early training at Stand, pursuing his
studies afterwards at Glasgow, and settled at Rivington in 1742.
Some years after this he was ordained by the Rev. Mr. Hardy, of
Horwich, and some others. He lived partly at Rivington and partly
at Bolton, his Rivington residence being at Leicester Mills, which
his biographer describes as a " most delightful vale, a mile from the
chapel."2 He left Rivington in 1754 for Norwich, where he
became colleague to the celebrated Dr. Taylor. In 1775 Mr.
Bourn resigned his charge through infirmity, and retired to a
village near Norwich. Here his faculties decayed, his " vigorous
mind fading away into childish imbecility." He died in 1796, at
the advanced age of eighty-two years, and was buried in the grave
yard belonging to the Octagon Chapel, at Norwich. It is said that
he was " eminent as a writer, as a lively, fervent preacher, and for
1 "Monthly Repository" for 1815, p. 451.
2 " Memoirs of the Rev. S. Bourn," by Dr. Toulmin, p. 124.

NUMEROUS PASTORATES. 95
his indefatigable labours, especially with respect to the younger
part of the congregation." The Rev. William Gaskell is the next
known minister. He entered Dr. Rotheram's Academy in 1745,
but the date of his settlement at Rivington I have not ascertained.
The old Baptismal Register goes no further back than 1770, and
they show that he was then minister. He removed to Tunley, near
Wigan, in 1776, and died in 1781. The Rev. Thomas Rawlins,
followed in 1778. He was the son of the Rev. John Rawlins,
some time minister at Hoghton Tower. He entered the Daventry
Academy in 1772, and removed to the Warrington Academy in
1774. On May 16th, 1785, at the Leigh Parish Church, he
married Margaret Pilkington, who belonged to the Rivington
Pilkingtons. Mr. Rawlins removed to Wharton in 1782, where he
died in 1787. He was buried in the graveyard of Chowbent
Chapel, and on his tombstone is the following inscription : —
To the memory of the
Rev. THOMAS RAWLINS,
Late minister of Warton,
Who departed this life 15th of January, 1787,
In the 31st year of his age.
He left one son, John Rawlins, who was born March 7 th,
1786, and died at Derby in 1847. 1 The Rev. Nathaniel Hib-
bert first signs the Register as minister at Rivington in 1784. He
died on the 30th of June, 1819, at the age of fifty-seven years, and
was buried in the chapel graveyard. His tombstone states that
he was minister thirty-six years. His wife, Frances, died April
10th, 1830, aged sixty-eight years. The Rev. James Taylor comes
next. He was trained at Manchester New College, York
(1814-1819), and settled at Rivington in 1820. He removed to
Dob Lane Chapel in 1833, where he died in 1862. His daughter
has contributed some beautiful pieces of statutary to the Peel Park
Art Gallery, and in memory of her father she gave a painted win
dow to the Dob Lane Chapel, when it was re-built a few years ago.
She has published a volume of poems under the signature of Kate
1 Vide " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. i., for information respecting
the Rawlins family.

96 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Taylor Robinson. The Register gives the name of the Rev.
John Jenkins, A.M., who must have been a frequent supply at
Rivington during the years 1832-34, but was not a regular minister
here. Mr. Taylor was followed by the Rev. G H. Wells, M.A., in
1833. He resigned in 1837. The Rev. W. Rowlinson was here
from 1 83 7-1840, and in 1841 the Rev. E. R. Dimmock followed,
but remained only one year. He had previously been at Warring
ton. He died in 1867. The Rev. C. W. Robberds, a Manchester
College student, son of the Rev. John Gooch Robberds, of Cross
Street, Manchester, and, through his mother, descended from the
Rev. John Turner already named, was at Rivington from
1842-3. He is now residing without charge at Cheltenham.
Mr. Robberds was followed in 1843 by tne B-ev- Cubit Boardman
Hubbard. He was born at Wacton Hall, Norfolk, on the 21st of
April, 1779, was educated at Homerton, and died on the nth
of April, 1854, in his 75th year. He lies buried in the Rivington
chapelyard, and it is from his tombstone that the foregoing parti
culars respecting him have been gathered. The Rev. J. S.
Gilbert succeeded him in 1885. His tombstone, which is also in
the chapel-yard, states that he was for twenty-five years " faithful
minister of this chapel," died at Altrincham, November 20th, 1885,
and that he was " an earnest student, a conscientious teacher, and
a constant friend." The present minister, the Rev. Samuel
Thompson, who was trained at the Home Missionary Board and
Owens College, entered on his labours here in 1881. Close by
the chapel is a Sunday School, built by public subscription, and
opened by the late Mr. George Dawson, of Birmingham. A little
higher up the slope towards the Pike is the chapel house or manse,
for which, according to a deed dated July 31st, 1786, Robert
Andrews, Esq., of Rivington, conveyed land to Abraham Cromp
ton, the younger, of Chorley, and others. There is also in con
nection with the chapel a good library, containing some hundreds
of volumes, commenced about the year 182 1, the Rev. James
Taylor being the principal mover in the matter. Many years ago
a number of Methodists came into the village and proceeded to
hold a service on the green near the Church, to the great annoy
ance of the then Incumbent. Dr. Martineau, who was an occa
sional visitor to these parts of Lancashire, being by chance then at

THE EVANGELIST AND PARSON. 97
Rivington, describes the amusing scene as he witnessed it in the
following words : —
We remember an incident which occurred in a village situated among the
hills of one of our northern dioceses. On a fine summer evening we had gone,
at the close of the afternoon service, for a stroll through the fields over
looking the valley. When we had walked half a mile or so an extraordinary
din arose from the direction of the village, sounding like nothing human or
instrumental, larynx, catgut, or brass, though occasionally mingled with an
undeniable note from some shouting stentor. It was evident through the
trees that a crowd was collected on the village green, and not less so that a
farmer and his wife, who were looking on from a stile hard by, understood
the meaning of the scene below. On asking what all the hubbub was about,
we were told by the good woman, " It's all of our parson, that's banging out
the Methody wi' tae-board." Being curious in ecclesiastical researches, we
hastened down the hill, in spite of the repulsion of increasing noise. On one
side of the green was a deal table, from which a field-preacher was holding
forth with passionate but fruitless energy ; for on the other side, and at the
back of the crowd, was the parochial man of God, who had issued from his
parsonage, armed with its largest tea-tray and the_hall-door key, and was
battering the japan in the service of orthodoxy. No military music could
more effectually neutralise the shrieks of battle. The more the evangelist
bellowed, the faster went the parish gong. It was impossible to confute a
" drum ecclesiastic," and the Methody's brass was fairly beaten out of the
field by the Churchman's tin.1
As a set-off to this it may be said that between the Dissenters
of the village and the Church people there has long been a good
feeling. The Baptismal Register of the chapel shows that many
children of those accustomed to attend the Rivington, Blackrod,
and Horwich Churches have been baptised here. The Rev.
James Jackson, minister of Rivington Church, also showed his
appreciation of the Chapel Library Scheme already named by
contributing thereto, and until recently each place of worship was
closed on the other's annual sermon day to give the opportunity of
mutual help. It is only needful to say in closing that this was one
of the earliest Lancashire Presbyterian Chapels to become
Unitarian, and it has remained so ever since. The population of
Rivington in 1881 was 330, all of whom could easily find sitting
1 "Studies in Christianity" (Martineau), p. 28, note.
3—7

98 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
accommodation in either of the two places of worship, so that
except during the summer months, when strangers maybe tempted
to visit this delightful spot, neither the clergyman nor his Dissenting
brother is likely to be inspired by very large congregations.

VII.— HORWICH NEW CHAPEL.
Simultaneous with the rise of Nonconformity in Rivington is
its appearance in the adjoining township of Horwich, the oldest
representative of which is the so-called "New Chapel." The
history of this chapel is so closely associated with that of the
Episcopal Church that in order to a right understanding of it a
few sentences must be devoted to the latter. Horwich Church is
quite an imposing structure, and, standing upon an eminence, can be
seen from a considerable distance. The present building was
erected in 1831, superseding an antiquated chapel which had
almost fallen into decay. The site of the old chapel was a little
nearer the road than the new one. It is not known when Horwich
Chapel was first erected, but it was in existence considerably over
three centuries ago. In an inventory of the goods belonging to
the Churches and Chapels of Lancashire, taken in the year 1552,
appears the following : —
Itm att Dorkmsbt d^apcll a poure sute off Clothes wl ij corporas. Itim
a Chales w' a paten. Itm an aulter Clothe, an olde Surplis, & a Towell.
Itm a Cruet, a lyttille sacrying bell, and a buckett. Itm ij Candil-styckes.
Itm iij Bells which are ye poore menes off ye Town, bought w' theire owne
money, and the saide bells notyett honged uppe.1
And some thirteen years after this the Commissioners for
removing superstitious ornaments told the Bishop of Chester that
they had "taken away from Horwych Chappel vestment, albe,
1 "Inventories of Church Goods" (Chetham Society Series, vol. cvii.),
p. 27.

THE REV. HENRY PENDLEBURY. 99
altar cloth, corporasse, and other idolatrous gear." ! In the
Report of the Parliamentary Commissioners of 1650 occurs the
following : —
The Chappell of Horwich is distant from the pish Church of Deane foure
statute myles or thereabouts, wcU Chappell is supplyed every Saboth ordi-
narylie by Mr. Henry Pendlebury, preacher, who is a painfull godly
preachinge minister, who hath not for the present any mainteynance or
sallery, but onely the benevolence of the Inhabitants of the said towne, but
is to receive twenty pounds p an" out of tyths wthin the pish of Deane,
now received by Mr. John Tildesley, p'sent incumbent at Deane.2
Mr. Pendlebury had only been at Horwich a short time, and in
October, 165 1, he removed to Holcombe, in the history of which
.place full particulars of this worthy Lancashire Nonconformist will
be found.
Previous to Mr. Pendlebury, the Rev. James Walton had been
minister at Horwich Chapel for a few years. He appeared before
the Manchester Classis on June 14th, 1648, "exhibiting his dis
mission from the congregation of Horwich and Bolton." Shortly
afterwards he was appointed minister of the congregation at
Blackley. He next removed to Shaw Chapel, near Oldham,
whence he was ejected in 1662. After this it is said that he
suffered great privations. He died in 1664 at the age of sixty-four
years, "a laborious and faithful minister."3 During the short
breathing time allowed to Dissenters by the Indulgence Act of
1672, a license was taken out "for a preaching place at Horridge,
in the house of Thomas Wellesbi." This would suggest that
Horwich Chapel had fallen back into Episcopal hands. A few years
after this the Dissenters appear to have regained possession, partly
through the influence of Lord WiUoughby, partly also because the
Vicar of Deane, to which Horwich belonged, had sympathy with
them. The following letter by a later Deane vicar, though some
what lengthy, is too interesting and too closely related to this
matter to be omitted : —
1 " Notitia Cestriensis" (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix.), p. 41, note.
2 '' Commonwealth Church Survey " (Record Society Series, vol. i.), p. 37.
3 Calamy's " Nonconformist's Memorial " (1802), vol. ii., p. 363. Booker's
" History of Blackley Chapel," p. 69.

too LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Bolton, Sep. 21, 1717.
Revd- Sr- I thought it necessary to send you y6 following
account of Horwich Chappel, wch I desire you to transmit to my Lord
Bishop of Chester. This Chappel is three miles distant from ye Parish
Church [Deane], & ye revenue belonging to it is commonly said to be
about 9 or 10K p. ann., being ye Interest of about 200K belonging to it, &
for a more full proof of y", I here give my following testimony.
But in ye first place it maybe convenient to acquaint you y' ys Chappel
has for about yB 20 years last past been in ye hands of ye Dissenters, thro'
ye contrivance of y" late Lord WiUoughby, & ye connivance of my Pre-
decessour [Rev. Richard Hatton, appointed Vicar in 1673]. But wn my
Lord Bp of Chester was upon his visitation at Manchester, I acquainted
his Lordship wth y8 matter, and his Lordship commanded me to give
Mr' Walker, ye Dissenting Teacher, notice to desist, wch accordingly I did,
and he submitted to his Lordship's Commands. Immediately after y3 I put
into ye Chappel a Conformable Clergyman, who has supplied ye Cure ever
since, wch is above one whole year ; & tho' I gave him y° Surplice Dues of
ye Chappelray, wch is all y4 belongs to me in yz part of ye Parish, & two
pounds p. ann. besides, yet y", wth his contributions, wch is all y* he has had
to subsist on thus far, has not exceeded 14H; & when he demanded
y6 Interest of ye Chappel Stock during y« time of his Incumbency, the
Trustees of ys money, being Dissenters, tell him they will not pay it till
they be forced to do it. Now one of these Trustees has told me, & several
others, y* ys Chappel Stock is one hundred & ninety pounds ; & about two
months ago he shewed some bonds y* was made unto him upon y6 account,
to ye sum of about 8o#. And there are now several living witnesses y* can
and do testify y4 ye interest of y6 sa Chappel Stock was paid to Epis
copal conforming Clergymen, y' officiated at Horwich Chappel during
y» Reigns of King Charles y« 2d-, King James y° 2^. & till some time after
ye Revolution ; and tho' ys money, as its said, was given to all intents &
purposes towards maintaining a Curate y' should supply ye sa Chappel, yet
both against justice & honesty these Trustees have sent me word y* they
will build a meeting house wth part of ye money, and apply y° remaining
part towards Supporting a Presbyterian Teacher ; w* now is to be done in
y» affair I humbly desire my Lord Bp of Chester's opinion and direction,
wth your own, Who am your most Humble
and most obedient Servant, Ja: Rothwell.
For the Reverend Dr. Wroe, Warden of Manchester.1
lc'Notitia Cestriensis" (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix.), page 42,
note 3.

A RURAL SANCTUARY. 101
It would seem that the trustees carried their threat into effect,
for in 17 16 the Dissenters erected a meeting-house, which they
called " New Chapel." The Rev. F. G. Collier says that there is
evidence a chapel existed on the present site as early as 1690.' I
know not what this evidence is, and think the statement more than
doubtful. The Vicar of Deane's letter, already given, states that
Horwich Church had been in the hands of Dissenters for more
than twenty years, which takes us back almost to 1690. Probably
on the passing of the Indulgence Acts of 1687 and 1688, the
Dissenters, who were both numerous and powerful in this district,
would seize the old chapel, in which they had been accustomed to
worship, and would retain possession of it until about 1716. A
similar state of things existed at Rivington, and also at Darwen and
several other places.
New Chapel, the new home of the Horwich Dissenters, was so
called to distinguish it from the old Episcopal Chapel of which
they had been deprived. Its other name, "Chapel in the Fields,"
indicates its position. Bishop Gastrell, referring to New Chapel,
says: "A Meeting [House] ab' half a mile from yl Chap[el]."2
Unless in some mysterious way the two ecclesiastical structures
have changed positions since he wrote, it is an old-fashioned
country half mile. But the distance is forgotten amidst the
charming scenery through which one has to pass. New Chapel
stands upon high ground, and in the midst of delightful solitudes.
"On the week-day," says Mr. Coll'.er, "it has always looked down
on more cows than Christians ; " but in this respect it is no excep
tion. Most of the old Dissenting Meeting Houses were erected
in the quiet retreats of Nature, partly because more secure there
from persecution, and partly also because Nature's quiet ministered
to the reverent thoughts and feelings of the worshippers. To the
north of the chapel the Rivington Range runs, shutting off all
further view in that direction ; the slope of the hill is adorned by a
few farmhouses, some fine trees encircle the chapel itself; and
looking south and west Horwich, Blackrod, and Lostock come
^'History of New Chapel, Horwich," p. 4. Also, "History of
Horwich," by Hampson, p. 86.
2 "Notitia Cestriensis" (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix.), p. 44.

WALKER AND WOODS. 103
into view. The chapel is not very antiquated in appearance,
either externally or internally. In one way or another it has
passed through many changes. According to a stone tablet in the
front wall, it was rebuilt in 1805, or rather enlarged in the direction
of the graveyard, and to meet the increased requirements of the
worshippers the front gallery was erected. On Wednesday night of
September 5th, 1877, through the cutting of a drain too near the
foundations, the north wall fell in ; so that even the shell of the
old building by one thing and another has been very materially
altered with the flight of years. Until recently the interior of the
chapel was a mixture of ancient and modern. The galleries were
old, the pews below and the pulpit being quite new; but in 1888
the old galleries were replaced by modern ones, and other
improvements made at a cost of ,£300. The old belfry
remains over the doorway, but what age the bell is I have not
been able to ascertain; the tombstones do not go beyond the
present century.
The first minister of New Chapel was the Rev. John Walker,
whose name appears in the Vicar of Deane's letter above given as
the Dissenting minister of Horwich Episcopal Chapel. In what
year he was instituted minister of the Episcopal Chapel we do not
know. It was whilst here in 1715 that he joined Parson Woods,
of Chowbent, in his march to Preston, where they rendered good
service, along with the Rev. John Turner, afterwards of Rivington,
against the insurrectionists of that period. The following account
of this matter is worth giving : —
We have it from several good hands that upon this day's march (Nov.
12th, 1715), Mr. Wood and Mr. Walker, two dissenting ministers in Lanca
shire, came to General Wills, while he was yet some few miles from Preston,
and told him they had a considerable party of men, well armed, for his
Majesty's service, and that they were ready to take any part his Excellency
was pleased to assign them. As soon as he knew who they were, and had
seen their men, he told them that after he was come to Preston he would
assign them a post. Accordingly, when he arrived there, he made the
necessary disposition for an attack, and sent back to tell them to keep the
bridge of Ribble, to prevent the rebels escaping that way, or their friends
coming from that side to join them. This they did with so much courage
and bravery, that the General regretted afterwards that he had not assigned
them a better post. However, we are told that after the General went up to

104 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
London, he was pleased to notify their good conduct on that occasion to
Government, who generously settled upon them ^ioo per annum.1
As already said, Mr. Walker went with the Nonconformist part
of his congregation to their new chapel in 1716. That he was the
son of Mr. Walker, who succeeded Mr. Newton at Rivington, there
can he little doubt. How long he remained at Horwich is not
known, but his name appears in a deed dated January 20th, 1737,
as of Rivington, where he probably resided. The Rev. John Wood
is named as successor to Mr. Walker, but when he began duty as
such is not clear. He preached his last sermon at New Chapel on
July 17th, 1743, from Phil, iv., 6 : "Be careful for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be known unto God." He died at Atherton, near Leigh,
March 10th, 1744, and was interred at Chowbent Chapel, the
Rev. Peter Valentine, of Wharton, preaching his funeral sermon
from Psalm 39, 4. Was this Mr. Wood any relation of Parson
Wood or Woods, of Chowbent ? His residence at Atherton, after
leaving Horwich, and his interment at Chowbent Chapel seem to
indicate as much.2 An interregnum of four years followed Mr.
Wood's departure, and the vacancy was filled up by the Rev. John
Hardy. Here again is some doubt as to name. In the Rev. Wm.
Turner's account of Dr. Rotheram's students appears the
following : —
"John Hardy, son of the Rev. Thomas Hardy, of Horwich,
near Bolton, settled at Bispham, removed to Risley, near Warring
ton, and died in 1748." In the same account appears again,
"John Hardy, Horwich."3 The Hardys, like the Walkers and
Turners of this district, must be left in uncertainty for the present.
The Horwich Hardy, whether John or Thomas, had as the text of
his sermon, " Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not
be taken away from her." He terminated his ministry at New
1 Rae's "History of the Rebellion."
- In the list of Dr. Rotheram's pupils, educated at Kendal, appears James
Wood, son of the Rev. James Wood, of Chowbent, who is thought to have
settled at Chowbent, but died there young. Was this the Horwich Wood ?
" Monthly Repository " for 1810, p. 475,
3 " Monthly Repository" for 1810, pp. 324, 426.

THEOLOGICAL CHANGES. 105
Chapel in 1754, and is said to have been an Arian. The Rev.
Thomas Bispham followed, being admitted a student of Daventry
Academy in 1760. In the old Church Book, from which these
items are gleaned, against his name appears the following : — ¦
" A Socinian died between morning and afternoon services."
Mr. Collier says : " A tradition lingers among the older members
of New Chapel that Mr. Bispham's death took place in his house
(the one near the chapel), that when the bell which called ' the
rude forefathers of the hamlet ' to afternoon service was still and
brought no minister, some one went to the house, and lo ! the
good man was in his chair, his hands folded for the long sleep."
Mrs. Martin, widow of the late Peter Martin, Esq., J.P., of
Rivington, who is granddaughter of Mr. Bispham, states that he
died in the vestry, and questions the statement that he was a
Unitarian. The Rev. John Hughes followed towards the end of
1769. He was born in 1748, was a native of Shrewsbury, and a
member of the Rev. Job Orton's church there, where he received
his earliest instruction. He was educated for the ministry by Dr.
Caleb Ashworth, of Daventry, and had Horwich for his first charge.
To the last Mr. Orton took a fatherly interest in him, and both
during his student life at Daventry and his residence in Lancashire
corresponded with him freely. A statement in one of Mr. Orton's
letters to Mr. Hughes, just before he settled at Horwich, shows
that there are at least some grounds for Mrs. Martin's doubts as to
the Unitarianism of her grandfather. Mr. Orton says : —
I am very glad to hear that the people of Horwich are, what they call in
that country, orthodox. I hope it is a sign that they have a good deal of
seriousness among them, and are not got into the new-fashioned notions and
ways of living, too common among modern Dissenters, and which are
evidently ruinous to the interest of real religion.1
In April, 1771, Mr. Hughes was "comfortably fixed at Bury."
An interesting reference to his departure from Horwich, and also
to his successor, Mr. Evans, appears in another of Mr. Orton's
letters : —
1 " The Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton," vol. ii., p. 545.

106 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
That the people at Horwich were unwilling to part with you looked well
and I consider it as a proof that your labours were acceptable to them, and
your behaviour among them becoming your station and character. I am
glad they are likely to be comfortably settled with Mr. Evans. My com
pliments to him. I wish him encouragement and success. Lend him any of
your books when you can spare them, as I imagine he is but poorly furnished
with books as yet.1
In a postscript to one of Mr. Orton's letters the following
humorous reference to Mr. Hughes and his wife is found : —
Pray can you tell me what a friend of mine meant, who informed me that,
as he was lately walking in Manchester, he met a Lancashire divine, who
looked like a grave man, with a lady, who was most pompously dressed out,
finer than any woman in the town ? at which he expressed great astonishment.2
Mr. Hughes occupied the pulpit at Bury for about thirty-five
years. His successor at Horwich has already been named — Mr.
Evans, who settled here about 1 77 1. Mr. Collier says that three
items of information alone are preserved of him, viz. : (1) He was
a thorough Unitarian; (2) he stayed a very short time; (3) he
went to America. From Mr. Orton's kindly reference to him,
given above, it would seem that the first of those three statements
is at least too strong.3 The next minister was the Rev. George
Watson, who came hither in 1779. He was a native of Kettering,
in Northamptonshire, and became a member of the church there
under the ministry of Mr. Boyce. Amongst the records of that
church appears the following : —
Sept. 3rd, 1772 — At our Church-meeting George Watson, son of Mr.
William Watson, our clerk, who had before dedicated himself to the work
of the ministry, and entered upon a course of preparatory studies for it,
having in writing given an account of the dealings of God with his soul,
was admitted to full communion with us. "
1 "The Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton," vol. ii., p. 548.
s Ibid., p. 571.
¦' Far more is made by Mr. Collier of the doctrinal changes of New
Chapel than facts warrant. Undoubtedly it was affected to some extent by
the spirit of the times, but it is one of very few of the old Dissenting interests
which can show a tolerably clean page in this respect.
4 Coleman's " Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northampton
shire," p. 207.

THE REV JAMES KEN WORTHY. 107
He was trained at Daventry Academy by the Rev. Thomas
Robins, and, as already stated, came to Horwich in 1779. He
married Mr. Martin's grandmother, and in 1797 left Horwich to
become assistant minister to the Rev. Thomas Taylor, of Carter
Lane, London. In 1799 he became pastor of the Daventry
Congregational Church, and continued so until 1816, when he
resigned and went to reside at Birmingham, where he died August
ist, 1817, in the sixty sixth year of his age. Mr. Watson was the
author of " Liberality to the Poor and Sick, recommended in
a Sermon, Preached at Horwich, for the Benefit of the Manchester
Infirmary, 1792 ;" also of " A Brief Memoir of the Rev. Thomas
Robins, late of Daventry, with a Sketch of the Sermon, Preached
May 26th, 1810, on the Occasion of his Death; and some
Biographical Additions." The Rev. James Kenworthy succeeded
Mr. Watson as minister of Horwich New Chapel in 1797. He
was designed originally for " holy orders," but became a Dissenter
from conviction. His ministerial training was received at Heck-
mondwike Academy, and his first charge was Kendal. Thence he
removed to Warrington, and afterwards to Horwich. He was a
scholarly and able man, his sermons attracting many leading
Churchmen in the district to his place of worship. The paucity
of his means led him to open a boarding school at Moor Piatt,
which he kept for several years. There seems to be some doubt
as to Mr. Kenworthy's theological whereabouts, but it is more
likely that he was "orthodox" than anything else. During Mr.
Kenworthy's ministry the rebuilding of the chapel in 1805 took
place, and about 1812 he started a Sunday School in a cottage in
Sefton Fold. The present Sunday School, which contains about
200 scholars, was erected in 1878. At the age of seventy-seven
years Mr. Kenworthy resigned his charge in 1825, and went to
reside with his son at Manchester. Three years afterwards he
died, and was brought to New Chapel for interment, where his
tombstone may be seen.1
His wife, Hannah, interred in the same grave, died November
8th, 1824, in the sixty-ninth year of her age. Another stone close
by gives the names of several of their children. The Rev. John
1 Vide " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. i., p. 286.

10S LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Crossley succeeded Mr. Kenworthy in October, 1825. 1 He was
born at White Hall, Over Darwen, Nov.' 20th, 1790, and was first
seriously impressed by a pious young friend as they went together
to some anniversary services at Tockholes Independent Chapel.
He was for many years a member of Chapel Street Church, Black
burn, of which the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, M.A., was pastor. He
was married at the Blackburn Parish Church on Jan. 3rd, 1815, to
Rachel Nightingale. After some service as a lay preacher, he
settled at Tosside, Yorkshire, in 1819, whence he removed to Hor
wich in 1825. The old Church Book states that at this time
there were only three persons who could be deemed church mem
bers, viz., Thomas Vause, Mary Mason, and Richard Pilkington ;
and that the first Church Meeting ever convened at New Chapel
was held on the first Sabbath of March, 1828. It will require a
good deal of faith to credit either statement, especially if it be
remembered that more than a century had elapsed since the forma
tion of this Dissenting interest, and that several of the ministers
during that period were men of high character and greatly blessed
in their labours. What those two statements mean I confess my
inability to say. Mr. Crossley's preaching is said to have been
" thoroughly evangelical," and so " scattered any lingering
shadows of Arianism." He resigned in August, 1844, and subse
quently had charges at Buxton and Lichfield for a few years. He
resided at Farnworth with his son, Mr. David Crossley, the
present Clerk to the Farnworth Local Board, for the remainder
of his time. He died here on Sunday evening, Oct. 23rd, 1864,
and was interred in the graveyard of the Market Street Congrega
tional Church, Farnworth. Richard Crossley, Esq., of Bentcliffe
House, Accrington, is another of his sons. Mr. Crossley appears
to have been a gleaner in " ancient things," and it is to his
diligence and patience in these matters that we are indebted for a
list of the New Chapel ministers.0 The Rev. Wm. Wilsden,
trained at Cheshunt College, began his ministry at New Chapel
1 Mr. David Crossley says his father settled here in 1824, but in Mr.
Crossley's (Senior) own handwriting the date is given as in the text.
2 The Church Book referred to, and upon which Mr. Collier's history
is based, was his work. It is exceedingly valuable, yet, as it does not go
back more than seventy years, some of his statements are open to question.

WINTER HILL. 109
on the third Sunday of November, 1848. He had previously
laboured at St. Stephen's Church (Countess of Huntingdon's Con
nexion), Rochdale, and St. Mark's, Preston (now Pole Street
Baptist Chapel), and at Ponder's End, London. When he was
invited to Horwich, he was residing at Hoole, near Preston, with
out pastoral charge. In 1862 the New Chapel people celebrated
their Bi-centenary, and led by Mr. Wilsden, their pastor, went to
Winter Hill for worship, where tradition says the Nonconformists
met in secrecy when they were persecuted by the brutal enac-
ments of the 17th century. Failing health compelled Mr. Wils
den to resign his charge in June, 1864. He retired to Preston
and joined the Lancaster Road Church, but died suddenly on
October 7th, 1864, and was interred in Preston Cemetery. A
gravestone shows that some of Mr. Wilsden's children were buried
at New Chapel. The Rev. H. H. Scullard, then of Belper,
accepted the pastorate of New Chapel in October, 1865. He left
in December, 1873, and became pastor of the Derby Street
Church, Bolton. The Rev. Francis George Collier followed Mr.
Scullard in April, 1875. He was the son of the Rev. James
Collier, of Manchester, was born February 6th, 1847, and trained
for the ministry at Lancashire Independent College. He was
ordained pastor of St. Paul's Congregational Church, Wigan, in
1871, the charge to the minister being given by his tutor,
Professor Scott. He showed great ability as a "lecturer and plat
form speaker," and his little " History of New Chapel," to which
reference has been frequently made in this sketch, by its bright,
vigorous style, witnesses to his ability as a writer. From Wigan
Mr. Collier came to New Chapel in 1875, but failing health com
pelled him to resign on August 23rd, 1879. He went to reside in
Cheshire, and preached occasionally, his last sermon being at Hoy-
lake, from 1 Kings, xx., 40. Disease carried him away on March
30th, 1 88 1.1 The Rev. J. J. Williams, the present minister,2 com
menced his labours here on the first Sunday in October, 1883.
Mr. Williams is a Kentish man, and of an old Nonconformist
1 " Congregational Year Book " for 1883, p. 274.
2 Since the above was written Mr. Williams has accepted an invitation
to the Garstang Congregational Church, in the Fylde District.

no LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
family. He began ministerial work in 1854, his previous charges
being Falkenham and Nayland, in Suffolk; Greenacres, Oldham;
Lowther Street, Carlisle. His brother, the Rev. G. Williams, is the
respected minister of the Baptist Church, Astley Bridge, Bolton ;
and another brother, Rev. Richard Gould Williams, who died
anuary 14th, 1884, was for twelve years pastor of the Providence
Congregational Church, Rochdale. New Chapel, according to
Dr. Evans's list (1717-1729), when first erected had a congrega
tion of 150, for whom, probably, it was not too large. Now it will
seat 450. The Masons, Cranshaws, and Rawlinsons have long
been connected with it, but many of the old families are either
dying out or removing into towns.

VOL— HORWICH LEE CHAPEL.
Horwich boasts of a second Congregational Church, which is
situated in Lee Lane. The present structure is manifestly modern.
It was opened for divine worship on Wednesday, June nth, 1856,
the first sermon being preached by Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, from
Matthew, xvi., 18, and the evening sermon by the Rev. Enoch
Mellor, M.A., of Halifax, from Rev., iii., 3. On the following
Sunday the opening services were continued, the preachers being
the Revs. Robert Vaughan, of Lancashire College, and William
Roaf, of Wigan. The building thus opened for worship seats
about 460, and by its side is a commodious Sunday School. Lee
Chapel, however, has a history dating much farther back than
1856. Tradition says that the first place of worship was a low
antiquated cottage adjoining the present chapel. In 1774 a new
chapel was erected, which continued in use until superseded by the
present handsome structure. The early history of Lee Chapel,
like that of New Chapel, is quite obscure. Hampson, in his
" History of Horwich," says that there is some ground for its
"claim to be considered the oldest Nonconformist place of worship

OUTDOOR WORSHIP. in
in Horwich." 1 He also connects the church with the house of
Thomas Wellesbie, licensed for worship in 1672. I doubt if it is
proper to do this. The two societies at Rivington and New
Chapel would meet all the requirements of the Dissenters of this
district at the time, without the erection of a third building. Lee
Chapel can hardly claim to be older than the middle of last
century, and its existence is due to those doctrinal changes which
swept over Lancashire and, indeed, the whole of Northern Eng
land at that time. In the article on Rivington, it was stated that
the Dissenters there early lapsed into Unitarianism. The Rev.
Samuel Bourn, who ministered there from 1742 to 1754, was quite
pronounced in this direction, and it would have been remarkable,
if there had not been a few who could not bring themselves to
accept what Job Orton calls these " new fashioned notions and
ways of living." New Chapel, too, was probably tainted to some
extent ; but even if it had continued theologically " sound," it
would scarcely have accommodated the seceders from Rivington
and met the requirements of all the orthodox people in the
neighbourhood ; for at this time it only offered sitting room for
about 150 people. It was about the year 1754 that the originators
of Lee Chapel left the old place of worship at Rivington. For a
time it is said they met in a dingle or stone quarry at the base of
Rivington Pike, where they got such help in the way of supplies as
was available. One Sunday morning whilst there assembled, a
storm was seen to be gathering overhead, and whatever advantages
the wide temple of nature may offer for worship under a serene
sky, it became clear to these worshippers that a less imposing and
more circumscribed structure, which would keep out wind and rain,
was a desideratum. "Brethren, something must be done," cried
one of their number, and, accordingly, a small cottage was
obtained, in which they held meetings for some time. The Church
Records give the early history of Lee Chapel in the following
words : —
About the year 1760 four pious men, whose history deserves a record,
deploring the introduction of Socinianism at Rivington Chapel — Hugh
Makinson, Moses Cocker, Thomas Anderton, and John Ashworth — pro-
1 P. 91.

112 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
cured occasionally the ministerial labours of the Rev. Messrs. Raith,1 late of
Bolton ; Harrison, late of Bury ; Goburn, of Lymm ; Hurst, of Bacup ;
Lord and Pendlebury, who, like men moved by the Holy Ghost, preached
with simplicity and energy the doctrine of the Cross.
Like the missionaries to the South Sea Islands, they laboured long, few
believing their reports, for it was not till about 1770 that a small church was
founded in Rivington by the Rev. John Goburn. In 1774 they contemplated
a new chapel, and in the same year was the foundation of Horwich Lee
Chapel laid. The Rev. Messrs. Pendlebury, Harrison, and Priestley, of
Manchester, were their first preachers. Soon after they gave Mr. Harrison
a call, which he declined.
Respecting these early preachers little is known ; but they did
not all belong to one denomination. Hurst, of Bacup, was the
Rev. John Hirst, for forty-two years pastor of the Baptist Church
in that town ; Mr. Lord also, I imagine, was a Baptist, as a person
of that name was for many years minister of a Baptist Church in
the neighbourhood of Bacup about the middle of last century.
One of the young men named above was Moses Cocker, and it
may perhaps interest some readers to know that about this period
the Cocker family migrated to Tockholes, near Blackburn. For
years they were amongst the principal supporters of the old
Independent Chapel there, and in later years several of the
members of this family have occupied prominent positions of
various kinds. The Cockers of Blackpool, the Pickups of Black
burn, and Mr. Eccles, of White Coppice, all trace their descent
from the Cockers of Rivington and Horwich. Respecting the
Rev. Joseph Harrison, to whom an invitation to the newly formed
church at Horwich was given, information will be found in the
account of Bethel Chapel, Bury. Where he was stationed when
he thus rendered occasional assistance, and was invited to the
pastorate of the Horwich Church, I do not know. Two other
persons appeared as candidates before the Lee Chapel people,
viz., Revs. Jeremiah Pendlebury and Leonard Redmayne. The
majority of the people were in favour of Mr. Redmayne, and he
1 Probably the Rev. James Wraith; but, if so, the dates must be
brought a little nearer to our time. The Church Records are, I imagine a
late production, as in the case of the New Chapel, and not quite accurate.
The dates given here are, I suspect, a little too early.

BUYING A COW. 113
accepted an invitation about 1777. Mr. Pendlebury in July of
the same year became pastor of the Congregational Church at
Gatley, near Stockport, where he enjoyed great prosperity until
sickness laid him aside. He died there in August, :788.2 Mr.
Redmayne, the first minister of Lee Chapel, came from Lancaster.
He married Hannah Peacock, from Cumberland, a Quaker lady.
The year after his settlement at Horwich, he formed the Church
there, which consisted of about nine members. For forty-five
years this good man quietly did the Lord's work here, and was
abundantly blessed. He resigned in 1822, and seven years after
wards died. From his tombstone in the Lee Chapel graveyard
the following inscription is taken. : —
Also all that was mortal of the
Rev. LEONARD REDMAYNE,
who was Minister of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters assembling at
Lee Chapel, Horwich, 45 years.
He ceased from his labours and was called to receive his reward,
May 26th, 1829, aged 82.
A good story is yet told in the neighbourhood, which shows
that however widely Mr. Redmayne may have been separated in
matters theological from his Unitarian brother at Rivington, the
Rev. Nathaniel Hibbert, he had with him occasional dealings of
another kind, and not altogether to his advantage. It is said that
both divines went somewhat into the farming line, besides attending
to their religious duties ; and on one occasion Mr. Hibbert,
hearing that Mr. Redmayne desired an addition to his stock,
resolved to supply him with what he needed. Having in his
collection a cow of some age, Mr. Redmayne was sent for, but
previous to his arrival Mr. Hibbert got some one to file up the
cow's horns and colour them slightly. So well did this match
nature's work, that Mr. Redmayne bought the cow thinking it was
quite young. On the day of its arrival at its new home rain fell
plentifully, the ointment disappeared from the horns, and the
deception became clear. On seeing that he had been cheated by
his brother divine, Mr. Redmayne exclaimed, in Quaker style,
1 "Congregational Magazine" for 1820, p. 453.
3-8

n4 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
" Friend Hibbert, thou hast done me ; but I will be square with
thee yet." How far he kept his threat is not known, and it is to
be hoped that neither congregation took their minister as a perfect
model in the matter of trade. A son of Mr. Redmayne — the Rev.
Joseph Redmayne, who died in 1866 — was for many years a Con
gregational minister ; two of his grandsons built " Redmayne's
Mill " in Tockholes, near Blackburn, and descendants are now
living principally in Preston and Blackburn. The Rev. Robert
Harris, a student from Hackney, followed Mr. Redmayne in 1823.
His ordination service took place on Sept. 15th of that year, when
Mr. Redmayne offered the ordination prayer, and Mr. Kenworthy,
of New Chapel, took the introductory part of the service. Mr.
Harris laboured here until his death on May 19th, 1840. He was
followed, in 1841, by the Rev. John Jones, who had previously
laboured at St. Paul's Congregational Church, Hindley, for about
two years. He left Horwich in 1842, and after one or two other
brief pastorates, died Nov. 9th, 1851. The Rev. Anthony Bate
son succeeded in 1843. Mr. Bateson had been trained in the
Blackburn Academy, and was ordained at Horwich on Sept. 25th,
1844. The service is said to have been of unusual length, and
the chapel crowded, but all throughout, the " congregation mani
fested their interest in the service by the greatest stillness and
fixed attention."1 In the account of his ordination service, it is
said, the "newly-ordained minister is labouring with cheering
prospects of usefulness," and it is further stated that " subscrip
tions have been commenced towards building a new chapel." The
closing of the Horwich Vale Printworks, however, in 1846, inter
fered with this chapel building scheme, and Mr. Bateson removed
to Egerton in 1847. The pastorate remained vacant until 1854,
when the Rev. Mark Hardaker began his ministry here. He was
an Airedale student, and had previously laboured for six years at
Pendlebury. During his ministry at Horwich the present chapel
in Lee Lane was erected, which, as already stated, was opened for
public worship on June nth, 1856. Mr. Hardaker resigned his
charge in 1867, and afterwards laboured at Bucklow Hill,
Cheshire. He now resides at Southport without pastoral charge.
1 " Evangelical Magazine " for 1844, p. 688.

IOO KING BACK. n5
The Rev. Richard Nicholls followed Mr. Hardaker in the same
year. He was trained at Richmond, and remained at Horwich
about three years and six months. He subsequently laboured at
Bacup, and is now pastor of the Lower Chapel Congregational
Church, Darwen. The Rev. D. Williams, then at Adlington, had
charge of the church for about six months. During that time and
for a few years previously, Lee Chapel was in receipt of help from
he friends of the Lancashire Congregational Union. The attempt
to work the two churches together did not succeed, and Lee
Chapel declared itself free from Union help. Mr. Williams sub
sequently removed to Rose Hill, Bolton. In 187 i the Rev. Isaac
Watkins commenced his labours at Lee Chapel. He resigned in
1878, and is now pastor of the Bretherton Congregational Church,
near Preston. On the 7th of May, 1882, the present minister,
the Rev. W. J. Houlgate, entered upon his duties at Lee Chapel.
He is an alumnus of Airedale, had laboured six years at Hasling-
den, and five at Whalley Road, Accrington, whence he removed
to Horwich. During the last few years the village has made
rapid growth, consequently the outlook for Nonconformity in this
ancient centre, is of the most hopeful character.

IX.— COCKEY MOOR CHAPEL.
Cockey Moor, or Ainsworth, as it is now called, is a township
and chapelry in the parish of Middleton, and is about three miles
east of Bolton. In some of the earlier documents it appears as
" Cokeye," " Cokka," and " Kockay More." The meaning of
the second half of the name is clear enough ; and according to
one authority "Cockey" is equivalent to "clay," and so the
name will mean the clayey moor.1 There is not much of a moor
to-day, but the name carries the mind back over long ages, when
Bolton stood amongst the moors, and much of this part of Lanca-
1 " East Lancashire Nomenclature " (March), p. 24.

116 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
shire was forest and waste land. An interesting document, con
taining an account of a dispute between the lords of Middleton
and Radcliffe, touching certain lands in Cockey Moor, has
been printed by the Chetham Society.1 Though bearing
no date yet from internal evidence, it must be as old as
the beginning of the 16th century, and from it we gather that the
names which yet linger in the neighbourhood, such as Kay, Ains
worth, Crompton, Holt, Lomax, Greenhalgh, were the names of
prominent families then. The village itself lies upon an eminence,
from which a good view of the surrounding country may be
obtained for many miles. The old road from Bolton to Bury
runs through it, almost direct east. The houses wear a very
primitive look ; some of them are built of rough stone, a few of
brick, and most of them have weathered a good many winters.
The villagers are in many respects as primitive looking as their
houses, but kindly dispositioned and communicative. There are
amongst other buildings in the village a Methodist New Con
nexion Chapel built in 1847, a National School erected in 1838, and
Christ Church, a small but handsome structure about which more
presently. Most people who know anything at all about Cockey
Moor are sure to associate with it an amusing story, without which
this account would be incomplete. The story has been versed by
a gentle muse, but put into prose it is as follows : Many years
ago two weavers happened to be walking along over Cockey
Moor when they noticed something peculiar "twisting and twirl
ing on the green." A moment's close inspection sufficed to con
vince them that it was a snake. Off to their neighbours they ran
with the news that a snake had come to Cockey Moor, and
averred that it was Three yerds lung,
Its colour neither black nor gray,
The middle thick, the ends wur small.
The villagers instantly armed themselves with spades, pikes, rakes,
and " rusty bay'nets not a few ; " and, together with their dogs,
went out to hunt and kill the enemy. On coming to the ground
1 Vol. xxxvii.

COCKEY MOOR SNAKE. 117
the snake was found coiled up as if ready to make a dart, and one
of the bravest of the company suggested that his " gronfeyther "
should be fetched to give his opinion, being " th' owdest mon on
Cockey Moor." The old man was brought in a cart, and, when
he had "eyed it o'er with much intent," he said : —
That is a thing that God ne'er made ;
Adam ne'er kersun'd this I'm sure,
The Devil has come to Cockey Moor.
Then they resolved to rid themselves and the human race of
their greatest foe ; and, having mercilessly beaten him with their
weapons, they buried him in a deep hole. On the following
Sunday, whilst the parson was preaching, he happened to say that
God made a hole and put Satan in, when one of his congregation
exclaimed : — ¦ Stop, parson, stop ! Tha'art tellin' lies;
I know quite well the Devil is laid,
I helped to bury him with my spade ;
We made a hole quite deep I'm sure,
An' tumbled him in on Cockey Moor.
The devil-snake turned out to be the parson's wife's boa, which
she had lost a day or two before, and which, on payment of five
shillings by the parson, was restored to him by the zealous snake
hunters, torn to shreds.1
The chief object of interest, however, is the old Dissenting
Chapel, lying about seventy yards to the left of the Bolton and
Bury road, and whose history must now be given.
Cockey Chapel was originally a chapel-of-ease belonging to the
Middleton Parish Church, nine miles away, and was built for the
convenience of the dependents of the Lords of Middleton. Mr.
Croston says that it was in existence in 1515 ;2 certainly it was in
1552, when it possessed " one vestmet w* albe & amesse for the
same, one chalice w* paten of sylu, a litill bell."3 In 1586
1 Harland's "Ballads and Songs of Lancashire" (1882), p. 157.
2 " History of Lancashire" (new edition), vol. ii., p. 418.
3 " Inventories of Church Goods " (Chetham Society Series, vol. cvii.),
p. 12.

118 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Camden, the antiquarian, speaks of " Cockley, a wooden Chapel
among trees." Canon Raines says that this chapel in 17 19 "still
retained some of its original features, being described as ' a wooden
chapel set about with trees.'"1 The present Episcopal Church,
erected some sixty years ago, is on the site of this first place of
worship at Cockey Moor, and is on the right of the Bolton and
Bury road. The first known minister at Cockey Moor was a Mr.
Hibbert, or Hubbert, who ministered here some time between
1600 and 1610. Oliver Heywood, in his diaries, makes frequent
reference to him. He writes of him as " a godly minister, by
whose preaching many were convinced and converted," his father,
Richard Heywood, amongst the number. The Rev. William
Rathband was the next minister described by Oliver Heywood as
" that reverent and eminent man of God." He was silenced by the
Bishop of Chester for his Nonconformity, and during that period
supported himself by taking pupils, having as one the celebrated
Oliver Heywood. He was at Blackley Chapel in 1632, is said to
have preached nineteen years in a chapel in Lancashire, but being
much persecuted he removed into Northumberland. Here, also,
being silenced, he retired into private life. Two of his sons became
noted Puritan ministers. William Rathband, M.A., ejected from
South Weald, in Essex, in 1662, "after many removes" settled at
Highgate, where he continued until his death in October, 1695.
Michael Rathband, another son, was appointed one of the State
preachers in connection with York Cathedral during the time of
the Commonwealth.2 Canon Raines says that about the year
1640 the chapel had been vacated by the ejection of an Episcopal
clergyman, because "scandalous and ignorant," but really, he says,
it was because he refused "to take the covenant."3 It is clear,
therefore, that amongst these earliest ministers there was a strong
Puritan and Nonconformist element, and their people were like
them. It would have been wonderful if it had been otherwise,
1 "Notitia Cestriensis " (Chetham Society Series, vol xix, p. 105).
2 Booker's " History of Blackley Chapel," p. 68. Calamy's " Noncon
formist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii., p. 217. Davids's "Annals of Evangelical
Nonconformity in Essex," p. 506. Oliver Heywood's Diaries, vol. i.,
passim. 3 " Notitia Cestriensis " (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix., p. 105).

DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS. 119
situated as this village was, so near to Bolton and Manchester —
the two most Puritan towns of England.
The first distinctly Nonconformist minister at Cockey Moor was
the Rev. Richard Goodwin, M.A. The date of his settlement is
not certain, but he was minister at Cockey Moor at the time of his
marriage with Sarah, daughter of James Crompton, of Breightmet,
in August, 1641. Mr. Crompton's three other daughters married
quite distinguished characters, viz., Abigail married Rev. Oliver
Heywood, Alice married Rev. Robert Gregg (afterwards Vicar of
Bolton), and Mary, Mr. John Okey, a near kinsman of Colonel
Okey, who signed King Charles's death warrant. Some time
before 1647 Mr. Goodwin left for Bolton. A small estate in
Harwood was owned by him, and is yet known by the name
of " Goodwin Fold." The Rev. Peter Bradshaw was ordained
minister at Cockey Chapel on Wednesday, May 12th, 1647. In
June of the same year, according to the minutes of the Bolton
and Bury Classis,1 " Richard Dickinson and Peter Winstanley were
examined and approved to be elders of the Presbytery for Cockey."
In the Parliamentary Report of 1650 there is the following reference
to Mr. Bradshaw : —
There is one other Chappell in Middleton pish aforesaid called Cocky
Chappell, beinge distant fro Middleton Church nyne myles and a quarter or
thereabouts, And from Bury Church three myles or thereabouts, And from
Boulton Church three myles and vpwards, And from Ratcliffe Church about
three myles ; and that Mr. Peter Bradshawe, an orthodox able minister, well
approved of, is minister at Cockey Chappell and supplyes the Cure, And
hath for his sallery one messuage and six acres of land, lately enclosed out
of Cocky Moore, beinge a gift given to the said Chappell towards the
mainteynce of the Minister there by Rauffe Asshton, of Middleton, Esq., of
the yearly value of fort) shillings, and what more the Inhabitants will
voluntarily give him.2
It is to be hoped that what the "inhabitants voluntarily" gave
Mr. Bradshaw was considerable, otherwise he must often have
been at starvation point. He left Cockey Moor before 1653,
and was followed by a Mr. Taylor, who remained only
1 A copy of these minutes is preserved in the Bolton Free Library.
2 " Commonwealth Church Survey" (Record Society Series, vol. i.),
p. 27.

120 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
four years, when Mr. Bradshaw returned to his old charge.
He held the position of scribe for a time in connection with the
Presbytery in this part of Lancashire. He finally left Cockey
Chapel in 1660. His successor was the Rev. John Lever, a
native of Bolton, whose father is said to have been a Roman
Catholic. He was ejected from Cockey Chapel in 1662, but the
exact date of the commencement of his ministry here is not
known. Many eminent divines of that period, such as Oliver
Heywood, Thomas Jollie, Henry Newcome, and John Norbury,
frequently visited and preached to the pastorless congregation
during these times. Henry Newcome in his Diary says : —
1666. Sep. 2. — We had a sweet day of the Sacrament of the Lord s
Supper at Cockey Chapel ; and we had a high day and evening of it. A
sweet Sabbath over our poor brethren at London had, which began to be on
fire this day [the great London fire in 1666].1
In the diaries of Oliver Heywood are many interesting refer
ences to Cockey Chapel, but space will not allow the insertion of
more than one or two. Under date May 7th, 1671, he says : —
That Sabboth I should have preacht at Cockey, but tho I was invited yet
was put off, they durst not venture, and put me off disingeniously. I preacht
in the morning and night at Brother Cromptons.2
In September, 1679, he was again here, and his Diary under
that date contains the following : —
On Lord's Day morning we rode to Cocky Chappel. There I preacht
twice. There was abundance of people. God assisted. That night we
lodged at Cozen P. Seddon's, near Ringly Chappel. Many came to repiti-
tion.3 In 1672 toleration was granted to the persecuted Nonconformists,
and licenses to preach were at once taken out by the ministers.
The following, relating to Cockey Moor and Mr. Lever, are inter
esting, and deserve recording : —
1 " Autobiography of Henry Newcome " (Chetham Society Series, vol.
xxvi.), p. 160.
2 " Diaries," vol. i., p. 278.
3 " Diaries," vol. ii., p. 103.

LICENSES 01 1672. 121
On 15th June, 1672, a license was given to John Leaver to be a Presby
terian teacher in the house of widow Dickinson [probably wife of Richard
Dickinson, elder, already named], in Middleton [Cockey Moor being in
Middleton parish], Lancashire. A new built ho[use] on Cockey Moor by
Presbyterians of Middleton was lic[ensed], and1 a meeting house, Pr. [Pres
byterian] on Cockey Moor, in ye p'ish of Middleton, 5th Sept., 1672.
Mr. Lever lived to see the dawn of happier days. He left
Cockey Moor to become successor to Mr. Goodwin at Bolton in
1685, and died in 1692. His friend Henry Newcome records in
his Diary over against this date the following : —
" Worthy Mr. Lever, of Bolton, died. A good man and
prudent, and a fruitful, painful minister. The breach and loss
great."2 The Rev. John Crompton succeeded Mr. Lever at Cockey
Moor. He was probably a near relative of James Crompton, of
Breightmet, whose daughter Oliver Heywood married. According
to the minutes of a ministerial meeting at Bolton on May 7th,
1694, he was then at Cockey Moor, but how long he had been
there I do not know. At another meeting held in the same town
on the nth of April, 1699, he was Moderator; and at a similar
meeting held in Manchester, August 13th, 1700, Mr. Crompton
was "desired to preach" at the next gathering. It is interesting
to note that this gathering never took place; with the above date
these ministerial meetings ceased.3 Mr. Crompton died in August,
1703, and of him Matthew Henry says : —
" A man of the first rank, both for ministerial gifts and graces ;
steadfast to his principles in trying times, and an ornament to his
holy profession."4
1 Vide p. 122.
2 " Autobiography of Henry Newcome " (Chetham Society Series, vol.
xxvii.), p. 275.
5 MS. copy of the Minutes of the First Classis of the County Palatine
of Lancashire (Manchester Free Library). It has recently been published
by the Chetham Society.
4 " Memoirs of the Rev. M. Henry," by J. B. Williams, p. 261.

122 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
The Rev. Joseph Whitworth was the next minister. He was
buried in the south aisle of the chapel, and the following inscription
appears upon his tombstone : —
Here lyeth the body of
Mr. WHITWORTH,
who Dyed Febr. the 13th, 1721,
in the 66th yeare of his age,
having been minister att Cockey neare 25 yeares.
There must be some error here unless for several years Mr. Whit
worth was associated in the pastorate with Mr. Crompton.
According to this, Mr. Whitworth must have commenced his
ministry at Cockey Chapel in 1696 ; but at least four years after
this Mr. Crompton was minister here. The only way to reconcile
the difference is to suppose a co-pastorate, or that the number
"neare 25 yeares" on Mr. Whitworth's tombstone is not quite
accurate. It was during his ministry that the present chapel was
erected, as we gather from an inscription over the doorway : —
Erected A.D. 1715.
Enlarged A.D. 1773.
Altered and Repaired A.D. 1845.
The Rev. Ephraim Turland, in an account of Presbyterianism in
Ainsworth, to which I am largely indebted for information in this
article, thinks that forty years previous to 1715 a chapel had been
erected for the Nonconformists of Cockey Moor. He is led to
this by the reference in the license of 1672 to "a new-built house,"
and to a sentence in Bishop Gastrell's " Notitia Cestriensis," written,
he says, in 1706, as follows :" Here is a meeting-house built soe near
it [the Episcopal Chapel] y* y" congregations may hear one another
sing psalms." I do not think Mr. Turland's conclusion is a sound
one. Even if such a building was erected, it would only be a
temporary structure; but may it not be that "and a meeting
house " should read " as a meeting-house " ? The meaning will
then be that a house of some kind was licensed for Presbyterian
worship to meet present exigencies only. Then the date (1706)
in "Notitia Cestriensis" applies, I think, not to the paragraph

DATES CORRECTED. 123
named by Mr. Turland, but to the one only over against which it
stands, the others being written about 17 18. The entire passage
will be given presently, and when 1706 is put in its proper place
it will prove that the Episcopal Chapel was then in the hands of
the Nonconformists. Here, I believe, as in so many other parts
of the country, the Nonconformists kept their hold upon the chapel
for many years, sometimes compromising matters by having a
Conformist preacher one part of the day and a Nonconformist the
other. The date 1715 represents, I imagine, the time when the
first Nonconformist chapel was erected at Cockey Moor. The
following is Bishop Gastrell's account of Cockey Chapel, the
abbreviations being omitted : —
" Cockey, very Ancient. Certified £2 15s. od. arising from
six acres of Common enclosed about 70 years ago [written in 1718];
given since by James Crompton ^20, the Interest for preaching
two Sermons every first Sunday in May.
" The Rector of Middleton preaches here once a month ; other
Sundays it is vacant.
" Here is a Meeting-house built soe near it y* y° Congregations
may hear one another Sing Psalms.
"There is some money given to it [the Episcopal Chapel] in
ye hands of Feoffes, who say they may dispose of it to any other
use. The Chapel is in ye hands of Dissenters, and Ashworth is
much what in ya same case. Warden Wroe's acct. anno 1706." 1
The Rev. Peter Seddon succeeded Mr. Whitworth in 1721.
He was born in 1688, was probably connected with the Seddons
of Prestolee and Kersley, and so would be related to the Rev.
Robert Seddon, M.A., of Bolton, and the Eev. John Seddon, who
founded the Warrington Academy. Peter Seddon had been for
a time minister at Penrith, in Cumberland. After labouring for
ten years at Cockey Moor he died, and was buried in the grave
yard belonging to the chapel. His tombstone is thus inscribed : —
1 "Notitia Cestriensis" (Chetham Society Series, vol. xix.), p. 105. As
confirmatory that this date applies only to the paragraph against which it
stands is the fact that Warden Wroe, who gives the account, died January
6th, 1717-1718.

124 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Here resteth the body of the
Rev. Mr. PETER SEDDON,
A Good Scholar, an excellent Preacher, eminent for Piety, Industry, and
great Humility.
Departed this life April the 26th, 1731,
In the 43rd Year of his Age.
Prov. 14th, ver. 32nd, The righteous hath hope in his death.
His son, the Rev. John Seddon, M.A, born at Lomax Fold in
1 7 16, was one of the most eminent of the Cross Street ministers at
Manchester. The Rev. Joshua Dobson was the next minister,
commencing his labours in 1732, and continuing here for thirty-five
years. On a mural tablet to the left of the pulpit is an inscription,
too long for insertion, which speaks in most glowing terms of his
worth as a minister, and states that his death took place on August
29th, 1767, at the age of seventy-five years. To him succeeded
the Rev. Thomas Barnes (afterwards Dr. Barnes). He was born
at Warrington, February 13, 1747, and trained in the Academy
there. He came to Cockey Moor in 1768, and so eloquent and
powerful was he as a preacher that the chapel had to be enlarged
in 1773. In every sense he was a man of large proportions —
physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually ; and it is said that he
could be heard distinctly on the main road, seventy or eighty
yards away, when he was preaching. In 1780 he left Cockey
Moor for Cross Street, Manchester, and in 1786 became Principal
of the Manchester College. Dr. Barnes's wife was Elizabeth Mills,
of Ferneysides, Little Lever, and at this family residence he died,
June 27 th, 1810, at the age of sixty-four years. He was interred in
the Cross Street Chapelyard, and his funeral sermon was preached
by the Rev. Joseph Bealey, his successor at Cockey Moor. The
Rev. Joseph Bealey just named began his ministry at Cockey Moor
in February, 1781. He was a native of Radcliffe, being born
there December nth, -1756. His early training he received from
the Rev. Richard Smalley, minister of Lower Chapel, Darwen ;
and afterwards he went to Daventry Academy. His first charge
was at Narborough, Leicestershire, where he remained but a little
while. After five years' service at Cockey Moor he went to
succeed Dr. Enfield at Warrington, in May, 1786 ; but in Septem
ber, 1791, he returned to his old charge at Cockey Moor. Towards

THE BEALEY FAMILY. 125
the end of the year 181 1 Mr. Bealey's theological opinions under
went an important change through reading the Rev. T. Belsham's
"Calm Enquiry." In a sermon on "Jesus, the Man of Sorrows,
and acquainted with grief," preached in the chapel on April 4th,
1 813, he openly announced his belief in Unitarianism. Heated
discussions, and family divisions, were the result of Mr. Bealey's
change of creed ; several withdrew from his ministry, and joined
themselves to Mawdsley Street Chapel, Bolton. He lived only a
few months after preaching this sermon. At the age of fifty-six
years he died on the 9th of August, 18 13, and was buried in the
graveyard of the chapel on the 13th. His funeral sermon was
preached on the Sunday following by the Rev. W. Allard, of Bury,
when the chapel was so crowded that the gallery was found to be
giving way, and the service had to be concluded in the graveyard.
James Bealey, a brother of the Rev. Joseph Bealey, resided at
Derekins, Blackburn, and was connected with Chapel Street
Congregational Church in that town. A daughter of James Bealey
married the Rev. John Ely, of Rochdale, and another Mr. John
Roby, author of "Traditions in Lancashire." During Mr. Bealey's
absence at Warrington a Mr. King ministered at Cockey Moor,
concerning whom nothing is known. Mr. Bealey's successor was
the Rev. Jacob Brettell, a native of Gainsborough, and trained
in the Manchester College at York. He came to Cockey Moor
in 1814, left in 18 16 for Rotherham, where he laboured until his
death, in 1862. The Rev. James Whitehead followed, preaching
his first sermon as minister at Cockey Chapel on Sunday, June 29th,
1817. He was born at Dukinfield, January 6th, 1789, was brought
up to the Moravian form of worship, but was greatly influenced by
the preaching of the Rev. James Hawkes, Unitarian minister of
that place, whom his parents frequently went to hear. He was
trained at Wymondley, and settled first at Wem, in Shropshire.
He remained here only about four years, removing to Cockey
Moor. His wife was the youngest daughter of his predecessor, the
Rev. Joseph Bealey. He died February 16th, 1859, and was
buried in the chapel graveyard. His son, the Rev. James T.
Whitehead, educated at the Manchester New College, and who
had previously ministered at Altrincham, succeeded him. After
labouring here for eleven years he removed to Hackney, in

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DESCRIPTIVE NOTES. 127
October, 1870, and is now resident at Walthamstow without charge.
The Rev. Ephraim Turlandwas the next minister. He was trained
at the Home Missionary BoarJ, Manchester, and came to Cockey
Moor in 1871, remaining nine yeais. He removed to Chelten
ham, where he still labours. His successor was the Rev. R.
Wilkinson, also from the Home Missionary Board. He settled at
Cockey Moor in July, 1880, and died here April 26th, 1887.
The Rev. Walter Reynolds, B.A., from Belfast, trained at the
Baptist College, Chilwell, accepted an invitation to the pastorate
here in 1888, and is still the minister.
The present building which, as already stated, was erected in
1715, has been considerably altered during the course of time.
Still it retains in many respects its primitive appearance. The
mullions in the windows yet remain, and the ivy-mantled walls
point to a good old age. In the interior also there is much to
interest the antiquarian. The place was re-pewed in 1845, DUt
evidently there was an attempt to follow the original design as
closely as possible. The old double-decked pulpit is still in its
position, and in the first or lower one is a Bible, bearing date 1770.
A curious-looking timepiece, which I was informed keeps good
time when it goes, is opposite the pulpit, and bears this inscription : —
Pr. Clare. Feet.
Manchester, 1774.
The aisles contain the tombstones of several important families,
the custom being in the old times to bury inside the chapel where
the people had worshipped. It remains only to be added that the
church is Unitarian, and has been at least since the days of
Mr. Bealey.

X.— EARLY NONCONFORMITY IN THE FARNWORTH
DISTRICT.— RINGLEY CHAPEL.
No part of Lancashire has more completely changed its aspect
than the district covered by the two names — Farnworth and
Kersley. That it was once a charming spot may be surmised

128 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
ever from the outlook of things to day. The river Croal,1 not
always as turbid as now, together with the Irwell, which it joins at
Prestolee, beautifully meanders through meadow and woodland on
its way to Manchester, the great Cottonopolis of Lancashire.
liven Whittle, the historian, writing only thirty-five years ago,
describes the place as " a most romantic spot, forming rich, enclosed
land, possessing natural scenery and rivulets in abundance ; hill and

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IRWELL VALLEY, FARNWORTH.

valley mingle here." 2 Nor are the names about here without sig
nificance. " Farnworth," from the Anglo-Saxon, /earn or: fern, and
1 I have followed several eminent authors in this, but a writer in the
Farnworth Journal for December, 1888, says that the Croal "forms the last
of four tributary streams which merge into a larger river rising upon Turton
Moors, and designated alternately after the various places and town
ships along which it runs, and known locally for The Eagley, Tong, Lever,
and more generally the Bolton River or Water."
2 " History of Bolton," p. 334.

INTERESTING PLACE NAMES. 129
worth, also Anglo-Saxon, meaning an enclosure, the warded or
protected homestead — the full name signifying the dwelling-place
amongst the ferns. " Kersley," probably from the old Norse kirk,
meaning church, and ley or lee, Anglo-Saxon, which means the open
place in a forest where cattle collected for repose and pasture.
" Prestolee " is said to be the priest's lee, and " Outwood " points
to the outlying woods around. These names are mute witnesses
to a beauty which formerly gathered around this place. Nor will
it be easy to find any part of Lancashire richer in Nonconformist
associations than this. Ringley, about which more hereafter, was
for a little time the scene of the labours of John Angier, one of the
foremost Nonconformists of Lancashire. Little Lever claims the
honour of being the birthplace of the celebrated Oliver Heywood.
Bolton was so Puritanic in the days of the Commonwealth that it
came to be called the " Geneva of Lancashire." Walmsley, a
few miles farther on, was the place where the sturdy Independent,
Briscoe, uplifted the banner of religious liberty ; Deane claims
George Marsh, sometime resident there, if not a native, who fell a
victim to the persecuting zeal of Queen Mary on the 24th of
April, 1555 ; and Chowbent and Wharton have histories reaching
back at least to the time of the Ejection of 1662. Thus this
district is encircled by a cordon of Nonconformity of which the in
habitants may well be proud.
The first trace of Nonconformity in these parts will be found
in the old Ringley Chapel. According to an inscription still
preserved in the present building the old " Chappell " at Ringley
was erected in 1625, " at ye cost and charges of Nathan Wal-
worthe, sonne to Ellis Walworthe." Nathan Walworth was a native
of Ringley, his family having been resident there for several genera
tions. His correspondence with Peter Seddon, member of another
Ringley family of note, has been recently published by the Chetham
Society.1 Nathan Walworth had caught the Puritanic spirit of the
age and the district, and so he dedicated the chapel to no saint,
but to the " Holy Saviour." The first preacher here was William
Seddon, youngest brother of Peter Seddon already named. He
was educated at Magdalen College, Cambridge, and ministered
1 It forms vol. cix. of the series.
3—9

130 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
at Ringley from 1626 to 1629. He served with the
Royalists during the Civil War, and suffered for his opinions.
On applying for help to his brother Peter, who was
an ardent supporter of the Commonwealth, he was told that
"would he conform himself to ye Godly party his own
merits could protect and prosper him." 1 He was subsequently at
Chester, Eastham, and Grappenhall, where he remained until his
death. In a touching account of him and his sufferings, drawn
up by his own son, it is said that after his ejection and restoration
to the " rectory at Grapnall he resetl'd himself and his family in the
parsonage house there, where he and my mother (the constant
partner of his sufferings) — aged each of them about seventy —
departed this life in one month, and lye buried both in one grave
in the chancel there, a.d. 167 1."2
The Rev. John Angier followed Mr. Seddon at Ringley. He
was born at Dedham, in Essex, and was baptised there on the 8th
of October, 1605. He was the son of a clothier, and the eldest
of four brothers. His early education was received at the village
school of Dedham, whence he went to Emanuel College,
Cambridge, where he graduated in Arts. On the completion of
his college life he resided for a short time with the Rev. John
Rogers, minister of his native village, and afterwards with the Rev.
John Cotton, of Boston, Lincolnshire. Whilst here he became
acquainted with Miss Ellen Winstanley, of Wigan, Lancashire, a
niece of Mrs. Cotton, and they were married in the Parish Church,
Boston, April 16th, 1628. Shortly after the birth of his first child,
who was baptised June 13th, 1629, he began to think of going to
America, and for this purpose took a journey to Lancashire to
take leave of his wife's relatives. The following account of the
way in which he was led to Ringley is from the pen of the Rev.
Oliver Heywood : —
They prevailed with him to preach at Bolton [while he was visiting his
wife's relations] ; R. M., one from Ringley Chapel, hearing him, obtained
from him a promise to come to Ringley on a week day, and preach with Mr.
Mather, then at Toxteth Park Chapel, and preparing to go to New England ;
1 See work just named, Introduction, p. 11.
2 Ibid, p. 88.

A LONG JOURNEY. 131 #
Mr. Mather began, Mr. Angier was to succeed him, but it being a hot
simmer, and an exceedingly throng place, Mr. Angier was overcome with
heat, and swooned away, not being ahls to proceed further than about the
middle of his sermon. Mr. Mather, however, went up and continued the
service; that evening many of the chapelry followed Mr. Angier to Mr. E.
Walworth's house, in Ringley Fold, and solicited him to be minister at
Ringley. He deferred his answer until Monday se'nnight after, at which
time he was to deliver the lecture at Bolton. Many of the chapelry then
heard him, and, after the lecture at one Widow Rothwell's, presented to him
a paper, wherein were the names of the principal people in the chapelry that
vote in public concerns. He asked whether the names of all were in that
paper ; they told him the names of all that had votes, but if he pleased all,
the rest might readily be had. After Mr. Angier's return to Boston, a
letter was sent to him with the names of all the families, masters, and others,
and a letter was returned from him to the chapelry, informing the people
that if they would fetch him and his family he might be theirs; whereupon
in the beginning of September, 1630, two good men were sent with horses
and furniture, John Jackson and Francis Critchley, who stayed several days
at Boston. Mr. Cotton judged the call to be clear, Mr. Angier was well
satisfied ; the two faithful messengers brought Mr. Angier, his wife, his son,
and his maid to Ringley, to the great joy of those that feared God in the
place. The text he preached on was Philemon 22, "But withal prepare me
also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayer I shall be given unto
you." Some time they had to lodge with another family till a convenient
house was made ready ; his residence was in Ringley Fold, in an ordinary
house, with which he was well content ; when people came to repetition in
his little house, and wanted room and seats, he said, " Better want room
than good company." 1
He had been previously ordained by the Bishop of Bangor (Dr.
Lewis Bayley), on June 28th, 1629, but without subscription.
Though thus episcopally ordained, Mr. Angier was a Noncon
formist, and on Dr. Bridgeman, Bishop of Chester, at that time
residing at Great Lever, about two miles from Ringley, being
made aware of this, he several times summoned him to appear in
his presence, expostulated with, and at length suspended him.
The bishop's wife, however, was favourable to Mr. Angier, and
the bishop himself could not fail to admire and appreciate his
work, consequently he advised his removal from Ringley to a
more distant place where his Nonconformity could be the better
condoned. Accordingly he left Ringley for Denton, near Man-
1 "The Whole Works of Oliver Heywood, B.A." (Slate), vol. i, p. 524.

132 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
cnester, beginning his ministry there in 1632. On the 14th of
December, 1642, his wife died shortly after giving birth to a
daughter, leaving it as a dying request that as soon as decency
permitted and the lady's consent could be obtained, he should
take as second wife Miss Margaret Mosley, daughter of Oswald
Mosley, Esq., of Ancoats, and to her he was united November
15th, 1643 They were dark and stormy days in which Mr.
Angier lived. There were "wars and rumours of wars," kings
deposed and monarchies overturned ; persecution swept the land,
and the sufferings of Nonconformists were terrible beyond measure ;
but, though he was not without his trials at Denton, yet, through
the influence of important members of his congregation, he was
able to retain his charge through all this trying period until his
death. Mr. Angier's second wife died in 1675, and was interred
in the Denton Chapel on the 31st of October in that year, and his
death occurred on September ist, 1677. He was interred in the
chapel, facing the pulpit, and near the body of his second wife,
on the 5th of September, " two knights, twelve ministers, many
worthy gentlemen, and multitudes of common people attending
the funeral and showing great lamentation." 1 Oliver Heywood
sajs that his tombstone contains the following inscription : —
Here lieth the Body
of
Mr. JOHN ANGIER,
the late most
Pious and faithful Pastor
of this
CONGREGATION,
Who rested from all his Labours,
Sept. ist, 1677,
in the
Year of his age, 72.
Ministry 49 ; at Denton 46.2
Mr. Angier wrote " Helpe to Better Hearts for Better Times, in
severale Sermons," published at London in 1647 : and it is thought
1 " A History of the Ancient Chapel of Denton " (Chetham Society
Series, vol. xxxvii.), p. 73.
2 Ibid,

THE ANGIER FAMILY. 133
"Lancashire's Valley of Achor''1 was also from his pen, both of
which are now very scarce. It may interest the reader to have
one or two further particulars about the Angier family. Mr.
Angier's son, John, became a minister, and we shall meet with him
again. His daughter, Elizabeth Angier, became the first wife of
the celebrated Oliver Heywood ; his brother's son, Samuel Angier,
was for some time minister at Dukinfield. From another brother,
Edmund Angier, who settled in America in 1636, sprang a race of
eminent American ministers of that name. The Harrison family,
several of whom became Dissenting ministers of note, and the
celebrated novelist, William Harrison Ainsworth, all claim descent
from the Rev. John Angier, minister of Ringley and Denton.
Ringley Chapel was not consecrated until December, 1634, an
account of which has been preserved in the "Correspondence"
already referred to. Mr. Angier was followed at Ringley by the
Rev. William Hulton in 1636. He was the eldest son of George
and Margaret Hulton, of Farnworth, was baptised at Bolton, in
July, 1594, and in February, 1624, married the elder daughter of
Ralph Seddon, of Prestolee.2 He was probably ejected from
Ringley in 1647 by the Presbyterian authorities, in which year the
Rev. Thomas Holland received a call and became minister. He
belonged to the Hollands of Denton, graduated Master of Arts in
the University of Edinburgh, and took the National Covenant in
1647, when he presented himself before the Manchester Classis for
ordination. He left Ringley in 1653 to become minister at
Blackley, near Manchester, whence he was ejected in 1662.
After his ejectment he lived for some time in a private house of
his own at Newton Heath, and died there in 1675, aged fifty-seven
years, leaving several children. Calamy says that he was " a
gentleman by birth, but an able and diligent preacher. . . .
He had sore afflictions in body and estate, and was laid aside from
his work some years before he died."3
The Rev. John Angier followed Mr. Holland at Ringley in
1 " The Whole Works of Oliver Heywood, B.A." (Slate), vol. i., p. 556.
2 "Nathan Walworth's Correspondence" (Chetham Society Series, vol.
cix.), p. 36, note.
3 "Nonconformist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii., p. 353-

'34

LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.

1657. He was born at Boston, baptised there June 13th, 1629, and
was the son of the Rev. John Angier, already named as minister
of Ringley and Denton. In early life he appears to have been a
source of anxiety to his father because of his careless and profligate
life. He was ordained at Prestwich Parish Church, August 13th,
1657, but his subsequent career is unknown. It is not necessary
to proceed further with the list of ministers here. The old chapel
was in existence in 1827, ¦ in which year it was entirely rebuilt

RINGLEY CHAPEL TOWER.

from designs by Sir Charles Barry. Eventually this building was
found to be too small, and in 1850 it was taken down, and the
foundation stone of the present structure laid by R. S. Sowler,
Esq., Q.C. The picturesque tower erected by Barry over sixty
years ago is still standing, just on the other side of the river
Irwell. The tower contains a clock with several faces, which
serves as timekeeper for the villagers, and in the side looking down
upon the river is a stone containing the following inscription : — ¦
1 So says Mr. Fletcher in "Nathan Walworth's Correspondence" (Intro
duction, p. xxvi.) ; but date stone says 1826.

TOMBSTONES. 135
NATHAN
WALWORTH
BVILDED MEE
ANNO; DO 1625.
A little lower down is another stone with this inscription —
Built 1626, vestry added 1726. All rebuilt 1826.1
The graveyard, in which the tower lies, is about the most capa
cious I have seen. It is quite a little cemetery, and contains
miny interesting tombstones, in particular that of the great
Nonconformist preacher of Bolton, Robert Seddon, the inscription
upon which the reader will find in the article upon Bolton Non
conformity.2 The two oldest tombstones I found were the one in memory of
" peter Seddon, Father of the said reverend Mr. Robert Seddon,
who dyed the 15th day of February, in the yeare 1663, and was
then aged eighty-foure," and the other of
ALES SEDDON,
Who died
April the 22nd, 1668.
The new building of 1850 stands near the back of the graveyard,
and, while handsome, is unpretentious.

XI.— MARKET STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FARN
WORTH.
From what is stated in the previous section, it will be
evident that Nonconformity was planted early in the neighbour
hood of Farnworth. It need excite in us no surprise that no
place of worship existed in Farnworth itself before the present
century. Eighty years ago there were few houses in what is now
1 Interesting to note that just a century lies between each date.
2 P. 6.

JohnTProffitt PJ
1658 -

The; Old Congregational, Chapel, • Farnworth

BEGINNINGS. 137
quite an important town, and people then did not mind a walk of
some two or three miles for service. The morals of the people in
those days are said to have been of no high order ; the greatest
ignorance and profanity prevailed, cock-fighting, bull-baiting,
and races were the common amusements. Yet some were not
unmindful of the Sabbath Day, and were willing to go as far
as to Peel Chapel (Little Hulton), Ringley Chapel, or even to
the Bolton Parish Church ; the Nonconforming villagers goinj;
to Stand Chapel, and others to Wharton. It is to these Non
conformists the honour belongs of first seeking to provide for the
religious necessities of Farnworth. In the early history of religious
effort in this district, Mr. Roger Holland, the founder of the
present Holland School, is a prominent figure. A rigid Methodist,
the other Dissenting families found it impossible to unite with
him in the establishment of a religious interest in Farnworth.
A much more interesting character is Mr. James Heywood, a
wealthy manufacturer, residing in Little Lever in 1791, and
descendent of the famous old Lancashire Nonconformist — Oliver
Heywood. Greatly concerned about the spiritual destitution of
the locality, this worthy man promised handsomely towards a
place of worship, both in the shape of money and land. It
was mainly through him that the first public building was
erected for worship in Farnworth, upon what was known as
" Withington Croft." The foundation was laid on June 24th,
1818, and the first wrought stone in mortar on the 7th of July
following, by Mr. Robert Topp,1 of Clammerclough, Farnworth.
The chapel was opened for divine service on Whit- Friday, May
26th, of the following year, the Revs. John Adamson, of Patri-
croft, and Thomas Jackson, of Wharton, being the preachers.
The place was "supplied" by neighbouring ministers for a time,
and on the ist of October, 1809, the Rev. George Kilpatrick, who
had been elected for twelve months, began his ministry. He was
a native of Ireland, and trained by the Rev. Wm. Roby, of
Manchester. At the end of the twelve months, not being re-
£ Mr. Robert Topp was the uncle of the late Mr. Robert Topp, whose
son is the present Mr. Alfred Topp, J. P., and nephew, Mr. Alfred Barnes,
B.A., J.P. It deserves to be stated that not only Farnworth but Lancashire
Congregationalism is deeply indebted to the Barnes and Topp families.

138 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
elected, he left Farnworth, and eventually settled as minister of
Bethesda Chapel, Tockholes, near Blackburn, where he died in
March, 1815. For another twelve months the Farnworth pulpit
was supplied by Mr. Paul Partington, a member of Mr. Adamson's
church, at Patricroft. In 18 10 Halshaw Moor appears amongst
the stations which received " aid " from the County Union.
Through the influence of the Rev. Noah Blackburn, of Delph,
Mr. Joseph Dyson, resident of Marsden, Yorkshire, was intro
duced to the Farnworth Church. He received a call in January,
1813, signed by fifty-five persons, and began his ministry on the
last Sunday in March of that year. On August 25th, 1813, he was
ordained, when the following ministers took part in the service : —
Revs. Richard Slate, of Stand ; William Roby, of Manchester ;
William Jones, of Bolton ; Noah Blackburn, of Delph ; Jenkin
Lewis, Divinity Tutor of Leaf Square Academy, Salford ; and
Thomas Jackson, of Wharton. The " interest " is then described
as "new and very promising."1 On the 23rd of June, 1816, a
new school was opened; in 1813 galleries were put into the
chapel; and about 1838 the chapel was again enlarged. Mr.
Dyson was unwearied in his labours, itinerating frequently in the
villages round about. Advancing age and increasing infirmities led
to the appointment of an assistant in 1847. The Rev. J. C.
McMichael, a student of Rotherham, entered upon duty as
co-pastor with Mr. Dyson on the 18th of July in that year. He
resigned in 1853, and has since laboured at Stalybridge, Halifax,
Australia, where he now resides without pastoral charge. On the
8th of February, 1855, Mr. Dyson also resigned. He continued,
however, to reside in Farnworth, and preached from time to time
as long as his strength allowed. His death took place on Nov.
30th, 1867, in the 87th year of his age, his remains being interred
in the family vault in the old chapel graveyard. His son, Mr.
Simeon Dyson, is a cotton spinner in Farnworth, whose little book
entitled " Rural Congregationalism " has been found very
valuable in writing this sketch. The Rev. G. D. Macgregor,
educated at Glasgow, was called from Portobello, near Edinburgh,
to succeed Mr. Dyson. He began his ministry on the 20th of
1 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1813, p. 393.

A BICENTENARY MEMORIAL. 139
May, 1855, and resigned in January, 1865, having accepted an invi
tation to the Paddington Congregational Church, London, where he
still labours. The present minister, Rev. William Hewgill, M.A.,
who was trained at New College, and who had previously laboured at
Warley, in Yorkshire, began his labours at Farnworth on the first
Sunday in July, 1865. Mr. Hewgill has for many years rendered
valuable service to the Congregational Churches of Lancashire as
Secretary for the Manchester District of the County Union, and in
1886 those churches showed their appreciation of his work by
electing him to the Presidency of the Union. On July 10th, 1887,
the church celebrated the 37th anniversary of its opening, Mr.
Hewgill being the preacher, when the handsome sum of
^1,170 2s. iiijd. was collected to meet the expenses of various
improvements and certain liabilities in connection with the erection
of the Francis Street Church. On July 6th, 1890, Mr. Hewgill
completed twenty-five years of ministerial service at Farnworth,
when the church granted him a three months' holiday, and pre
sented hirn with an address and a cheque value ^100.
The present handsome structure in Market Street was opened
on Wednesday, July 10th, 1850, by the Revs. Dr. Raffles and John
Angell James. It will seat about 900 persons. A very useful
appendage to the chapel is the Memorial Hall, opened on Saturday
evening, November 21st, 1863.
The following is a copy of a document placed in a cavity of
the stone, which will explain the purpose and intent of this build-

This writing is placed beneath the corner stone of a lecture room erected
as a bicentenary memorial of the faith and fidelity of the two thousand
Nonconforming Clergymen who, on the twenty-fourth day of August, 1662,
were ejected from the Church of England because their conscience forbade
them to comply with the un-Scriptural requirements of the Act of Uniformity,
and is designed specially for the Week Day services of the Church and
Congregation worshipping in the Congregational Church, Market Street,
Farnworth. The first chapel belonging to that society was opened on Whit-
Sunday, 1809, and, after several enlargements, was converted into the present
Sunday School ; the Church and Congregation removing to the adjoining
edifice, which was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Almighty God and
the preaching of the Gospel cf His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, on the tenth
day of July, 1850.

PREACHING STATIONS. 141
The first pastor was the Rev. Joseph Dyson, who began his labours on
the last Sunday of March, 1813 ; and, after faithful and efficient service,
was induced from age and infirmity to resign his office on the eighth day of
February, 1855. On the eighteenth day of February, 1S47, the Rev. J. C.
McMichael became co-pastoT, and on the twentieth of September, 1855, re
moved to assume the spiritual oversight of the Congregational Church,
Stalybridge. On the twentieth day of May, 1855, the Rev. George Douglas
Macgregor became pastor, and still continues to sustain that office.
The stone which covers this document was laid on the twenty-fourth day
of March, 1863, by Master Joseph Himmers, son of William Himmers, Esq.,
of Greenfield, deacon and treasurer of the Church, through whose efforts
and liberality mainly this building was erected. — George Douglas Mac
gregor, pastor.
As already indicated, after the erection of Market Street Chapel,
the old building continued to be used for Sunday School purposes
until the erection of Moor Hall, which consists of a large room
and four classrooms, separated by sliding partitions. This was
opened on New Year's Day, 1864. The old chapel, which adjoins
the Moor Hall, is used for classrooms, small meetings, lectures, &c.
The gallery has long been considered unsafe, and is therefore not
used. The graveyard connected with it may yet be seen, though
it is seldom used. There are few churches which have done more
to extend Congregationalism than the Market Street Church.
Almost from the beginning it appears to have been largely imbued
with the missionary spirit. The following testimony from the
report of the County Union for 1820 is too interesting to be
omitted : —
" Halshaw Moor. Mr. Dyson is much encouraged in his
itinerant excursions in this neighbourhood. He preaches at Hollins,
Dixon Green, Great Lever Hall, Dyehouse Brow, and Prestolee in
rotation; and is well attended at each of these places."
True to its earliest traditions all along, this church may now
look with a large measure of pride upon its numerous and healthy
children growing up around.
It only remains that a sentence or two be added respecting
the branch interest at Kersley and the Queen Street Mission,
both of which are worked by the Market Street Church.

142

LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.

A Sunday School was commenced at Kersley about 1845,
and in 1850 preaching services were begun. About that time the
present Irwell Bank School was erected. Services are now con
ducted by laymen, and the building is credited by the " Lancashire
Congregational Calendar '' with sitting accommodation for 300

STONECLOUGH BY KERSLEY.

persons. " Our Queen Street Mission work," says Mr. Barnes,
"had a strange beginning in the end of 1873. A 'cheap jack'
offered his stand on the Market Place with the free use of gas for
a religious service. Mr. Thomas Gaskell, who, in conjunction
with Mr. Hacking, was working on cottage meetings, heard him

DIXON GREEN SCHOOL. 143
make the offer, and told Mr. Hacking. The result was that they
accepted the offer, and on a Sunday afternoon in December these
friends, along with Messrs. Scholes and Collier, held a service, the
preacher being Mr. Pettigrew, whom they had engaged for the
purpose. In the evening service was held in our Old Chapel, and
subsequently in the Seminary, where it has since remained." '
Services are conducted by laymen.

XIL— ALBERT ROAD AND WALKDEN CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCHES.
According to the extract from the County Union Report given
in the previous article, Mr. Dyson, the Market Street minister,
was accustomed to hold cottage services at Dixon Green and New
Bury as early as 1820. His labours, however, outside his own
church were often seriously interfered with by ill health, and
work in this district seems to have been abandoned several years.
It was about 1840 that it took definite shape, when a small school
at New Bury, belonging to the New Connexion Methodists,
whose preachers usually came from Bolton, was purchased by the
Market Street Church and occupied as a Sunday School. The
interest grew so rapidly that a new building became requisite,
and on June 4th, 1854, the present school at Dixon Green,
capable of accommodating about 360 persons, was opened.
Differences arose with the parent church owing to its requiring
the scholars to go for morning worship there (which is a consider
able distance), and eventually a separation ensued, the seceders
purchasing the Dixon Green School, and resuming their labours
there on June ist, 1856. A church was at once formed, con
sisting of twenty-seven members from the Market Street Church ;
and on the 10th of July, 1856, their first minister, the Rev.
William Knox, from Berwick, entered upon duty. The Rev.
Wm. Roaf, of Wigan, was a warm friend of the young church,
1 " Bolton and District Congregational Magazine" for 1889.

r44 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
serving it frequently as a preacher. On a certain anniversary
occasion, whilst urging the people to contribute generously, he
told them to put no "threepenny or fourpenny bits into the
boxes which are the devil's invention to make poor collections."
Exactly at the end of three years, Mr. Knox resigned, and
started The Dial, a newspaper which was expected to supplant
The Times, whose inconsistencies then as now gave serious
offence to many good people. After a few months Mr. Knox
accepted the pastorate of Kirkham Congregational Church,
where he remained until 1866. Pie subsequently laboured at
Bristol and Chapel Street, Salford, dying suddenly at the latter
place on November 19th, 1883, after a thirty-one years' ministry.
The Rev. D. G. Watt, M.A, from Northwich, began his ministry
here on the second Sunday in September, i860. He was trained
at Spring Hill College, and had been a missionary for some years
previous to coming to Dixon Green. Failing health led to his
resignation of the pastorate on July ist, 1861. He was after
wards at Maidstone, in London, in Florida (Central America),
and is now resident in London without charge. The next
minister was the Rev. William Jackson, who began work at
Dixon Green on July 27th, 1862. He had been educated at
Rotherham, and, previous to coming to Farnworth, had been
some years at Mansfield, near Nottingham. Shortly after his
settlement at Farnworth, the new chapel in Albert Road was
erected. It was opened for worship on Thursday, the 23rd
of October, 1862, and amongst the preachers in connection with
the opening services were the Revs. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool ;
Dr. Falding, of Rotherham College ; and Dr. Fraser, of Aire
dale College. The chapel is a plain, light, comfortable-looking
structure with accommodation for some 850 persons. It is
galleried round, the organ and choir occupying the greater part
of the gallery over the front entrance, and at the other side of the
chapel is the pulpit, which for size and beauty of workmanship
has few equals. The galleries were added in 187 1. Mr. Jackson
resigned his charge at Albert Road on the 24th of January, 1866,
and went to Whitby, whence he removed to Bournemouth. In
1886 he retired from ministerial duty, and is now resting, after a
ministry of over forty years. On the 17th of February, 1867,

3— io

146 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
the Rev. Edward Walker, who had been trained in Lancashire
College, and laboured for a short time at Uttoxeter, began his
ministry at Farnworth. Failing health brought about his resigna
tion on July 29th, 1868, to the great regret of his congregation.
Eventually he went to America, where he died. The Rev. R. G.
Leigh, of Egerton, another Lancashire College alumnus, settled at
Farnworth in the beginning of the year 1869. During his
ministry galleries were put into the chapel, and the Albert Road
School built. The foundation of this school, which will accom
modate some 400 scholars, was laid by Thomas Barnes, Esq., on
the 20th of July, 1872, and the building itself was opened on
March 30th, 1873. Mr. Leigh preached for the last time at
Farnworth as minister on May 7th, 1882, and went to Mossley.
He is now pastor of Hope Chapel, Salford. The Rev. B.
Nightingale, from Oldham, author of this work, succeeded Mr.
Leigh at Farnworth, on the 22nd of April, 1883. He left for
Cannon Street, Preston, on the 22nd of July, 1887, and still
ministers there. The Rev. Wm. Nicholson, from Stoke, followed
in the early part of 1889, being recognised as pastor on July 24th
of that year. He is the present minister. The membership of
the church stands at about 230, and the number of scholars at
Albert Road is about 400. To meet their growing needs, important
additions to the school building were effected last year at a cost
of about ^500.
After the removal of the church to Albert Road in 1862,
the building at Dixon Green was used for Sunday School
purposes, and in 1877 it was decided at a church meet
ing that preaching services should be commenced there,
so that the hold which Congregationalists had long had
upon the neighbourhood might not be lost.1 These services are
now conducted principally by members of the Lay Preachers'
Association, from Manchester, and in the school some 350
scholars are taught The late Mr. Robert Topp was a prime
mover in the establishment of this second Congregational interest
at Farnworth, and his family have all along been generous sup
porters and earnest workers on its behalf.
1 Since the above was written it has been decided to form an Indepen
dent Church at Dixon Green.

WALKDEN CONGREGATIONALISM. 147
The story of Walkden Congregationalism may be soon told.
But though brief it is wonderfully interesting, and shows what
may be accomplished by a few earnest, persistent, self-denying
people. In September, 1878, a few working men commenced
religious services in a hired room in Harriet Street, and in the month
following the Rev. Isaac Dearnley, of the Manchester City Mission,
came amongst them as pastor. They then mustered about sixty
people. In November of the same year a church was formed. In 1880
they sought and received admission into the Lancashire Congrega
tional Union, and in 1882 they obtained a grant of ^20 from its
Funds. In November of the same year their new chapel, erected
at a cost of about ^3,000, Was opened, with sitting accommoda
tion for 750 people; and on June nth, 1887, Mrs. John Mayall,
Mayoress of Mossley, laid the first stone of a new Sunday School.
Four other stones were laid by Mrs. J. E. Buckley, of Blackpool; Mr.
Edward Cross, J. P., of Bolton; Alderman John Mayall, Mayor of
Mossley; and the Rev. I. Dearnley, pastor. The school has
accommodation for about the same number of persons as the
chapel, and cost ;£ 1,155. It was opened by the pastor on Sunday,
November 13th, 1887, the Rev. Thomas Willis, of Manchester,
preaching in the chapel in the evening. All the buildings are
now free from debt, and the church is no longer dependent upon
County Union assistance. Mr. Dearnley is still the minister, and
to his unwearied efforts much of the success of the undertaking is
due.

XIII.— FRANCIS STREET AND LITTLE LEVER CONGREGA
TIONAL CHURCHES.
Shortly after Mr. Hewgill's settlement at Market Street religious
operations were commenced at Moses Gate to meet the needs of
the growing population there. The corner stone of a school
chapel in Francis Street was laid on August 22nd, 1868, by Mr.
Harold A. Barnes, then a boy. The building was completed and
opened for worship on Easter Sunday, March 28th, 1869, by the
Rev. Robert Thomas, of Bala College, who preached morning

^hrvT^ofritf.r;

OLIVER HEYWOOD'S BIRTHPLACE. 149
and evening, Mr. Hewgill preaching in the afternoon. Mr. James
Scrimgeour and Mr. Alfred Barnes went as deacons from the
parent church to direct the work. Services were conducted by
lay preachers from Market Street Church and students from
Lancashire College until the ist of November, 1874, when the
Rev. J. F. Munro, from New College, London, began his labours
as minister in charge. On the 18th of August, 1883, the memorial
stone of a new chapel was laid by Thomas Barnes, Esq., J.P. ; and
on Thursday, January 24th, 1884, it was opened for worship by the
Rev. Dr. Hannay, of London. On the 29th of April, 1886, a
church was duly constituted, and Francis Street Church became
independent of the parent church. The new building, which cost
about _^2,6oo, will seat some 350 persons, and the friends here
are considerably indebted to the munificence of Mr. Alfred Barnes.
An admirable Day School, of which Mr. W. H. Nightingale is
head master, is associated with the church.
Little Lever will always be interesting to Nonconformists as the
birthplace1 of Oliver ^Heywood, and the spot where his early years
were spent. His visits to this neighbourhood were also frequent
whilst he was resident in Yorkshire as minister of Coley and after
wards of Northowram, and especially during those years that he
was an outcast and a wanderer, through the passing of the Act
of Uniformity and the Five Mile Act. His diaries contain
many touching accounts of secret meetings with the good people
of these secluded parts, which must be omitted for want of space.
It may occasion some surprise that, contrary to what happened in
many other parts of the country, no Nonconformist Society grew
out of these little meetings at Little Lever. The explanation is to
be found in the fact that the Nonconformists had places of worship
at Bolton, Cockey Moor, and Ringley, all within a radius of a few
miles. The Congregational Church here is quite modern.
Almost simultaneous with their efforts at Dixon Green, the
1 The house in which Oliver Heywood was born was standing until a few
years ago, when it was taken down to make room for an extension of Lever
House, the residence of Mr. Fletcher. The initials R. H., with the date
1660 Lthis could not be the date of its erection], Mr. Fletcher says, were
clearly marked on a very large stone over one of the windows. It is much to
to be regretted that no photograph was taken previous to its demolition.

150 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Market Street Congregationalists began operations at Little Lever.
In July, 1848, the Rev. John Barrett, who had been employed
by them in home missionary work, preached for the first
time at Little Lever. Previous to this, however, there had
been preaching at different times at Little Lever by the Revs.
Richard Slate, of Stand, John Anyon, of Pendlebury, and Joseph
Dyson, of Farnworth. An interesting account of Mr. Barrett's
first visit to Little Lever, from his own lips, is given in the
" Church Manual" for 1887-88, from which I copy as follows : —
It was a beautiful summer evening, and many of the colliers and others
were standing about the centre of the village. I went up to a tall, strong
collier and asked if he had ever heard any open-air preaching there. He
said, "Aye, ther hez bin, but theyn gettin' illused and wor glad to give
over." I said, ¦' I am going to preach here to-night ; there's nobody here
will hurt me." He said, '* I'm nobbut tellin' yo' this is a gradely roof
place." I said, " I have no fear of a disturbance." He said, " I'll tell yo'
wot aw'll do. Yonder's eawr heawse, an' if yo'U coom and ston at my dur
aw'll Ian yo' a cheear to ston on, an' aw'll kep onybody fro hurtin' yo' if aw
con." I thanked him, and went with him to his house. He said to hia
wife, "Here, Ian this chap a cheear. He's gooin' to talk to th' fooak." She
briskly enquired, " Wot's up, wot's up ? " I said, " I am going to hold an
open-air service here ; will you kindly lend me a chair to stand on ? "
" Wot sooart o' a sarvice is it gooin' to be ? " "I am going to preach a
gospel sermon to the people." " But will it be gospel ? If it does na agree
wi' that (pointing to a Bible) it'll ne'er do." " I am glad to hear you say
that, and I believe my sermon will agree with it." " Well, yo' sail hev th'
cheear fur onst, soo aw it is.'' Mr. Barrett mounted the chair, gave out a
a hymn, and preached from John i., 29, " Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world." The large audience was most orderly
and attentive throughout, and at the close of the service began to ask
among themselves, " Whoa is this little felly ? Whoa is this chap ? " This
gave the preacher an opportunity of explaining, and making an engagement
to come the following Monday evening. On returning the chair to the
woman Mr. Barrett learnt that her hesitancy in lending it arose from the
suspicion that he was a Chartist. " But neaw," she said, " yo' sail hev th'
cheear, or th' heawse, aither, ony neet i' th' week."
These open-air services eventually led to the taking of two
cottages over a stable near to the Unicorn Inn, one of which was
called " Th' Hommer an' th' Wedge," because rude emblems of
these tools were on a stone over the doorway. By removing the

^: '¦

Mi

WMt

152 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
middle wall sitting accommodation was provided for 150 people.
This was opened by a tea party on Christmas Day, 1848, and on
the following Sunday for worship. This place soon became too
small for the growing interest, and on the 28th of March, 1850.
the present chapel, which cost about ,£850, was opened by Dr.
Raffles, and in that same year the sum of £45 was granted from
the Funds of the Lancashire Congregational Union towards the
maintenance of the cause here. In March, 1856, Mr. Barrett
resigned for Sedgley, in Staffordshire, and afterwards laboured
also at Coleshill, in Warwickshire. He died on the 13th April,
1884, at the age of seventy-one years, having been a minister forty
years. The Rev. J. Firth, a Lancashire College student, succeeded
Mr. Barrett at Little Lever iu October, 1856. On the 15th of
January following a church was duly formed, under the presidency
of the Rev. W. R. Thorburn, M.A., of Bury, fourteen persons
pledging " themselves to be the Lord's," and " submit themselves
to one another in the bonds of Christian unity and love." At a
cost of about ,£500 a school was built during Mr. Firth's ministry.
He resigned on the 29th of January, 1858, and accepted a church
under the Colonial Missionary Society, in Newcastle, Australia.
The Rev. Elijah Pickford, from Worksop, began his labours at
Little Lever on September 25th, 1859, and left in 1871 for Pokes-
down, Hants, where he still exercises his ministry. In this year
the church ceased to be a recipient from the Union Funds.
He was succeeded the same year by the Rev. G. S. Ordish from
New College. During his ministry a new school was erected at a
cost of ,£1,600, the foundation stone of which was laid by Thomas
Barnes, Esq., of Farnworth, in the spring of 1873. Mr. Ordish
left in January, 1879, for Stockton-on-Tees, where he still labours.
The Rev. J. S. Kent, of the Circular Road Church, Douglas, was
his successor, entering upon duty as such in October, 1879. In
the beginning of 1882 a considerable number of persons seceded,
and began to hold meetings in the Co-operative Hall, where they
continued until July 26th, 1885, when they returned in a body to
their old home. In the previous April ill health had led Mr. Kent
to resign, and his pathetic death on February ist, 1886, at the
early age of thirty-eight years, while away from his family and
friends in Tasmania, whither he had gone in hope that rest and

THE REV. THOMAS HAMER. 153
change would defeat disease, will not soon be forgotten by his old
congregation at Little Lever. The present minister, the Rev.
Thomas Hamer, trained at Lancashire College, and formerly of
Cheetham Hill, entered upon duty here in the summer of 1886.
Recent alterations, which have cost over ^1,100, have given to
this chapel a very pleasing appearance, besides additional accom
modation for the worshippers. It will now seat about 400 people,
and all the premises are quite free from debt.

CHAPTER III.
BURY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
I.— DUNDEE CHAPEL, HOLCOMBE.
Nonconformity in this district is of considerable age, and its
history is deeply interesting. At the foot of the bold eminence
which forms a conspicuous object for many a mile is Holcombe
Episcopal Chapel. In a map of Lancashire, bearing date 1598,
it is marked " Howcoln Chapel," and, if tradition speaks truly, it
has associations other than pleasant. Dr. Halley says : " The
Chapel had originally been the prison in which the lords of the
manor in feudal times confined their unruly villeins and sturdy
vagrants. A comfortless jail, it was thought good enough for a
rural sanctuary. It was ten feet nine inches in height, and seated
two hundred and thirty-four persons on the floor and seventy-six
in the galleries. What sort of accommodation galleries afforded in
a building ten feet nine inches in height, people who are accus
tomed to the comforts of a modern chapel cannot easily under
stand."1 It is much more pleasant to think of Holcombe as the
birthplace of Nonconformity in this district, than where " unruly
villeins" were formerly imprisoned and executed. In 1650 the
Parliamentary Commissioners report " that there is noe Minister
nor Ministers for the psent at the said Chappels [Holcombe
and Edenfield] for want of mainteynce ; " 2 but shortly after
this, the Rev. Henry Pendlebury, M.A., was appointed to
Holcombe. This excellent man stands out as one of
the foremost Nonconformists of his time. He was born
at Jokin, in the parish of Bury, May 6th, 1626, and was
educated in part at Bury Grammar School, afterwards at Christ's
1 " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 177.
2 " Commonwealth Church Survey " (Record Society Series, vol. i.), p. 44

156 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
College, Cambridge, where he graduated Master of Arts, He
preached his first sermon on the 16th of August, 1648, at Ash-
worth Chapel, not far from his native place, where he continued for
some time as a probationer. After successfully passing an
examination before the Bury Classis, he was set apart to the work
of the ministry, " along with Mr. James Livesey, on the 3rd ot
October, 1650, at Turton Chapel, near Bolton. The ministers
who assisted on this occasion were John Tilsley, Dean Church ;
Thomas Pitts, Jonathan Schofield, Heywood Chapel ; Tobias
Furness, Bury ; and Robert Bath, Rochdale. He was observed
to make his ordination vows with great humility and seriousness." a
His first charge after ordination was Horwich Chapel, where he
remained only about twelve months. He was there in 1650, but
on the 16th day of October, 165 1, he removed to Holcombe.
From this place he was ejected in 1662. His farewell sermon,
previous to ejectment, was from Rev. iii., 11 — "Behold I come
quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that, no man take thy
crown." Mr. Slate thus writes of him : —
When banished from home, by the five mile act, he found an hospitable
retreat in the house of Mr. Tong, near Bolton, the father of the Rev.
William Tong, who wrote the life of Matthew Henry. As soon as the
ruling powers of the day consented to his exercising the natural and
unalienable right of man without molestation, Mr. P. did not forsake his
beloved friends at Holcome, but publicly administered God's ordinances to
them in that way his judgment and conscience approved. A temporary
place was now built in Bass Lane, in which he continued to exercise his
ministry as long as he lived. The people here enjoyed the benefit of his
labours, either publicly or privately, about 44 2 years.3
1 " Select Nonconformists' Remains," by the Rev. R. Slate, p. 335.
2 Mr. Pendlebury's career after his ejectment is uncertain. There are
several things which indicate that for some years he ministered unto the Non
conformists of Rochdale — principally one or two of his books, which describe
him as "late minister of the gospel in Rochdale." His son, William Pendle
bury, M.A., was for many years minister of Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, whose
daughter married John Houghton, Nonconformist minister of Piatt
Chapel, near Manchester, and whose son, William Pendlebury, M.A., after
holding for a number of years the pastorate of the Rotherham Noncon
formist congregation, conformed and became rector of Bury Thorpe Cum
Acklam, in the Wolds of Yorkshire.
3 " Select Nonconformists' Remains," p. 337.

BASS LANE MEETING HOUSE. 157
He died saying, " Father, come, and take me home to Thyself."
This was on the 1 8th of June, 1695, about eight o'clock in the
morning, when he was in his seventieth year, and was interred in
Bury Church yard on the 20th, a great multitude of people attend
ing his funeral and making "great lamentation over him." The
Rev. Robert Seddon, of Bolton, preached the funeral sermon in
Mr. Pendlebury's Chapel from Dan. xii., 13. The Rev. W. R.
Thorburn, M.A., in his valedictory discourse to his congregation
at Bury 1 refers to a note in the Manchester Guardian upon Mr.
Pendlebury, and makes the following interesting statement : —
The writer [in the Manchester Guardian} says he was buried on the south
side of the Bury Parish Church. That is true. I have stood on his grave,
remembered his character, and prayed God that many like him might be
raised up to preach the gospel in this neighbourhood. And it is also true
that the grave has been desecrated on the occasion of the building of the New
Parish Church. I find no fault with the ecclesiastical authorities, but I grieved
in my heart to see it. I spoke to some, and they said it was of no use.
Henry Pendlebury's bones, about 170 years after burial, were removed from
the place where they lay so long, and cast into a common receptacle.
Mr. Pendlebury was the author of several theological treatises,
some of which are scarce. His widow survived him about
eighteen years.
In the "Northowram Register" is the following entry respecting
her death : —
" Widw Pendlebury, near Turton in Lancr., mother to Mr. P.
of Leeds, died Nov. 18 [1713]."2
It has already been stated that after Mr. Pendlebury was ejected
from Holcombe Chapel he preached at Bass Lane. About midway
between Bury and Ramsbottom, a little to the right of Walmersley
Road, is still standing a building manifestly belonging to the
17th century. It is whitewashed, has mullioned windows, looks
altogether venerable, and contrasts strikingly with the handsome
structure recently erected by its side. It is used partly as a
1 Published by Mr. John Heap, of Bury, in 1874.
2 P. 262.

158 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
dwelling-house and partly as a shippon. This is Bass House, and
tradition identifies it with the spot where Henry Pendlebury
worshipped for so many years after his ejection. It lies in a straight
line from Holcombe Chapel, being about a mile and a half distant,
on the other side of the Irwell. Many a pilgrimage is made to
this shrine of early Lancashire Nonconformity; whether, however,
this be the actual structure in which Pendlebury worshipped is not
free from doubt. In the extract given from Slate's " Noncon
formists' Remains" it is said that "a temporary place was now built
in Bass Lane in which he continued to exercise his ministry as long
as he lived." Tn a document still extant of very considerable age,
Bass Lane Chapel is described as "gone to ruin and decay." It is
quite possible that the old chapel was restored, that the "temporary
structure " became permanent, and is to be seen in the antique
building just described, but it is also possible that Pendlebury's
Chapel has passed for ever away. In the absence of documentary
evidence the only certain thing is that, either here or close by, the
Nonconformists of these parts erected the first building in which
they worshipped God after their own way in spite of iniquitous laws
and intolerant bigots who sought to prevent them.
Mr. Pendlebury's successor was the Rev. Edward Rothwell.
He was trained by the Rev. R. Frankland, at Rathmell, where he
was ordained on the 7th of June, 1693. At that time it is probable
he was minister at Bispham, near Blackpool. He next laboured
at Tunley, near Wigan, where he educated several young men for
the ministry, among them being the Rev. John Pilkington, many
yea-s minister at Walton and Preston. He removed to Holcombe
about 1699. He appears to have been a person of property, and
so gave land for a new chapel to supersede the one at Bass Lane.
Holcombe Chapel, or Dundee, as it came to be called, was not
more than a stone's throw from Holcombe Episcopal Chapel,
whence Mr. Pendlebury had been ejected. It was " built and
a burial ground laid out in 1712." The opening service took
place on Tuesday, August 5th, 17 12, when the preachers were the
Revs. E. Rothwell and J. Gillibrand. From an old manuscript
still in existence the following is extracted, which shows what an
influential congregation gathered within this humble meeting place
at the beginning of last century : —

THE REV. E. ROTHWELL.

'59

December 16, 1717. On a survey of his congregation by Mr. Rothwell it
appeared that there were in it 120 heads of families, 23 of whom had votes
in the election of M.P., and the congregation consisted of about 570 persons,
The freeholders were Samuel Waring, Robert Waring, Richard Kay, Robert
Kay, John Kay, James Kay (Goosford), James Kay (Bass Lane), James
Hardman, Robert Hardman, William Kay (Dutch Road), James Holt (Spout
Bank), Edward Hamer (Summerseat), John Wild, John Hill, Edward Hamer
(Buckden), Richard Rothwell, James Rothwell.
To this may be subjoined an interesting passage from the Trust
Deed bearing date 1722, which described the purposes of the
trust as —
Towards the supporting or maintaining of an able Protestant Minister of
the Gospel, and particularly Edward Rothwell, clerk, or his successors for
the time being, who shall preach the Word of God purely, and administer
the sacraments of the New Testament sincerely, being of the Presbyterian
persuasion, officiating at the new chapel, oratory, or meeting place lately
built and erected in Nuttall Lane, Holcome, by the congregation convening
there, and who shall be sound in the faith, of a sober and Christian con
versation, professing so many of the doctrinal articles of the Church of
England as are required to be subscribed by the Act of indulgence or
toleration. Many of Mr. Rothwell's worshippers were from Bury, where as
yet there was no Nonconformist place of worship. To accommo
date these, therefore, during his ministry in 1719, the Bury Chapel
— now represented by Bank Street Chapel — was erected. The
Bury and Holcombe Chapels were worked conjointly for a time,
and Mr. Rothwell took as an assistant the Rev. Thomas Braddock,
whom he had educated for the ministry. Mr. Rothwell's death and
interment in 1731 are thus noted in the "Northowram Register": —
"Mr. Edward Rothwell preached at Bury, Jan. 31, died Febr. 8 of
a suppression of urine, bur. in his own chapel in Holcomb,
Feb. 10." J
At Holcombe, as well as Tunley, Mr. Rothwell appears to have
engaged in tutorial work. The following is a copy of an interest
ing testimonial from him presented at the ordination of Mr.
Edward Thornton at Tintwistle, in May, 17 18 : —
1 P. 308.

160 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
This may certify all whom it concerns that Edward Thornton has spent
some time in my family and under my direction and tuition ; in which time
he has gone through a course of philosophy, made a very considerable pro
gress in theology, followed his studies with a commendable assiduity and
and diligence, redeemed his time and behaved himself soberly, regularly,
piously, and as becomes the gospel. Holcom, February 23rd, 1715.1
After Mr. Rothwell's death Mr. Braddock confined his ministra
tions principally to the Bury congregation, and for a time Hol
combe had only an "occasional supply."
The history of Dundee Chapel after Mr. Rothwell's death is ex
ceedingly doubtful and imperfect. Not much is known of the
ministers who followed. I regret that I can do little more than give
a list of names. A Mr. Griffiths succeeded Mr. Rothwell, of whom
nothing is known. There was a Rev. Peter Griffiths trained by
Mr. Frankland, at Rathmell, but whether the same person or not
I do not know. A Mr. Turner followed who must also be dis
missed as an unknown one, and then came the Rev. Peter
Walkden in 1738, from Hesketh Lane.
In 1744 he left Holcombe to become minister of the Old
Tabernacle, Stockport, where he remained until his death, which
took place on Sunday, November 5th, 1769.2
The following is a list of the ministers 3 who filled the pulpit
here after Mr. Walkden, until near the end of last century. It
has already been stated that little or nothing is known of them,
and it is not even certain that they followed in the order given.
The names are: Messrs. Halliday, Aspinall, Valentine, Taylor,
Entwistle, Grindrod, Simpson, Main, Holmes. A few notes are
given, chiefly of a conjectural character, respecting some of them.
Aspinall was probably the person of that name who was minister
at Walmsley and afterwards at Risley, near Warrington. Valentine :
There was a Joseph Valentine at Wharton, near Bolton, in the
middle of last century; and Thomas Valentine at Blackley, near
Manchester, about the same time. Taylor: This was the Rev
1,1 Nonconformity in Cheshire'" (Urwick), p. 357.
2 The reader is referred to volume ii. of "Lancashire Nonconformity,"
where a full account of Mr. Walkden is given.
3 I am indebted mainly to the Rev. W. H. Elliott for this list of names,
and indeed for much of the information which appears in this sketch.

A SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS. 161
Henry Taylor, who began ministerial work amongst the Methodists.
and whose "youth, appearance, engaging manner, and extraordinary
talents rendered him very popular everywhere, especially so in the
neighbourhood of Bacup." Here he renounced Arminianism and
embraced Calvinism, "professed himself for some time to be
an Independent, and served the congregation in Holcombe Lane."
Eventually, however, he renounced sprinkling, and joined the
Baptists, labouring successively at Crawshawbooth, Chester, and
Cannon Street, Birmingham.1 Entwistle : In the Congregational
Magazine for 1823 s is the following note respecting the Rev.
Mr. Entwistle, who succeeded the Rev. Thomas Hall at Ilkeston,
Derbyshire, and who, I imagine, was the parson who some time
laboured at Holcombe.
He [Mr. Hall] was succeeded on the 4th of June, 17S8, by the Rev. W.
Entwistle, a man of popular talents, under whose ministry, during the former
part of it, the congregation increased much ; a gallery was erected in the
meeting-house at Ilkeston, and the old meeting-house at M :>or Green was taken
down, and an excellent one built of larger dimensions, with three galleries.
Mr. Entwistle, in connection with several Independent ministers, preached
at Balper and Mansfield. In particular he preached in the playhouse at the
former place, and was the first person who did so ; but his conduct not
proving afterwards to be, in the estimation of his people, consistent with the
obligations of his ministerial character, he was deserted by the greater part
of them, and removed out of the neighbourhood.
Grindrod was at Holcombe about 1782. Probably the person
who kept a school at Manchester for many years, and ministered at
Partington, in Cheshire. The information respecting the next of
the Holcombe ministers, the Rev. David Simpson, is more certain.
He was educated at St. Andrews and Edinburgh Universities,
and was minister at Eastwood, in Yorkshire, in 1779. He was
supposed to be an Arian, and after much agitation it is said he
was "compelled to retire."3 He removed to Holcombe about
1783. He remained only three or four years, and went to Low
1 A long and interesting sketch of this extraordinary man is given in
"The Life of the Rev. John Hirst, of Bacup," from which the above extracts
are taken ; p. 134.
2 P. S58.
3 " Congregationalism in Yorkshire" (Miall), p. 257.
3— 11

162 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Row, in Yorkshire. He died March 22nd, 1808, at the age of
sixty-nine years. The Rev. William Main, or Maine, followed
about 1786, being a second minister from Eastwood. He remained
until 1795. There was a Mr. Main at Preston (Cannon Street)
about this time, who was probably the same. To Mr. Elliott's list
must be added another name, that of the Rev. Thomas Horrox.
He was a native of Chowbent, and was educated at the Warring
ton Academy, being there in 1768. He was at Holcombe
for a short time, and afterwards went to the Isle of Man. He
returned soon, and died young.1 The Rev. Benjamin Holmes
came to Holcombe somewhere about 1796. At this time
the chapel is said to be in " a ruinous condition," and only a
" small handful of people " assembled there. His " activity and
diligence," however, were " very acceptable and successful," and
the resuit was the erection of Park Chapel, Ramsbottom, in 1798,
to which Mr. Holmes and most of his people went. The history
of this place will be given subsequently, and a fuller notice of
Mr. Holmes will come more appropriately there.2 In addition to
the names already given, Booker, in his " History of Blackley
Chapel," says : —
" For the next two years (1755-1757) the resident minister [at
Blackley] was the Rev. John Helme, of Holcomb."
On what authority this statement is made I do not know. A
minister of this name was at Walmsley about that time.
According to a brief Historic Sketch written by the Rev. J.
Kerr Craig, formerly minister of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church, Ramsbottom, after the departure of Mr. Holmes and his
people for Park Chapel, " an effort was made to appropriate the
Dundee property to the benefit of the Park [Chapel], but a lawsuit
prevented this, and saved the ancient place from being altogether
extinguished." 4 I do not dispute this, but the contest does not
seem to have been of long duration, and whatever feeling may
have been aroused evidently soon subsided ; for shortly after and
1 "Monthly Repository" for 1814, p. 387.
2 Vide p. 167.
3 P. 97.
4 " History of Bury" (Barton), p. 218.

THE REV. PETER RAMSAY. 163
during several years Dundee and Park appear as two Independent
Churches working by each other's side for the good of the people
around. Even Mr. Craig in the very next sentence says : —
"About the beginning of the present century Dundee Chapel
was supplied with students from Manchester."
This was Mr. Roby's Academy, the recognised institution in
Lancashire at the time for the training of Congregational ministers.
College authorities and County Union officials are usually some
what chary about taking sides in a quarrel between two churches,
and the fact that Dundee was thus supplied would seem to indi
cate that between the two there was no very unfriendly feeling.1
Be this, however, as it may, Dundee was continued on the old
lines after Mr. Holmes was gone and Mr. Hacking became
minister, of whom I have no reliable information. The Rev.
Peter Ramsay comes next. He was born in the parish of
Strathmartine, near Dundee, Scotland, on the 27th of December,
1772, receiving his ministerial training in part from the Rev. Wm.
Innes, Congregational minister, Dundee, Scotland, but even
tually he " removed to Manchester to have the advantages of a
theological training under the Rev. W. Roby." On the completion
of his college course he settled at Dundee Chapel, near Rams
bottom, about 1807 or 1808. It is interesting to note that in the
second Report of the Lancashire Congregational Union, January,
1808, to January, 1809, Holcombe, with Mr. Ramsay as minister,
contributes to the Union Funds £2 12s. 6d. ; and Park, with Mr.
Holmes, £1 5s. In the next Report Dundee, with Mr. Ramsay,
contributes £2 15s. 6d. ; and Park is not named. For two or
three years afterwards Dundee sent £2 2s. annually to the Union
Funds. It was in Mr. Ramsay's days, says Mr. Craig, the " Messrs.
1 The author has no wish to excite controversy, but in view of the fact that
Mr. Craig labours hard in the sketch above named to prove the Presbyterian
character of this old foundation, it is necessary to state that the effort is
vain. If the historic facts are allowed to tell their own tale the Congrega
tional character of Dundee, as in the case of so many other places, can
hardly be questioned.

164

LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.

Grant first arrived on our eastern hills and beheld the rich valley
of the Irwell." Driven by misfortune and ruin from their home
in Scotland, it is said, they sat down "tired, weary, and travel
worn," on the hill now adorned by their monument, and ate their
" last remaining morsel of bread and cheese."1 The story often
told of their singular rise to fortune does not come within the
scope of this history. They appear to have associated themselves

SUMMERSEAT.

with the little historic Dissenting Chapel at Holcombe. Having
given offence to them by his preaching, about 181 1, Mr. Ramsay
was ejected by them from Dundee, and he went to Holcombe
Brook, which he made a centre for itinerating purposes. In
the Union Report of January, 1814, is a somewhat lengthy but
most interesting communication from him respecting his labours
which I here transcribe slightly abbreviated.
1 "History of Bury" (Barton), p. 209.

CHURCH DISSOLUTION. 165
At Summerseat the preaching has been continued on Sabbath evenings
once a month. The attendance is as good as usual. At Broadmans also
preaching is continued once a month on Sabbath evenings. At Affitside there
is preaching generally once a fortnight. There the congregation continues
good, the people very attentive. At Four Lane Ends there has been preach
ing once a fortnight, except in the depth of Winter. There the congregation
is as numerous as ever; and the Sunday School is still continued. At
Holcomebrook, where we statedly meet for public worship, the congregation,
on account of deaths, removals, &c, is more slender than formerly; they are,
however, much united, and very zealous for the cause. They have been much
inclined to erect a small Chapel, supposed to cost /500, of which ^300 could
he raised among themselves, and in the immediate neighbourhood. But it
is doubtful whether they could support an Itinerant if we had a Chapel ; and
it is equally doubtful whether the Union can continue to afford any assistance;
on this account we have judged it expedient to abandon the design for the
present. For his work at this station Mr. Ramsay received from the
Union the sum of £10. Unless his people contributed very
liberally, he was not burdened with much "filthy lucre." In 1814
he was " greatly perplexed to know what way he should take, for
he felt keenly for the poor people of his charge ; and yet the church
at Tintwistle, Cheshire, gave him a unanimous invitation to the
pastorate among them. The church at Bethel Chapel, Bury,
wished him to settle amongst them also ; and the church of
Haslingden sought his instruction and care."1 He made choice of
Haslingden, and began his ministerial duties there on the 29th of
May, 1814. In a letter to the Union from Haslingden, bearing
date January, 18th, 1815, he states that "he has discontinued his
stated labours at Holcomebrook. His connection with the people
at the latter place is dissolved ; and they no longer continue in a
church state; it having been ascertained that they were unable to
support a minister, or to obtain supplies, they came to this resolu
tion. Several of them have joined different churches in the
neighbourhood ; some have attached themselves to the church at
Edgworth Moor under the ministry of Mr. Winder; a few of them
are disposed to join the church at Haslingden; others chiefly
attend at Park." Mr. Ramsay continued to labour at Haslingden
1 " Congregational Year Book " for 1S55, p. 230.

1 66 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
for thirty-two years, closing a most useful ministry in July, 1846.
He was then in a feeble condition, but lived eight years
longer, his death taking place on Sunday, July 2nd, 1854, at the
age of eighty-two years.1 Mr. Craig, in his sketch, scarcely does Mr.
Ramsay justice, and his statement is wanting in accuracy. "We
draw a veil," says he, " over the remainder of Mr. Ramsay's history
in Ramsbottom, and merely add that he afterwards became
minister of a congregation at Haslingden. He was in Ramsbottom
only two or three years." He was in Ramsbottom some six or
seven years, and his long and honourable ministry at Haslingden
suggests that there was nothing about his history which needed to
be "veiled."
The next minister was the Rev. Thomas Nelson, of Auchter-
gavan Parish, Scotland, who arrived about 181 3. He remained
some three years, but was not ordained. With Mr. Ramsay's
ejection Dundee Chapel drops out of the Union Reports, ceases
to be Independent, and becomes Presbyterian in the modern sense
of the word. Mr. Craig says : —
Through the influence of Dr. Jack, of Manchester, the following preachers
were sent down by the Associate Synod of Scotland during 1817: Rev.
Andrew Scott, of Cambusnethan ; Mr. John Robb, Rev. William Proud-
foot, Messrs. William Nicholl, William Fraser, and George Brown. Mr.
Brown arrived in the month of June, 1818. On the 27th of August he was
ordained. The Rev. George Lawson, of Bolton, preached, and the Rev. Dr.
Jack, of Manchester, gave an account of the Presbytery's proceedings in
reference to the ordination ; he also received the confession of Mr. Brown's
faith, and offered up the ordination prayer. The Rev. Dr. Stewart, of
Liverpool, concluded with a charge to the minister and a short address to
the people. On the 17th of January, 1819, Messrs. Abram Hamer and
William Grant were ordained as elders in connection with the congregation.
In 1829 Mr. (Dr.) Brown resigned, and was succeeded in the
same year by Dr. McLean. The growing necessities of the church
during Dr. McLean's pastorate led to the erection, in 1832, of
St. Andrew's Church, by Mr. Wm. Grant. This building stands
near the top of the hill as one enters Ramsbottom from Holcombe.
In 1869 Dr. McLean received from Mr. Wm. Grant, nephew of
1 The reader is referred to "Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. ii. for
some humorous stories relating to Mr. Ramsay.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 167
the founder, a month's notice to quit the pastorate of St. Andrew's,
being promised a retiring pension of £200 per annum. On the
22nd of October, 1869, Dr. McLean died, and at his own request
was interred in the graveyard of Dundee Chapel. A handsome
monument adorns his resting-place, upon which is the following
inscription : — ANDREW McLEAN, D.D.,
Born January 1, 1799; Died October 22, 1869.
On the 29th of September, 1869, St. Andrew's was closed by
Mr. Grant's orders. It was opened in 1871 as an Episcopal
Church. During Dr. McLean's ministry Dundee Chapel was
used as a Sunday School, but on being ejected from St. Andrew's
the Presbyterians used it again for public worship. The Rev. J.
Kerr Craig, writer of the sketch several times quoted from, was
called, and commenced his ministry at Dundee in 187 1. In
1872-73 the present St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was erected.
In 1872 Mr. Craig removed, and in the following year the present
minister, the Rev. W. Hume Elliot, entered upon duty. Dundee
Chapel still exists, though a glance will show that it is not the
original one — the one built by Mr. Rothwell. The way to it is up
a long, narrow, and somewhat dark lane. The surroundings are
charming, but it is not exactly the place where one would think of
putting a chapel nowadays. It is a small oblong, stone building,
having its entrance looking up the hill towards Holcombe Church.
At the other end is a house formerly used by the minister. Over
the doorway is a gallery, and at the other end of the chapel is the
pulpit. It lies upon the site of the old Dundee Chapel, but was
rebuilt about 18 10. Until a few years ago it was used as a
Sunday School in connection wth St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church — now it is used for Day School purposes. There are in
it some seventy or eighty scholars.

II.— PARK CHAPEL, RAMSBOTTOM.
The origin of this church was noted in the previous sketch.
The Rev. Benjamin Holmes and a good part of his congregation
transferred their efforts from Dundee Chapel to Walmersley Road,

1 68 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
on the other side of the valley, and in 1798 Park Chapel was
erected there. An interesting account of the opening services has
been preserved in the Evangelical Magazine for that year, which
is here subjoined : —
On Sunday, July ist [1798], a very neat place of worship, called Park
Chapel, about four miles on the road from Bury to Blackburn, was opened
for religious uses. In the morning, Mr. Blackburn, of Delph, began the
service with prayer and reading suitable portions of scripture, and Mr. Roby,
of Manchester, preached from Matthew xviii., 20, " When two or three are met
together, &c." In the afternoon, Mr. Roby preached from Job xxv., 4, and
Mr. Blackburn from 1 Cor. iii., 11. Before the erection of this building a
small handful of people had assembled at Holcome Chapel, about a mile and
a half distant from the present. The chapel was in a ruinous condition, and,
what was worse, the gospel was either not faithfully preached in it, or but
little blest, till it pleased God, a year or two ago, to send Mr. Holmes
among them ; his activity and diligence has been very acceptable and
successful. In consequence of this, some respectable Dissenters in the
neighbourhood proposed to unite with the old congregation, and by their
liberality and influence, principally, the present commodious chapel is
erected in the centre of a populous neighbourhood, destitute of any other
place of worship. In the morning of the day on which it was opened, the
chapel was much crowded, and in the afternoon one-half of the congregation
could not press in. The Service was therefore conducted with much
seriousness and decorum in the open air. l
It is somewhat amusing to speak of Park Chapel being in the
centre of a "populous neighbourhood"; but people did not think
so much about having a few miles to go to service then as they
do now. As a religious centre for the little villages distant some
two or three miles in 1798 it would be considered admirably
situated. Mr. Holmes continued to labour here until May 6th,
1810, when he preached for the last time. According to the
Park Church Book he " was removed." Mr. Holmes next took
charge of a congregation at Partington in Cheshire, which met in a
room fitted up as a place of worship by the late Robert Spear, Esq.
Whilst at this place he divided his labours between Lancashire and
Cheshire. In the former county he preached at Irlam, Flixton,
Rixon, and Bury Lane ; in the latter at Lymm, Woodhouses,
Warburton, Carrington, and Partington, besides Mill Bank, where
1 P. 338.

mmMjMmt^

WAEBURTON CHURCH.

1 70 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Mr. Spear's room was situated. He received from the Union
Funds for his work here £,io per annum. In the Report, dated
January, 1813, is the following item: — "For Mr. Holmes'
expenses to Poulton as a supply ^3 3s." Whether he was on a
candidating errand or not I cannot say, but he was never settled
at Poulton. In 1815 the congregation at the Partington Old
Meeting House had become very reduced, and Mr. Holmes,
having completed his engagement with Mr. Spear, was invited to
that place. After ministering there a few years, he " was com
pelled to seek another situation," because of the poverty of the
congregation and their consequent inability to support him. The
Park Church Book says that after his removal " the cause of Christ
at Park was called upon to experience some peculiar trials, and
remained without the regular administration of the more particular
ordinances of a Christian Church until the year 1816." In that
year, on the 10th of July, the Rev. George Partington, who had
previously laboured at Colne and Burnley, commenced his ministry
here, and on the 5th of November following, "five persons again
united in church fellowship." He remained until 1826, when he
became pastor of the Congregational Church at Glossop, Derby
shire, where he terminated his life and labours on the 20th of
February, 1838. He is described as "a laborious and useful
minister of Christ's Gospel." His successor at Park Chapel was the
Rev. John Williams, from Leigh, who entered upon duty on the
17th of February, 1828. In the Park Church Book is the following
entry: — "At a church meeting held November 3rd, 1830, the
the Rev. John Williams resigned his charge, and on Sunday the
6th, preached his farewell sermon."
The Rev. Benjamin Nightingale, from Wymondhouses, near
Clitheroe, comes next, beginning his labours on Sunday, May 19th,
1832. Trouble arising in the church brought about his resigna
tion after about three years, and he started a new interest in Bank
Lane, where a chapel was built. A copy of the circular appealing
for help, which he issued, will be read with interest. It is headed
"Chapel Case," and proceeds as follows : —
The Independent Congregation meeting for the worship of God at Bank
Lane, Walmersley, near Bury, Lancashire, has long felt the great incon-

BANK LANE CHAPEL. 171
venience of their present place of worship being very small, in a dilapidated
state, and in a bad situation ; in the summer it is so extremely heated as to
endanger the health of the people, and in the winter it is excessively cold.
The congregation has increased, the Sunday School has between two and
three hundred children, and there is every reason to believe that their
numbers would be greatly augmented if there were sufficient room, there
being no other place of worship nor Sunday School in the village, and the
inhabitants in the last four years having more than doubled, in consequence
of the erection of a number of cotton mills in the neighbourhood.
The village is in an awful state of ignorance, intemperance, and Sabbath-
breaking. This has led the friends at Bank Lane, with their minister, and with the
advice and approbation of many ministers and friends of various denomina
tions, to make an effort to raise a very plain building, to be appropriated for
four different purposes : —
ist. A place where the word of God will be preached every Sabbath :
2nd. A Sunday School :
3rd. A place to be always open for Temperance Meetings :
4th. The Vestry to be used as a Day School.
It is hoped that this fourfold plan will, under the blessing of God, be the
means of great good in this very dissipated village. The estimated expense
of the intended building is ^300, towards which the friends in the neighbour
hood, though extremely poor, have raised /60 ; this has induced the friends
at Bank Lane to lay their important case before the religious public, not
doubting but it will excite the sympathy and generosity of those who long to
see the Kingdom of Christ promoted. Many ministers and respectable
friends of different denominations have already sanctioned the case, and
contributed to promote it.
Rev. Mr. Bull, Bradford ;
Rev. Mr. Morgan, Bradford ;
Rev. Richard Nightingale, Tadmarden ;
Rev. Mr. Furness, Preston ;
Rev. Mr. Dunning, Preston ;
Rev. Cruesden, Manchester ;
Rev. James Sherman, London ;
Jacob Bright, Esq., Rochdale ;
W. Wilson, Esq., Bradford ;
— Germain, Esq., Mayor of Preston ;
Joseph Livesey, Esq., Preston ;
John Cropper, Esq., Liverpool ;
Charles Carus Wilson, Esq., Barmouth ;
Mr. Darbyshire, Mayor of Bolton ;
Mr. Henry Ashworth, Magistrate, near Bolton ;
John Ashworth, Esq., near Bolton ;

172 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
John Rothwell, Esq , Bolton ;
Rev. John Angsll James, Birmingham ;
Robert Heywood, Esq,, Manchester;
Thomas Atkins, Esq., Chadderton ;
John Grant, Esq., Nuttall Hall ;
Daniel Grant, Esq., Manchester ;
Mr. William Grant, jun., Nuttal;
Mr. Heward, Nuttal ;
Mr. Wild, Nuttal.
A journey to London for the purpose of collecting funds for the
building led to his being attacked with English cholera, from
which he mver completely rallied. His death took place on
the nth of April, 1847, at the age of sixty-three years. He is
said to have been a racy, homely speaker, and an enthusiastic
advocate of Temperance in days when it was not very popular.
He had a considerable family, and some of his children are
still living in the neighbourhood of Ramsbottom. Bank Lane
Chapel had no minister after Mr. Nightingale. It is a little
distance from Park Chapel, stands on an elevation to the right
of the road leading to Whalley, and is a good-looking building.
It has been converted into four cottages, upon one of which
may be read " Police Station."
" The ministrations of the gospel were suspended for a
short time" at Park Chapel after Mr. Nightingale's removal.
Eventually, however, the building was reopened and supplied
by various ministers and lay friends. According to the Union
Report for 1838, Park Chapel, being in a low state, received
a grant to enable the friends there to procure and support
a minister amongst them. On the 2nd of March, 1840,
the church was re-formed by the Revs. J. Kennedy and J.
Sunderland, both of Bury. After a "suitable address" the
Lord's Supper was administered. The church consisted of the
following six persons : — Thomas Comstive, Mary Comstive, Joseph
Porritt, James Porritt, Samuel Porritt, and Ann Porritt. A pastor
was found in the Rev. Edwin Robinson, who is described as an
" itinerant preacher," from Lydiate, in the neighbourhood of
Ormskirk. His letter accepting the invitation to Park Chapel is
dated May 19th, 1841. In the Church Book he writes : —

LAST THLNGS. i73
On Lord's Day, June 2oth, 1841, I entered upon my new duties as pastor
of the Church and minister to the congregation assembling in Park Chapel,
by preaching in the morning from 2 C;r., v. 20, " We are ambassadors for
Christ ;" and in the afternoon from Ps. cxviii., 25, " O Lord, I beseech Thee
send now prosperity."
At the Church Meeting, August 27th, 1841, Mr. Comstive and
Mr. Joseph Porritt were elected deacons. Mr. Robinson's ordina
tion took place on June 15th, 1842. The Rev. J. Kennedy,
Bury, read and offered prayer ; Dr. Halley, Manchester, delivered
the introductory discourse ; Dr. Clunie proposed the questions and
received the confession of faith ; Rev. G. B. Kidd, Macclesfield,
gave the charge to the minister ; Rev. J. Deakin, Stand, offered
the ordination prayer. In the evening the services were continued,
when the Revs. W. Roseman, J. W. Massie, of Salford, J.
Kennedy, C. Whitworth, J. Winder, and Henry Lings took part in
the service. Mr. Robinson preached his farewell sermon at Park
on Sunday afternoon, December 29th, 1844, from Rev. xxii., 21.
He seems to have had a great liking for " last things." He
preached his last sermon at Park Chapel on the last Sunday of the
year, from the last verse in the Bible ; and I imagine this was his
last charge in England. At any rate his name no longer appears
amongst the Congregational ministers of England. The Rev. John
Anyon, from Pendlebury, near Manchester, followed Mr. Robinson,
accepting the call to the church, November 9th, 1845. It
stipulated that Mr. Anyon had " to preach twice on the Sabbath
in the chapel and once at some out station ; to preside and give
an address at one or two week night meetings which may hereafter
be established, and pay some attention to pastoral visiting. The
church promises to reward the minister for his labours with not
less than one hundred pounds per annum, and also to build him a
suitable house in connection with the chapel." Mr. Anyon began
his duties on January 4th, 1846. His is by far the longest
pastorate the church has known, and gradually the church gathered
strength and numbers during that period. On July 27th, 1862, a
Church Meeting was held, when nine members were dismissed to
form a church at Stubbins. Mr. Anyon continued to labour at
Park Chapel until Sunday, Oct. 7th, 1867, when he preached his
last sermon and administered the Lord's Supper. He had for

i74 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
some time been unwell, and gradually grew worse until November
7th, 1867, when he died. In the Church Book is the following
touching entry : —
On Thursday, November 7th, our esteemed pastor entered his rest, aged
72 years, having presided over this church and congregation with
uninterrupted peace and harmony for 22 years. His record is on high.
On the following Monday his remains were interred in the
chapel graveyard, when the Revs. Wm. Roseman, of Bury, and
George Berry, of Darwen, conducted the service. On Sunday,
December 24th, the Rev. Joseph Fox, of Manchester, preached
his funeral sermon from John xiv., 2. Portraits of this good man
are treasured by the Park Chapel friends, and his name will
long be remembered. His tombstone, besides recording his own
death, states that his wife, Sarah Anyon, died February ist, 1862,
aged sixty-five years. It was during Mr. Anyon's ministry that the
new Sunday School was erected. This really handsome building,
whose long side stands in line with the road, is a few yards further
from the chapel than the building it has superseded. Not over the
entrance, as is common, but in the side facing the road, where
every passer-by can see it, is a stone upon which is inscribed the
following : — ¦ Park Independent Sabbath School,
1798.
Rebuilt, 1866.
The cost was estimated at £1,600, and the architect was Mr.
James Maxwell, of Bury. The Rev. R. C. Luinsden, F. R.A.S.,
was chosen to succeed Mr. Anyon, in 1868, commencing his
duties on the 5th of April. He received his training at Edinburgh,
entered the ministry in 1854, and had laboured previously at Sheffield
(Howard Street) and Cheadle, whence he came to Ramsbottom.
In August, 1872, Mr. Lumsden resigned his charge at Park Chapel
and removed to Maidenhead. No successor was chosen until
November, 1873, when the Rev. John Robinson, of Tockholes,
accepted a call to the pastorate. He commenced his labours here
on the 4th of January, 1874. It is said that Mr. Anyon on his
death bed named Mr. Robinson to some of his people as the most

BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION. 175
suitable person to succeed him. Considerations of health com
pelled him to bring to a close his ministry at Park Chapel, which
had been both useful and happy. He resigned in May, 1880, and
removed to Elswick, near Blackpool. He is now resident with
out charge at Wesham, near Kirkham. The Rev. Henry Banks
succeeded Mr. Robinson on January 9th, 1881. He resigned in
September, 1890, and is now resident at Manchester without
charge. The present minister, the Rev. W. Gibson, from
Brampton, in Cumberland, whose ministerial training was received
at Rotherham, began his labours here on the second Sunday in
August, 1891.
Park School and Chapel stand on a gentle eminence to the
right of Walmersley Road, about three miles and a half from
Bury. They are indeed at the foot of the hill upon which Grant's
Tower stands. Between the two buildings is the large graveyard,
in which are many tombstones — -some quite imposing. The
chapel is a large oblong building, having in its long side, which
faces the school, two entrances. To the left, but joined to it, is a
small building used as a minister's vestry, but really built for a
mortuary. It is separately insured, and is manifestly of much
more recent date than the chapel itself. Beneath its floor is a
large vault. Upon the west gable of the chapel is a bell tower,
whose occupant in truly orthodox style calls the worshippers
together on the Sabbath Day. In the long side of the chapel are
two sets of windows, four each, containing the old fashioned
small panes. Two aisles from the doorways lead up to the pulpit,
which is on the north side. Below is the communion pew, on the
right the organ, and in front the gallery, which is divided into
three parts. The pews are long, deep, and straight-backed.
Behind the chapel are a few trees, where in summer the birds
collect and sing charmingly. One minister who occasionally
occupies the pulpit of Park Chapel says he cannot preach for
listening to the sweet music of this aerial choir. At certain angles,
when the sun throws its beams through the trees into the chapel,
the effect is charming, and one may well believe that it will be no
easy thing for the minister to compete with Nature. There are
several tablets in the chapel. One recently erected to Joseph
Porritt contains the following inscription : —

176 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
In memory of
JOSEPH PORRITT,
Of Irwell Mount, Walmersley.
For 35 years he was a deacon of the church meeting in this place ;
Meek in spirit, generous in disposition, and holy in life.
He enjoyed the confidence and friendship of all connected with him, and
found his greatest happiness in showing kindness to others.
His death on the 13th day of June, 1S6S, in his 60th year, was in keeping
with the life he had lived.
" The memory of the just is blessed." Prov. x. c. 7 v.
Also of
SARAH,
His wife,
Who died August 18th, 1873,
Aged 65 years.
Mr. Porritt and Mr. Comstive were the first deacons of the
church, being chosen August 27th, 1841, shortly after its re-forma
tion. The figures on the tablet — 35 years — are not quite accurate
unless he held office previous to this and before the church's disso
lution about 1835. Members of this family are to be found at
Stubbins, at Bamford, and St. Annes, near Blackpool, to whose
generosity the churches in those places are greatly indebted. Mr.
Anyon's tablet also is to the left of the pulpit ; and there are
other tablets to the memory of the Kays. A separate article, of
considerable length and interest, might easily be written about the
Kay family, unto whom Lancashire is indebted in many respects.
They form a large element in the twenty-three freeholders of Mr.
Rothwell's congregation in 1717.1 For generations they have
been residents at Bass Lane, and so probably had to do with
the erection of Henry Pendlebury's Chapel there. It was largely
due to their influence that Congregationalism found a home
at Bamford and Heywood ; they are to be reckoned amongst the
founders of Park Chapel ; and one of the family has left to the
chapel as an endowment the sum of ,£500. On the other side
of the road from the chapel is an interesting old house over the
entrance to which is the following inscription : —
1 Vide p. 159.

AN INTERESTING DREAM. 177
'K
R.A., Ano. Dom. 172S,
Enter in at the door.
Call upon the Lord,
Seek unto
Him while he
May be found.
Tradition points to this as sometime the residence of John Kay,
the inventor of the fly-shuttle. According to Espinasse he was
born July 16th, 1704, "at the Park, Walmersley, near Bury."1
The tradition therefore has something in its favour, and the initials
over the door stand for Richard or Robert and Ann or Alice Kay.
It is interesting to think of this little Dissenting Meeting House as
having some sort of connection with one unto whom the staple
industry of Lancashire is so largely indebted. The families who
have been longest and most intimately associated with Park Chapel,
and most of whom have representatives still here, are the Porritts,
Comstives, Hamers, Grimes, Halls, Ramsbottoms, Rostrons, and
Inghams. Services are held on Sunday morning and afternoon,
and many of the people come a distance of two and three miles to the
sanctuary, which was the home of their fathers. An interesting story
is told of a dream of the wife of one of the ministers of Park Chapel.
On the return of her husband after preaching the first Sunday there
as a candidate, she said to him, " Is there a house there and heaps
of stones about it? Is there a well a short distance from it with
trees between the well and the high road, through which when the
sun is shining the well can be clearly seen?" "There is a house,"
said the husband, "and a garden, also heaps of stones about, but
no well." On going the second time to preach he made inquiries,
and was shown a well belonging to the minister's house exactly in
the position indicated by his wife. Returning home he informed
his wife of the discovery. " We are going to reside there," she
said. " Not so, I think," said her husband, who had not been
favourably impressed by his visits. "But we are," she said, and
then told of a dream she had had some weeks before in which she
had seen the things as thus described. The dream came to be
1 " Lives of Lancashire Worthies," p, 310.
3—12

178 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
true ; but there is still another singular coincidence. On the Sunday
previous to the removal of the minister thither a gentleman from
Blackburn occupied the pulpit, who knew nothing of the incoming
minister and his wife, and took for his text " Behold the dreamer
cometh." The house referred to is Park Cottage, built during Mr.
Anyon's ministry in 1846; and the well, called "Anyon's Well,"
lies just outside the garden. Its water is delightfully cool, clear as
crystal, and in the heaviest drought has never been known to fail —
symbolic of that other water, the water of life, which it is the
minister's privilege to offer unto his people Sabbath by Sabbath.

III.— BANK STREET UNITARIAN CHAPEL, BURY.
Unlike many Lancashire towns, Bury did not contribute to the
number of the noble 2,000 who came out in 1662 for the sake of
conscience. We have, however, seen that it sent its contingent of
Nonconformist worshippers to support Mr. Pendlebury at Bass
Lane, and afterwards Mr. Rothwell at Holcombe. In a previous
article reference was made to an old historic document still extant,
quoted by the Rev. W. H. Elliott in some letters written by him
for a local newspaper in 1886. That document gives an account
of the origin of the Nonconformist interest at Bury thus : —
The town of Bury being more central for many of the congregation a
chapel was erected there in 1719, and from that time Mr. Rothwell and Mr.
Braddock (who had been chosen as his assistant) preached at Bury and
Holcom alternately till the death of the former, after which Mr. Braddock
confined his services to Bury.
Mr. Rothwell died in 1731, and must be considered the first of
the Bury ministers. His assistant, the Rev. Thomas Braddock,
was probably trained by him; and as just stated he confined his
services to Bury. Mr. Braddock's ministry continued until his
death in 1770. Upon his tombstone in the Bank Street Chapel
graveyard is inscribed the following : —

THE REV. JOB ORTON. 179
Here Lie the Remains of the
Rev. THOMAS BRADDOCK,
Who was Fifty Years minister of a dissenting congregation in
this place.
His Faithful Services are still Remembered by his belov'd
People and by them tho' dead he still speaketh.
He dyed Nov. 13th, 1770,
Aged 75.
Here also lie the Remains of
GRACE,
Wife of the Revd. Mr. Thomas Braddock.
She died June the 13th, 1775.
Aged 70 years.
Also
ELLEN BRADDOCK,
Niece to the Rev. Mr. Braddock.
Died Jan. 23rd, 1800.
Aged 73.
Also the Body of
ELLEN BRADDOCK,
Late of Manchester,
Who departed this life the 7th Day of February, 1826,
In the 85th year of her age.
The Rev. Job Orton, of Shrewsbury, who corresponded freely
with the Rev. John Hughes, Mr. Braddock's successor, gives Mr.
Braddock a high character in the following passages : —
He was a man of uncommon good sense, prudence, and of sagacity, and of
remarkable candour and benevolence, so that if he avoided any
acquaintance with them [the clergy of Bury] it is clear evidence that they
are not worth yours.1
Again, I can hardly wish you anything further than that you may resemble your
excellent predecessor, who had few equals in every part of his office and
character. Such an amiable mixture of cheerfulness and gravity ; such a
deep seriousness in speaking of religion ; his discourses so plain and yet so
judicious, so rational and yet so evangelical. Did you ever inquire of his
widow for the charge he delivered at Mr. Meanley's ordination. I could
wish you to read and digest it.2
1 "Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton," vol. ii., p. 549.
" Ibid, p. 556.

i8o LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Of this good man Dr. Halley says : —
He was a sort of connecting link between the old and the new dissent.
He died at an advanced age, about 1771, having been considered for many
years as at the head of the Lancashire Provincial Meeting, having probably
delivered more charges than almost any minister among the dissenters. 1
As already intimated, Mr. Braddock was succeeded by the Rev.
John Hughes, from Horwich. Many of Mr. Orton's letters to
Mr. Hughes have been preserved, and they contain interesting
information respecting his life and work at Bury. His conduct
towards the clergy at Bury has already been referred to ; he was
advised to follow the example of Mr. Braddock in this matter.
Mr. Hughes appears to have paid considerable attention to the
children in his congregation, and so Mr. Orton writes : —
It gives me great pleasure to hear that you pursue the great work of
catechising. This will endear you both to parents and children, and lay a
foundation for both of them to improve by your instructions.2
It seems the Lancashire climate was about the same then as it is
now, for Mr. Orton writes : —
I was sorry to find that you had bad weather for your harvest, but yours
is a wet county. You have upon an average about thirty inches of rain-fall
in a year, whereas we have but nineteen. As damp weather much affects me,
I am glad I do not live under the sign Aquarius.3
In 1 781 Mr. Hughes had thoughts about removing from Bury,
which drew from Mr. Orton the following words : —
I wonder you should mention leaving Bury. Pray know when you are
well. Be thankful for your encouragement and prospects, and be as diligent
and active a pastor as you can. A minister seldom loses the esteem and
affection of his people, if he continues to take pains, and doth not sink into
sloth and indolence. If there be objections against Bury, remember our
Shrewsbury proverb, "Nought which I know.' You will be better able to
overcome the difficulties you are acquainted with than those which may arise
in another place, and may be of a more grievous nature.4
1 "Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 466.
2 " Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton," vol. ii., p. 550.
3 Ibid, p. 553.
* Ibid, F 598-

UNITARIANISM. 181
One more extract from these interesting letters shall suffice.
It is obvious from his letters that Mr. Orton had some misgivings
respecting the theological whereabouts of Mr. Hughes, and as
early as February, 1774, he writes : —
I could wish to revive something of that spirit which appeared so
eminently and beautifully in your predecessors, Pendlebury, Rochel [Roth
well], and Braddock. I hope you never will give any of your aged hearers
reason to complain that it is not with them as it was in years past, but will
support the high credit which the ministry at Bury hath long been in for
seriousness, zeal, and usefulness.1
Mr. Hughes died in 1803, and from his tombstone in the grave
yard of Bank Street Chapel I copy the following inscription : —
Underneath this tomb are deposited the Remains of
BRIDGET HUGHES,
wife of the Rev. John Hughes,
who departed this life March 24th, 1782, aged 29.
In the same grave resteth also the body of
The Rev. JOHN HUGHES,
Upwards of 32 years minister of the Society of Protestant
Dissenters assembling at this place, who died
Sept. 23rd, 1S03,
Aged 55.
Also of BRIDGET, their daughter,
who died July Sth, 1804, aged 22.
On another side of the stone appears a notice of the death of his
second wife, thus : —
MARY, widow of the'Rev. Jno. Hughes,
Obit. October 15th, 1805. Aet. 68.
It was during the ministry of Mr. Hughes, about 1789 or 1790,
that Bank Street became Arian, if not Unitarian, with the result
that several members of the congregation seceded and founded
the first Congregational Church in Bury. The Rev. William
Allard succeeded Mr. Hughes in 1803. Like his predecessor he
was educated at Daventry Academy. He had laboured for a
short time at Rotherham previous to his settlement at Bury. His
1 Ibid, p. 560.

1 82 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
ministry at this place terminated with his death in 1831. The
following is from his tombstone in the graveyard of the chapel of
which he had so long been pastor : —
THOMAS BARNES ALLARD,
died May 18th, 1813, in the 15th year of his age.
He came forth like a flower, and was cut down ; but he shall
revive again and flourish in immortal health and
beauty in the Paradise of God !
ELIZABETH ALLARD,
died Nov. 19th, 1830. Aged 36.
SUSANNA ALLARD,
died March 20th, 1831. Aged 63.
WILLIAM ALLARD,
died June 10th, 1831. Aged 64.
He was upwards of 27 years minister at this place.
A remarkable character in the person of the Rev. Franklin
Howorth was chosen as Mr. Allard's successor. He was born at
Audenshaw, a village near Ashton-under-Lyne, on the 24th of
November, 1804, and was related to the Armitage family. He
spent some of his early school days in the Moravian Academy at
Fairfield, was also with the Rev. Mr. Gaskell, Unitarian minister,
at a school he kept at Dukinfield, and he attended with his parents
the Unitarian Chapel at Gorton. He was educated for the
ministry at the Manchester College, York. His first settlement
was Blackwater Street Unitarian Chapel, Rochdale, in September,
1826. At this place he remained until December, 1831, when he
removed to Bury, commencing his ministry at this place in
January, 1832. On the 8th of June, 1833, he lost his wife. There
is in the chapelyard a tombstone erected to her memory, which
states that she " closed a life of exemplary duty and affection " on
that date, at the early age of twenty-eight years. For nearly
twenty-two years Mr. Howorth continued to minister at Bury
amidst ever increasing signs of success, when he announced a
change of view respecting the person of Jesus Christ. This led to
his resignation on July 29th, 1853. A fortnight afterwards Mr.
Howorth gave notice of tbe opening of a Free Christian Church in
the Commercial Buildings, Spring Street, Bury. This room was

THE REV. FRANKLLN HOWORTH. 183
opened for worship on Sunday, August 21st, 1853. Many
members from his old congregation joined him there, and they
remained at the Commercial Buildings until i860. On the 13th
of September the Free Christian Church erected for him in Roch
dale Road was opened for worship. Here he laboured until his
death, which took place on June 12th, 1882, in his seventy-eighth
year. He was interred in the Bury Cemetery, a slab of Norway
granite marking his last resting place, upon which is the following
inscription : — In loving memory of
FRANKLIN HOWORTH,
For fifty years minister of the gospel in this town.
Born November 24th, 1804,
Died June 12th, 1882.
"Christ is all and in all."
The next minister at Bank Street was the Rev. John Wright,
B.A. He was educated at Manchester New College, and settled
first as assistant minister at York in 1845. In 1846 he removed
to Macclesfield, where he remained until 1853, when he removed
to Bury. In 1873 he resigned and was succeeded in the year
following by the present minister, the Rev. Douglas Walmsley,
B.A., from Manchester New College. He makes only the sixth
minister since 1719, a period of 173 years.
The chapel of 17 19 was superseded during Mr. Howorth's
ministry in 1837 by "a more modern building." It was not only
more modern, but larger, being necessitated by the increase in the
congregation. In a letter written from Bury in 1836 by one of the
congregation is the following : —
The cost will be ^3,000 at the least. Sums to about ^2,600 have been
paid down, from the sixpence of the Sunday scholars and the pound of the
working men to the fifties of the professional men and the hundreds of the
manufacturers.1 The old building stood in Silver Street, but the present hand
some structure is a few yards removed from the previous one and
is in Bank Street. It was erected in 1852. The following passage
accounts for the erection of this third chapel :
1 " Memorials of Franklin Howorth," by T. H. Gill, p. 31.

1 84 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
At my visit in June, 1852, I found the congregation worshipping in the
schoolroom attached to a woollen factory near Bridge Hall. The railway
system, that has devoured so many places of worship, made an end of the
meeting house in Bank Street, which had to be taken down through the
damage done to it by the construction of the East Lancashire line. The
present very handsome Gothic building, which occupies almost exactly the
same site as its two foregoers, was opened toward the close of 1852. The
first service, I believe, celebrated in the new edifice was the marriage of Mr.
Howorth's only surviving child, Sarah, a young lady happily endowed in
person, heart, and mind, with my excellent and accomplished friend, the
Rev. Alfred Steinthal, of Manchester.1
The chapel, which is quite cathedral like in appearance, seats
over 700 persons, and cost over _£6,ooo. Recent improvements
have brought its total cost up to nearly ,£10,000. The schools
behind were erected in 1866 at a cost of £3,800, and an addition
was made in 1885 costing about ,£1,500. The chapel contains
numerous tablets to the Grundy family, and has several beautiful
stained windows. A large graveyard adjoins which contains the
remains of many of the early Nonconformists who worshipped at
the place. Some of the tombstones are interesting, the inscription
upon one only shall be given : —
Here resteth the body of
PETER ROTHWELL, late Clerk of this Chapel,
Who departed this life April 9th, 1766, in the 71st year of his age.
Also MARY, his. wife,
Died July 21st, 1767, in the 77th year of her age.
It is very probable this was a descendant of the Rev.
Edward Rothwell, of Holcombe and Bury. It has already been
stated that an important theological change came over the
opinions of the congregation in the latter days of Mr. Hughes's
ministry. What happened in the case of many of these old Presby
terian foundations happened at Bury. From being Trinitarian
the congregation became Arian and eventually Unitarian, which
it continues to be at the present day.
1 Ibid, p. 78.

THE STORY OF C0NGREGATL0NAL1SM. 185

IV.— NEW ROAD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURY.
The origin of Congregationalism in Bury is involved in some
obscurity. The Rev. W. R. Thorburn, M.A., accounts for it
thus : —
About 80 years after the origin of Silver Street Chapel Congregational
Nonconformity was introduced by the building of New Road Chapel in
1792. It originated with three friends, Messrs. Woodcock, Winder, and
Burford. The two former were Churchmen, but having some spiritual life
began to hold prayer meetings. This was disapproved of, and led to
secession. " You have left the Church," said an aunt of Mr. Woodcock. He
replied, " I am a member of the church of Christ." Mr. Winder was the son
of a clergyman, and they said he preached his father's old sermons. William
Burford worked at Bury Ground. The first Sir Robert Peel pronounced
him the most diligent servant in the parish, for he served him six days in the
week diligently, and served God on the Sabbath.1
Interesting as that passage is, it is not quite accurate. It credits
the " three friends " with too much. " Congregational Noncon
formity " is a little older than 1792 ; and though, doubtless, Messrs.
Woodcock, Winder, and Burford gave valuable aid in its early
difficulties, they can scarcely be called its founders. Mr. Winder,
in a letter dated September nth, 1841, distinctly disclaims this
honour. " As my determination," says he, " to dissent from the
Established Church, was not fully formed in the year 1793, so I
found little interest in the new Chapel when it was opened." 2 It
is much more likely that Congregationalism in Bury began in
dissent from Unitarianism, when that system of theological belief
appeared in the older foundation at Silver Street. In all, or
nearly all, the great Lancashire towns, the course of ecclesiastical
events is this : First, ejection from the Established Church and
formation of a Nonconformist interest ; then gradual change in
this Nonconformist interest from Trinitarianism to Unitarianism,
and consequent secession, the secessionists establishing churches
on the Congregational lines. Bolton, Manchester, Preston,
Chorley, Lancaster, Warrington, and many other towns, are
1 "Valedictory Discourse" published in 1874, p. 13.
2 " Our New Chapel Record," by the Rev. J. G. Deaville.

1 86 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
illustrations of this ; and Bury is the same. The difference
between it and the other towns named is that the theological
changes referred to appear much later than elsewhere, largely
because of the lengthened pastorates of the Silver Street Con
gregation. Dr. Halley's opinion is in keeping with this view.
"On the introduction," says he, "of Arian doctrine into the
Presbyterian Meeting House, the Congregationalists felt it to be
their duty to support their own principles. The first Congrega
tional church in Bury was formed in 1792, a second in 1805, and a
third in 1838. "l All this is not affected by the following passage
from a "History of the New Road Independent Chapel, Bury."
published in 1862 : —
About the year 1790 a few Chris:ian people, dissatisfied with the state
of religion in the Establishment, and longing for a more spiritual worship
and a more pure gospel than could be found at the Parish Church, left her
communion and commenced a Meeting in a house at Tenters.2 Shortly
afterwards, finding the place too straight for them, they hired a large room
at the back of the Swan-with-Two-Necks, Moorside, where they had preach
ing on the Sabbath, lay brethren officiating with much acceptance In
Moorside the prosperity was so great that in 1792 it was resolved to build a
Chapel. Accordingly a plot of ground was taken on lease for gg years, and
a Chapel was erected in Church Field. It stood at that time, in a field, and
was opened in April, I7g3.
It is quite possible, and indeed most likely, that the secessionists
from Silver Street were joined later by friends from the Parish
Church, who longed for " a more spiritual worship and a more
pure gospel ;" but I imagine the ultimate cause of " Congrega
tional Nonconformity " was the changed condition of things at
the older Nonconformist Chapel. The passage just given
is valuable because of the account it presents of the earliest
efforts of the Bury Congregationalists up to the date of their
chapel opening — 1793. On the 14th of August in that year the
church was formed, the first name on the church roll being that of
Henry Knight, concerning whom a few particulars must be given.
1 " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 467.
2 The occupant of this house was Thomas Holt, grandfather of Thomas
Flolt, late warden of the New Road Church.

ON HORSEBACK TO CHAPEL. 187
He was a woollen dyer residing at Seedfield, Bury, and was
baptised at Silver Street Chapel. In the year 1787 Mr. Knight left
Silver Street, being dissatisfied with the teaching of Mr. Hughes,
the minister, and until the year 1790, when the Independents
began to have worship at Tenters, was accustomed to go on horse
back to Duke's Alley Chapel, Bolton ; also, " riding behind him
on a pillion might be seen Mrs. Knight." A somewhat heavy
debt remained upon the chapel after its erection, and it was
Mr. Knight 1 who " wrote to gentlemen in Liverpool to say that he
was anxious to collect some money for the new interest in Bury."
Following his name on the church roll are six others, viz., Thomas
Ashworth, Samuel Laycock, Samuel Tagg, Michael Aspden, John
Greenleaves, and Betty Greenleaves. One of these, the Rev.
Samuel Laycock, was the first minister here, but the exact date of
his settlement is not known. He was trained at Northowram
Academy by the Rev. S. Walker, that institution having taken
the place of the Heckmondvvike Academy on the death of its
principal and founder, the Rev. James Scott, in 1783. Mr. Lay
cock was ordained at Bury on the 3rd of October, 1793. Having
become " enamoured with emigration," he resigned in 1794, and
went to Pittsgrove, North America. It is said that " several of
the people were much attached to Mr. Laycock, and regretted
their loss both at and after his departure." The Rev. John Lewis
followed, respecting whom no information is forthcoming, except
that his stay at Bury must have been short, for in May, 1796, the
Rev. Charles Ely accepted an invitation to the pastorate here.
On the breaking up of Mr. Walket's Academy at Northowram,
previously named, in 1795, only four students remained, one of
whom was Mr. Ely. He, along with the others, was therefore
placed for a short time under the charge of the Rev. William
Vint, of Idle. As already stated he settled at Bury in 1 796, but
was not ordained until the following year. An account of this
ordination service nearly a century ago will have some interest
for the reader : —
1 The great grandson of this worthy man is Mr. Thomas Knight, who
resides at Heywood, and is a warm friend of the Congregational Church
there.

1 88 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
July 26. The Rev. Ch. Ely was set apart to the pastoral office in the
Independent Church at Bury, Lancashire. The services of the day were
conducted with great solemnity by the following ministers. Mr. Roby, of
Manchester, read suitable portions of Scripture, and implored the divine
blessing on the work of the day. Mr. Cockin, of Halifax, delivered a
pertinent introductory discourse, and received from Mr. Ely the confession
of faith and answers to the usual questions. The ordination prayer was
presented by Mr. M'Quhae, of Blackburn; Mr. Toothill, of Hopton, gave
the charge from Acts xiv., 26. Mr. Anzleark, of Stockport, preached to
the people from 1 Thes, v., 12, 13 ; and Mr. Blackburn, of Delph, concluded
with prayer. A large congregation assembled in the evening, when the
Rev. Mr. Whitely prayed, and Mr. Charrier, of Lancaster, preached from
"i Peter v., io.1
To remove the debt which remained upon the chapel Mr. Ely
went to London upon a begging expedition, and returned with
about .£300. The Sunday services at New Road being morning
and afternoon, in the evenings, and sometimes on week nights, he
preached in the surrounding villages. Trouble, however, arose
after a few years, and a number of members seceded in 1804 and
formed a second Congregational Church in the town. The divi
sion is said to have " almost enervated " New Road Church ;
but about this time a party seems to have left the Parish
Church, and associating itself with New Road the places of the
seceders were to a considerable extent filled up. Sometime after
this Mr. Ely, who is described as a not " very lively and energetic
preacher," was "obliged to give up his charge." He continued,
however, to reside in the town until his death, which took place,
"after much sickness," on January 10th, 1816, at the age of forty-
eight years. His remains were interred at the foot of the pulpit
stairs. He directed that at his death his classical and theological
books should be equally divided between the academies at
Rotherham and Idle. Following him is a Mr. May, concerning
whom I have no information whatsoever ; and he was succeeded
on the first Sabbath in April, 1814, by the Rev. George Harris. He
was born at Gravesend in October, 1787, and was brother to the
Rev. Dr. William Harris, sometime tutor at Hoxton Academy.
At this institution Mr. George Harris received his training for the
1 " Evangelical Magazine" for 1797, p. 515.

THE REV. J. KENNEDY. 189
ministry. His first settlement was at Stafford in 1810, where he
remained until 1814, when he removed to Bury. On the 10th of
November following Mr. Harris was ordained, and an account of
this service is here subjoined : —
Nov. 10th, the Rev. G. Harris was ordained pastor of the Independent
Church, New Road, Bury. Mr. Fletcher, ot Blackburn, delivered the
introductory discourse ; Mr. Lewis, late Theological Tutor Leaf Square
Academy, offered the ordination prayer ; Mr. Harris, of Cambridge
(brother to the minister), delivered the charge, from Acts xx., 28, " Feed the
church," &c. ; Mr. Ely, of Bury (late pastor of the people), addressed the
congregation from Hebrews xiii., 22, " Suffer the word of exhortation," &c. ;
Mr. Raffles, of Liverpool, preached in the evening, from Heb. 1., 12. The
day preceding the Lancashire Union held their Half-yearly meeting at Bury ;
Mr. Smith, of Millbank, preached in the evening from 1 Cor., v. 20. The
devotional parts of the services were conducted by Messrs. Clunie, Slate,
Lawson, Wilson, Jones, Blackburn, Chadwick, and Partington. The con
gregations were numerous and attentive. About thirty ministers were
present, who requested the ordination service to be printed.1
He resigned his charge at Bury on the 28th of March, 1824, and
removed to Queen Street, Oldham. Subsequently he laboured at
Rochford and Ringwood, dying at the latter place on March 10th,
1866, at the age of seventy-nine years, after a ministry of over half
a century. On the 30th of January, 1825, the Rev. James Kennedy began
his ministry at New Road. He was educated at the Blackburn
Academy, and ordained on the 7th of September, 1825. The
following ministers assisted in this service : — Rev. R. Slate, of
Stand, introduced the service by reading and prayer ; Rev. John
Ely, of Rochdale, delivered " an admirable introductory discourse,"
and proposed the usual questions ; Rev. Wm. Roby, of Manchester,
offered up the ordination prayer, " which was accompanied by the
laying on of the hands of the Presbytery ;" Rev. George Payne,
A.M., of Blackburn Academy, "gave an impressive and affec
tionate charge;" Rev. Joseph Fletcher, A.M., of Stepney,
" preached a clear and forcible sermon to the people." The Revs.
R. Littler, of Darwen, J. Dyson, of Farnworth, and George
Partington, of Park, assisted also. It is said that the " attendance
1 " Evangelical Magazine," for 1815, p. 164.

t9o LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
on this interesting occasion was numerous, and the prospects of
usefulness in this populous and increasing town are highly en
couraging."1 On Monday, September, 18th, 1837, a meeting of
the Church was held to "consider the propriety of taking down
the Chapel and building a new one." Mr. Kennedy himself
strongly objected to the scheme, bitter feelings were aroused, and
the result was another division and the origin of the third Con
gregational Church at Castlecroft. In 1839 increased accommo
dation for the Sunday School was necessary, and so the two
schoolrooms were taken down, and larger and more commodious
ones erected in their stead. An addition was also made to the
gallery behind the pulpit, the Chapel re-roofed, its front improved,
a vestry for the minister erected, and stoves for the chapel were
constructed. The total expense was .£700, and the re-opening
services were in September, 1839, when the Rev. Mr. Newnes, of
Matlock, was the preacher. After a most useful ministry, extending
over twenty-three years, Mr. Kennedy died on Wednesday morning,
January 5th, 1848. He was interred on the following Saturday at
New Road, his remains being enclosed in a lead coffin, and
"deposited, by his own desire, in a grave at the foot of the pulpit
stairs." It is to Mr. Kennedy's persevering industry that we are
indebted for information respecting the early history of New Road.
The following picture of this good man, whose name will long be
fragrant to the Bury people, is copied from an excellent sketch of
the New Road Church by the Rev. J. G. Deaville : —
Of medium height and dark complexioned ; with black hair, which some
people ventured to think he trained to stand erect ; with eyes that looked
as if they lay loose in their sockets ; with a head erect, and seeming to be
kept in an immovable position by a spotlessly white cravat that bound a high
collar, in which collar his clean-shaven chin was buried along with the
narrow band of whiskers underneath that chin ; and with a mouth that
showed every sign of feeling, especially surprise, James Kennedy impressed
his hearers as he stood in the pulpit of New Road to speak the message of
his Master. The voice was never loud, but always sweet and solemn. By
almost a whisper the Lord's Day Service was commenced in the words,
"Let us enter upon the worship of God this morning." No attention must
be diverted whilst the service was going on ; a stare that placed his eyeballs
-1 "Evangelical Magazine" for 1825, p. 471.

DOCTOR FALDLNG. 191
nearly out on his cheeks would remind his hearers of his inability to proceed
with the service if the slightest disturbance was made.
The Rev. F. J. Falding, M.A, succeeded Mr. Kennedy. His
training was received at Rotherham College, and he entered the
ministry in 1846, settling first at Wellington, Salop, where he
remained until his removal to Bury in 1848. Three years after
wards he was called to preside over the College at Rotherham,
where he was educated for the ministry. High honours have since
been laid upon him. The University of Glasgow conferred upon
him the degree of D.D., shortly after he undertook the presidency
of Rotherham College. He is now the president of the Yorkshire
United Independent College, Bradford, which has taken the place
of Airedale and Rotherham. It is no small honour for the New
Road Church to be able to number amongst its ministers so worthy
a man as Dr. Falding. His successor at Bury was the Rev.
(afterwards Dr.) John Dickenson. He was born near Whitby on
the 27th of October, 1797, and spent his early days amongst the
Wesleyans. For some time he exercised his ministry amongst the
Wesleyans, but becoming dissatisfied with their polity, he joined
the Congregationalists. His training he received in part under
Dr. Wardlaw at Glasgow, and at the Edinburgh University. He
entered the Congregational ministry in 1838, and laboured at
Kilmarnock and Hounslow, removing from the latter place to
Bury in 1852. In 1858 he removed to Bridlington, Yorkshire,
where he remained until his death, which took place on Sunday
afternoon, October 5th, 1884, in his 87th year. The Rev. John
Holt Ouston, another Whitby man, born on June 15th, 1828,
followed Mr. Dickenson. He was educated at Rotherham, and on
the completion of his college course settled at New Road in
August, 1858. After " seventeen years of earnest and faithful
work " he removed to Penrith. He remained there about eleven
years, leaving for Lymm, Cheshire. He occupied the pulpit at
that place for the last time on the 25th of March, 1888, and died
on the 19th of April following. The New Road people have
shown their respect and affection for their old pastor by placing in
the chapel a handsome marble tablet, upon which is the following
inscription : —

1 92 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
In loving memory of the late
Rev. JOHN HOLT OUSTON,
born at Whitby, rsth June, 1828,
died at Lymm, 19th April, 1888J; for 17 years the faithful
Minister of this Church.
He was ordained nth November, 1858, and laboured here with great
earnestness, love, and diligence, until he resigned
the pastorate in 1875.

From Rotherham College also came the Rev. J. G. Deaville,
in 1876, as Mr. Ouston's successor, commencing his duties
on May 7th. It is to his sketch of the New Road Church that I
am greatly indebted for many particulars in this history. Towards
the close of 1884 Mr. Deaville resigned his charge at Bury and
went to Birkenhead. He is now resident at Southport without
pastorate. It was in 1883 whilst Mr. Deaville was still pastor
that it was decided to take down the old building which had
done duty for well on towards a century and erect an entirely
new one. Accordingly in March, 1884, the chapel of 1792
was demolished, the last service being held in it on the 2nd of
that month, Dr. Falding being the preacher. On Saturday after
noon, June 2 ist, following, James Porritt, Esq., laid the corner
stone of the new one. There was a large assembly of ministers
and friends. The Rev. J. G. Deaville, pastor, presided, the Rev.
T. Cain, of Stubbins, read selections from the Scriptures, and the
Rev. William Roseman offered prayer. The Chairman of the
Lancashire Congregational Union, Rev. John Chater, of South-
port, gave an address on Congregational principles. In the even
ing, at the public tea meeting, addresses were given by the Revs.
J. McDougall, R. Best, R. Craig, M.A, A. Anderson, B.A., Wm.
Hewgill, M.A., and Messrs. Knight, T. Holt, and H. Webb. The
new building was opened on Wednesday, October 31st, 1885,
by the Rev. H. Allon, D. D., of London. Amongst the preachers
on the occasion was the old pastor, the Rev. Dr. Falding, from
Rotherham. In March of the same year a bazaar on a large
scale was held in the Athenasum for the purpose of meeting the
expenditure incurred. The following description of the chapel is
taken from our " New Chapel Record " : —

ORIGIN OF "NEW ROAD." t93
The New Building, intended to replace the one now being demolished,
will be a Gothic Chapel of the late decorated or Flamboyant period, and
will occupy all the site of the Old Chapel, together with the Old School and
part of the graveyard. It is 95ft. long by 43ft. wide, and is entered by three
doorways. The main portion of the Chapel is under one span of a roof, and
will be seated with open benches to hold 361 persons, with a gallery at the
west end to hold 201 persons. The whole of the woodwork is very substan
tial pitchpine framing. The Side Chapel finds accommodation for 32 on
the main floor, and 38 in the gallery over, bringing, with 28 seats in the choir,
the total accommodation of the chapel to 660 people."
The architects were Messrs. Maxwell and Tuke, of Manchester
and Bury.
The Rev. J. Macrae Simcock entered upon his duties at the
New Road Chapel on June 6th, 1886. He was traired at Edin
burgh Theological Hall, began work as a Congregational minister
in 187 1 at Paisley, and was afterwards at Hirwain, whence he
removed to Bury. He resigned in 1890. The present minister,
Rev. W. C. Loosemore, M.A., from the Yorkshire United College,
succeeded to the pastorate here in the early part of 1891. The
chapel, whose history has .been given, is a tall, handsome brick
building, having its front in line with the road in which it stands.
Over the entrance is a stone tablet, upon which is inscribed : —
New Road Congregational Church, founded 1792 ;
rebuilt 1885.
Close by is a large and commodious Sunday School, the date
stone upon which contains the following : —
New Road Schools,
A.D. 1865.
The following interesting passage from Mr. Deaville's " Historic
Sketch " accounts for the name " New Road Chapel " : —
The old road from Bury to Rochdale passes the War Office, and leaves
the town of Heywood about a mile to the right hand. At the close of the
last century this old road was the only highway between Bury and Rochdale,
consequently a new road was made, which, besides being less hilly and
3—13

194 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
shorter, went right through the then rising town of Heywood. The new
road was used long before it was perfectly made. That part of it which
met the short street in Bury, known as Clough Street, was nothing better
than a well-trodden cart way through a field. This fenceless and unmade
street was called ¦' New Road," it being literally a new road. The nomen
clature of the street was not fixed by the designation given to it at its first
use. The street joining to Clough Street became officially named Rochdale
Road. The words " New Road " gave the name to the first Independent
Chapel in Bury, although, as a matter of fact, there has been no thorough
fare called New Road in the town of Bury for many years.
In the graveyard, which has been diminished by the erection of
the new chapel, are numerous tombstones, the oldest belonging to
the Nuttall family, and bearing date 1797. Reared against the
wall of the chapel yard also will be found a part of the old chapel
front, upon which is the following : —
1792.
New Road
Independent Chapel.
But the most interesting object in the graveyard is a tombstone,
the inscription upon which tells a tale of sorrow and disaster. It
is copied as under, and shall conclude this account : —
In affectionate remembrance of
WILLIAM WALMSLEY,
Aged 29 years ;
MARY, his Wife,
Aged 28 years ;
HENRY, his Son,
Aged 5 years ;
And
MARGARET, his Aunt,
Aged 27 years ;
Who perished in the wreck of the Rothesay Castle Steam Packet
off Beaumaris,
during the night of the 17th of August, 1831.
" Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them,
they sank as lead in the mighty waters."

DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES. 195

V— BETHEL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURY.
In the year 1804 a number of persons seceded from the Congre
gational Church at New Road. Why they did so is not certain. It
is suggested that doctrinal differences were at the root of the matter.
The Rev. Charles Ely, the New Road minister, " went, or was
supposed to go, farther than even the strictness of his trust deed
allowed. He was too strict for some of his hearers." One in
particular was dismissed from the church because he was " sus
pected of being unsound in the faith," and gathering round him
those of like sympathies and opinions a second church was formed.
This view of the origin of Bethel Chapel is upheld by the Trust
Deed which is declared remarkably liberal for the time, much
more so than the original deed for New Road. This cannot be
put forward as more than a probable cause ; what is certain is that
the secession was not a friendly one, a standing witness to which
is the fact that the two buildings are not more than fifty yards
apart. The chapel was not erected until about three years after the
secession ; but the " Lancashire Congregational Calendar " gives
the date of the church's origin as 1806, on what authority I do
not know. An aged friend, who has seen considerably over four
score years, in a letter, says : —
I remember we had to go to Sunday School up in Mr. Horrox's school
room, and there were nearly as many Baptists as Independents, so, they had
to have an Independent one Sunday and a Baptist the next, until they got
Mr. Harrison, who pleased them both so well that they agreed to give him
a call. They were not long before they began to club their money for a new
chapel, and those who could not give money gave their labour. I have met
with several who said they gave some one, some two, some three days' labour
as masons or spadesmen.
The Rev. W. R. Thorburn, M.A., after stating that the chapel
was built in 1807, says that "the first quarter's subscription was
,£26 13s., equal to .£50 now. The chief contributors were S.
Woodcock, John Grundy, Dennis and Edmund Grundy, Richard
Birch, James Lancashire, and Thomas Reed."1 As just intimated,
1 " Valedictory Discourse," p. 13.

196 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
the first minister at Bethel Chapel was the Rev. Joseph Harrison.
He was born June 2nd, 1749, and was the son of the Rev.
Edward Harrison, minister of Swinden, in Craven, afterwards at
Greenacres, Oldham. During Mr. Edward Harrison's removal lo
Greenacres a melancholy accident occurred which terminated
fatally for Mrs. Harrison. " According to the fashion in those
days," says his biographer, " I am told that they rode on a
pillion, or double saddle. On their way Mr. and Mrs. Harrison
stopped at an inn in Rochdale, for the purpose of rest and refresh
ment. As they were about to leave the house Mrs. Harrison fell
down the cellar steps and fractured a limb."1 She died shortly after
wards. Joseph Harrison had no college training, and his first settle
ment was Clavering, in Essex, about 1775. He was next at Foulmire,
near Cambridge ; and then at Harleston in the same county. About
1789 he removed to Skipton, in Yorkshire; thence to Bingley,
where he had charge of a Baptist Church ; next to Wilsden, near
Bradford; and about 1806 to Bury. The chapel was not as yet
built, and it is particularly recorded of him that he was instru
mental in chapel building. I extract from Mr. Thorburn's sermon
a vivid picture of this good man : —
He had a good, strong, earthly tabernacle, was 5ft. join, in height, and
good natural abilities, strong lungs that would stand exercising 10 or 15 hours
a day, determination on his brow, a smile on his cheek, and the sword of the
Spirit in his hand. Preaching to sinners was his forte. His soul loved
them ; hjs the live coal taken from the altar. He was moderate in eating
and drinking, and dress ; highly satisfied with a plain meal, observing that
the man who had a crust and a Christ was rich. With regard to his labours 
where was there a clump of trees or a fold within four or five miles of the
chapel that had not heard his voice inviting men to the good feast ? How
many thousands from his mouth fed on Canaan's corn ? Nor was the mouth
of the ox muzzled that trod the corn. He was a good singer of sacred
music, and lent efficient aid to that part of divine service, and did not sit
fumbling after a text till this part of the service was over. A sketch of his
preaching : The people are seated ; stones, tubs, broken boards, old chairs
put to the most glorious use that ever blessed them. He looks round his
-audience — colliers, blacksmiths, factory workers, dirty children. But he
does not judge according to appearance. His heart throbs, the hymn
1 " Historical and Biographical Notices," by the Rev. G. G. Waddington
p. 280.

REMOVING A DEBT. 197
passionately sung the Bible opened, the text read, " Unto you, O men, I call ;
my voice is to the children of man! (1) Who is the speaker? (2) Who
are spoken to? (3) What is said? Now there are anxious looks, weeping
eyes, and God present to heal."
Mr. Harrison left Bury for Allerton, in Yorkshire, about 1815
where he remained until his death, February Sth, 182 1. Con
cerning him it is thus recorded: "As a minister, the ornament of
his sect ; as a man, an honour to human nature." The friend,
whose letter has been referred to, says : "It was a sad job when
Mr. Harrison left us ; we had to have supplies where we could
get them." The Rev. Wm. Turner was eventually chosen as his
successor. He was born at Beeston, Leeds, in 1784, and obtained
his ministerial training at Rotherham College. His first charge
was Bethel Chapel, where he was ordained as minister on the 15th
of May, 1816. The ministers assisting in the service were the
Revs. T. Smith, of Manchester; Wm. Hacking, of Darwen; L.
Redmayne, of Horwich ; E. Parsons, of Leeds ; N. Blackburn,
of Delph, and G. Karris, of Bury.
A debt upon the chapel of ,£700 was removed by Mr. Turner
in a somewhat remarkable way. According to the custom of those
times (and these, too, for that matter), his people wished him to
go upon a begging expedition, to which he agreed on condition
that at a special meeting they would answer a few questions. The
meeting was summoned, and the first question put by the minister
was, " What answer would he have to give if asked, ' Have the
people done all they can themselves ? '" A pause ensued. The
chairman said, " Really, gentlemen, we are too proud to beg."
The senior deacon then said, "There will be no need to beg if
ye'll take my plan." His plan was asked for, when, in good
humour and in broad Lancashire dialect, he stated what the chair
man and others ought to give, and he himself, though not rich,
would give ,£20. The plan was approved, the sums were
written down, and in three months the entire £'7°° was Paid
without the minister begging a penny beyond the place.1 How
many more chapel debts might be extinguished in the same way !
Through Mr. Turner hearing the first annual Missionary Sermon
1 " Congregational Year Book " for 1870, p. 324.

1 98 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
at Manchester, by the Rev. John Angell James, a Juvenile Mis
sionary Society was formed at Bethel, which in its first year raised
,£25. In 1822 Mr. Turner resigned for St. Paul's Chapel,
Hindley, where he remained until 1831. Trouble arising, he left
St. Paul's, as did also many of his friends, and commenced a new
interest at Bridge Croft, Hindley. Here he continued to labour
until growing infirmities led to his resignation in 1862. He died
December 8th, 1868, in his eighty-fourth year, and in the sixtieth
year of his ministry. The Rev. Robert Aspinall was the next
minister at Bethel Chapel. He was a native of Darwen, being
born there on the 20th of January, 1801. He was admitted into
the fellowship of the church at Lower Chapel when only fifteen
years of age, and began to preach before he completed his six
teenth year. He received some preliminary training from his
pastor, the Rev. Robert Blake, and afterwards entered the Idle
Academy. His first pastorate was at Grassington, in Yorkshire,
where he was ordained. Thence he removed to Bury in May,
1825. After a six years' successful ministry here differences arose
amongst his people, and he removed to Colne. For twenty-
four years Mr. Aspinall laboured at Colne, terminating his ministry
with his death on January 19th, 1856. Mr. Aspinall's successor
at Bethel Chapel was the Rev. John Sunderland. In his earlier
days he was for some time classical assistant in a school at Cheet-
ham Hill, and also at Darlington. He afterwards went to reside
for a short time with the Rev. Samuel Barber, formerly of
Ulverston, then at Bridgnorth, who kept an academy there. In 1827
he entered Airedale College to be educated for the ministry, and
on the completion of his college course settled at Bury, beginning
his ministry here on the 31st of August, 1832. On the 24th of
April following he was ordained, when the following ministers
took part in the service : Revs. James Kennedy, of Bury ; Dr.
McAll, of Manchester ; J. Sutcliffe, of Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr.
Sunderland's cousin) ; S. Barber, of Bridgnorth ; John Ely, of
Rochdale; R. Calvert and J. Glendenning; and Thomas Jackson,
of Bamford. During Mr. Sunderland's ministry one hundred
members were admitted. In the midst of prospects of great use
fulness, he was cut off on the 30th of June, 1841. His funeral
sermon was preached by the Rev. James Kennedy, of New Road

THE REV. W. R. THORBURN, M.A. 199
Chapel. The Rev. James Nugent commenced his ministry at
Bethel Chapel on the first Sunday in 1843, as Mr. Sunderland's
successor. He was born at Atherstone, in 1812, and being a child
of Roman Catholic parents was brought up in their faith.
Doddridge's "Rise and Progress," and Baxter's "Call to the
Unconverted," led him to seek " a purer form of Christianity." His
training for the ministry he received at Rotherham College, and
his first settlement was Bethel Chapel, Bury. His ordination took
place on Friday, April 14th, 1843, when the Rev. Wm. Blackburn,
of Bamford, read the Scriptures and prayed : the Rev. R. M.
Miller, of Atherstone, delivered the introductory discourse ; the
Rev. J. Kennedy, of New Road Chapel, " proposed the usual
questions, and received Mr. Nugent's confession of faith, together
with his reasons for seceding from the Church of Rome, which
were highly satisfactory and deeply interesting ; " the questions to
the church being " most affectionately answered by S. Woodcock,
Esq., the senior deacon." Other ministers assisting were the Revs.
J. Gwyther, of Manchester; Thomas Smith, A.M., of Rotherham
College ; J. Ely, of Leeds ; W. Roseman, of Bury ; E. Robinson,
of Park ; J. Harrison, of Heywood ; Thomas Penrose (Primitive
Methodist), of Bury ; J. Wolstenholme, of Ramsbottom ; and E.
Stones, of Rotherham College. For a time the church is described
as "active, happy, prayerful, and prosperous." A debt of £480
was cleared off before October ist, 1844, and mission work on an
extensive scale was maintained. About 1846 Mr. Nugent
resigned, and subsequently laboured at Chesterfield, Wellington,
and Nuneaton. " After a life," writes his biographer, " of
much sorrow, trouble, perplexity, and privation, for which he was
in no sense responsible, he ended a heavily burdened, but divinely
sustained, life, and entered 'into the joy of his Lord,' at Leicester,
in the seventy-first year of his age, on December 25th, 1882." l
The Rev. William Reid Thorburn, M.A., succeeded in May,
1847. "For more than 27 years," says Mr. Ashford, in the
" Church Manual " for 187 7, " he laboured in the town, promoting the
interest not only of the churches, but of all movements calculated
to benefit the people. . . . Upwards of three hundred
1 " Congregational Year Book " for 1884, p. 320.

200 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
members were added to the church." Declining health led to his
resignation on December 20th, 1874, on which day he preached
his farewell sermon. A purse of .£140 and a beautifully
illuminated address, with which he was presented on retirement,
indicated somewhat the affection with which he was regarded. He
died on the 2nd of March, 1875, and in Bethel Chapel, to the left
of the pulpit, is a handsome tablet, which is inscribed thus : — ¦
This tablet is erected by the congregation as a
tribute of affection to the memory of the
Rev. WILLIAM REID THORBURN, A.M.,
for upwards of 27 years pastor of this church.
Died March 2nd, 1875,
Aged 69 years.
" He resteth from his labours
and his works do follow him."
Further information respecting this excellent minister will be
found in the account of Whitworth Chapel. The present minister,
the Rev. Charles Ashford, B.A., educated at the Lancashire
Independent College, supplied the pulpit for the first time on the
27th of June, 1875, and subsequently accepted a unanimous
invitation to the pastorate. He began his labours here on the first
Sunday in January, 1876, and was ordained on February 24th,
following, when the Revs. G. S. Barrett, B.A., of Norwich; W.
Roseman, A. Thomson, M.A., T. Cain, and Principal Scott took
part in the service.
Bethel Chapel was built in 1807, but a glance will show that
with the flight of years it has undergone considerable alterations.
In the early days of Mr. Harrison, the first minister, the gallery
alone was pewed, the area below being empty. The Sunday
School was then taught upstairs, and afterwards in a mill behind.
In 1810 "the middle aisle was pewed, and the side aisles under
the gallery were partitioned off for the Sunday School." There
was a small semi-circle of windows. As originally built the chapel
was almost a square, and like all the chapels belonging to that
period. The Independents of a century ago knew nothing, or, if
they knew, cared nothing, about Gothic, Early English, Elizabethan,

ECCLESLASTICAL ARCHLTECTURE. 201
and all the other styles of ecclesiastical architecture, which within
recent years have come into vogue. They seem to have had but
one model for all their places of worship, and that was severely
plain. Those in the town, where the wealth and culture of the
age collected, were similar to those in the country where the
humbler classes met. The "Bethels" and "Ebenezers" were
much the same everywhere. During Mr. Sunderland's ministry,
from 1832 to 1841, schools were erected behind the chapel
at a cost of .£300. Still more important alterations have
been effected during Mr. Ashford's ministry. In the summer and
autumn of 1882 the chapel underwent a thorough renovation.
From "The Lancashire Congregational Calendar" for 1883 the
following is copied, which will give an idea of the extent of the
work done : —
The alterations consist of repewing with open benches in polished pitch-
pine, to both the gallery and the bottom of the chapel, erecting a chamber
to receive the organ, rebuilding of the front, and the erection of commodious
vestibules ; remodelling the organ, and adding considerably to its power
and compass, and beautifying, relighting, and warming the place. The
entire cost is £1,350, and we understand that nearly £1,000 of this sum was
raised by the congregation. The contractor for the work was Mr. John
Smith, of East Street, Bury, and all the work was done by local men. The
organ was rebuilt by Mr. Richardson, of Preston and Manchester, and all
the works were carried out under the direction of Messrs. Maxwell and
Tuke, of Bury.
Some two years afterwards the friends of Bethel Chapel engaged
in another big enterprise — the erection of new Sunday Schools.
Adjacent to the old school was some property which the trustees
purchased and took down, together with their old school, and
the present commodious structure was erected on the spot. It is
about as light, airy, comfortable, and handsome a school as one
could wish to have. The misfortune is that, being somewhat
behind the chapel, it is not seen. It will accommodate some 450
scholars. Messrs. Maxwell and Tuke, of Bury, superintended the
work, the entire cost of which, together with the purchase of the
old property, was about ,£2,000. To raise funds for the purpose,
a bazaar, held in October, 1884, realised the sum of ,£1,281, and
another effort a few years ago resulted in the total extinction of

202 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
the debt, so that the property is now quite free. The chapel is
situated in Henry Street, as previously stated, not more than fifty
or sixty yards from New Road. It is well protected by a wall and
an iron railing. Originally it stood back considerably from the
street, and had a good-sized graveyard in front. The new front
added to the chapel in 1882 has taken away from the graveyard,
which contains several tombstones. To the right is a long narrow
passage leading up to the school, over the entrance to which is the
following : — " Sunday School, rebuilt 1885."
Over the Chapel entrance we read : —
" Bethel Chapel,
Built 1807,
Altered 1882."
The entrance opens into a wide vestibule, the floor of which is
part of the old graveyard. To the right and left are stairs up to
the galleries, and below three aisles going up to the pulpit. This
is somewhat miniature, and would be rather trying to a man of
large proportions. The organ is immediately behind the pulpit,
and it again is just above the organist. The organ and pulpit
indeed seem so closely connected that some skill will be required
to disjoin them, and probably the two occupants exercise a happy
influence upon each other. To the left of the pulpit is the tablet
erected to the memory of Mr. Thorbum, the inscription upon
which has been given, and to the right two others which are inscribed
thus : — In memory of
DENNIS GRUNDY, Senr.,
of Bury ;
Died nth of May, 1820,
Aged 83 years.
In memory of
MARY,
Wife of Dennis Grundy, Senior,
of Bury ;
Died 21st of November, 1809,
Aged 64 years.

ANOTHER SECESSION. 203
To the right also is the minister's vestry, which opens behind
into the Sunday School. The chapel is galleried all round except
where the organ stands, and the galleries, being large, hang over
somewhat threateningly. A clock fixed against the gallery front
ticks loudly, and may be a useful reminder to minister and
people that tempus frigit. The roof is beautiful, and is divided
longitudinally into three parts. There are three windows in each
side of the chapel, and they are quite modern. It is not so light
as some buildings ; and the overhanging galleries, together with
the yellow bordered glass windows, make it a little more sombre
looking than is perhaps desirable. On the whole, however, it is
comfortable and compact, and must be very different from the original
structure of 1807. It is credited in the "Calendar" with sitting
accommodation for 500 persons ; and both school and chapel are
a worthy monument of work done by the present pastor and his
people.

VI.-— CASTLECROFT AND BLACKFORD BRIDGE CONGRE
GATIONAL CHURCHES, BURY
The third Congregational Church in Bury originated, like the
second, in a secession from New Road. This was during the
ministry of the Rev. James Kennedy, and, as in the case of Bethel,
the division was by no means a friendly one. On the 18th of
September, 1837, the New Road Church held a meeting of mem
bers and pew-holders " to consider the propriety of taking down
the chapel and building a new one." The minister was strongly
opposed to any such scheme, and carried with him the majority of
his people ; but there was a respectable minority as strongly in its
favour. Mr. Kennedy shall tell in his own words what resulted
from the decision of the meeting, which was " by 46 votes to 29
that the old chapel built in 1792 should have a longer lease of
existence." " Steps were immediately taken," says he, "by those
who were not satisfied with this decision to open a room in Bury

204 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Lane. I had spoken favourably of a third interest (provided a
chapel could be built beyond the bridge in Bury Lane, where a
place of worship is much needed) ; but I declined for some time
to sanction this on account of the hurried manner and unseemly
spirit with which it appeared to me to be conducted. My reasons
for declining to be a party in the concern were stated in a letter to
one of the leaders, September 26th, 1837. On Sabbath, October
22nd, 1837, they opened their room ; on February 26th, 1838,
thirty brethren were dismissed to form a church to assemble in
that room, and there they continued to worship till September,
1840, at which time they entered into the chapel which they had
built for themselves at Castle Croft." x Mr. Kennedy's brief account
may be supplemented by the subjoined interesting information
from the Evangelical Magazine for 1838 : —
NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT SHOREFIELD, BURY BRIDGE, BURY,
LANCASHIRE.
Some months ago a few individuals [they were eight in number], members
of the Christian church assembling at New Road, Bury, were desirous to
extend the benefit of religious instruction to a very dense and ignorant
population ; for this purpose they have taken an unoccupied Woollen Mill
at the Western extremity of the town, and at a considerable distance from
their former place of worship. One part of the building is devoted to the
preaching of the gospel, and another to educate the ignorant on the Lord's
Day. They have already collected upwards of two hundred children and
adults, the greater portion of whom are unconnected with any schools.
Approving of their objects, other members have since joined them, and
wishing to have the ordinances of God regularly administered to them,
thirty-one persons who were formerly members of the church at New Road
were recognised as a separate Independent church by the Rev. William
Jones, of Bolton, and the Rev. James Deakin, of Stand.2
The old mill referred to is described as a most uninviting
structure. The walls were unplastered, the middle room in which
they met for worship was low, beneath it was another room occu
pied partly by old looms and partly by the Young Men's Class,
the teacher of which was Mr. T. Hamer. Mr. Hamer afterwards
went to Rotherham College, and for many years he ministered in
1 " Our New Chapel Record."
2 P. 342.

THE REV. WILLLAM ROSEMAN. 205
New Zealand, where he is now resident without charge. In course
of time the room became too small for worship, and the boards
were taken up from the room above, which served as a sort of
gallery. The first superintendent of the school was Mr. Wm.
Butcher. In an interesting speech prepared for delivery at a tea
meeting of teachers and friends on December 25th, 1838, in the
Shorefields Meeting House, Mr. Wm. Butcher says that the first
Sabbath as superintendent he received fifty scholars, and up to the
time of speaking upwards of 400. These, he says, in many cases
had lived in "carelessness and vice," in neglect of the Sabbath
and deplorable ignorance," not being able to read at all. His son,
the late Mr. Richard Butcher, held the position of superintendent
over thirty-eight years.
The Evangelical Magazine for September, 1839, states that
in sixteen months the new church had increased its membership
from thirty-one to sixty-seven ; further, that its " increasing pros
perity has occasioned the necessity of its having a stated pastor,
and after much deliberation and prayer to the Great Head of the
Church for direction the members came to the unanimous conclu
sion to invite to the pastorate the Rev. William Roseman, formerly
pastor of the United Christian Church, Dalbeattie, and Castle
Douglas, North Britain." The account further states that Mr.
Roseman accordingly entered upon his duties here on the 7th of
July, 1839, preaching his first sermon from the text, " I ask
therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?" Acts x., 29. It
has been already noted that the mother church at New Road
looked with no friendly eye upon this new interest ; and so in a
notice of the re-opening services of New Road after enlargement
and beautification reference is made to this third church in the
following terms : —
Since the year 1837 a third interest has been formed. It may be proper
for the religious public to know that this interest has not been sanctioned
by the two pastors and two churches in the town belonging to the same
denomination.1 Happily, however, shortly after this, all bitterness was laid and
1 " Evangelical Magazine" for 1840, p. 83.

206 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
misunderstanding removed. Mr. Roseman and the deacons of
the new church met the deacons of New Road and their minister
on July 14th, 1840, when "all the correspondence which had
taken place on both sides was burnt, and the forgiveness which
the gospel required was displayed." On the 27th of the same
month the New Road Church held a meeting at which it was
agreed that a letter should be forwarded to " the church of Christ
under the pastoral care of the Rev. William Roseman, Shorefields
Chapel, Bury." After referring to the meeting of the 14th, when
" the barriers to fraternal intercourse were removed and a thorough
reconciliation was effected," the letter says : —
We, the Pastor and members of the church assembling at New Road
Chapel, Bury, tender our Christian salutations to the pastor and brethren
connected with the new interest ; we also cordially and unanimously recog
nise them as a Church of Christ; and we resolve, in conjunction with them,
to use every endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.1
In 1840 the chapel at Castlecroft was erected, Mr. Roseman
preaching his last sermon in the old woollen mill from the passage
"Arise, let us go hence," John xiv., 31. The opening service
took place on Wednesday, September 9th of that year, when ser
mons were preached by the Rev. Andrew Reed, D.D., of
Wycliffe Chapel, London, and the Rev. John Ely, of Leeds. On
the following Sunday the opening services were continued, when
the Rev. John Brown, of Cheltenham, preached morning and
evening, and the Rev. Richard Fletcher, of Manchester, in the
afternoon. The following ministers also assisted in the services : —
Revs. James Kennedy and John Sunderland, the ministers of
the two sister churches in the town ; William Jones, Bolton ;
D. Hewitt, Rochdale; William Blackburn, Bamford; William
Orgar, Heywood ; William Atherton, Middleton. The collections
amounted to .£123. The following is a description of the build
ing, with its situation : —
The building is about sixteen yards square. It is a very neat and sub
stantial edifice. The lower area of stone, the chapel of brick. The
interior is well fitted up, and will seat comfortably from six to seven
1 " Our New Chapel Record."

RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT BURRS. 207
hundred persons. It stands upon a fine elevation in the Croft, and very near
the spot where once stood one of the twelve baronial castles, which was
destroyed by the parliamentary troops in the year 1644. The prospect from
it, many miles in extent, is of the most delightful kind. A large and com
modious schoolroom, capable of accommodating five hundred children,
together with a small vestry and library room form the lower area of the
building. It is situated in the centre of a rapidly increasing population.1
The chapel cost about ,£1,800, and after the opening services
there was still upon it a debt of .£900.
At this point it will be proper to give one or two particulars
respecting Mr. Roseman's life previous to his settlement at Bury.
He was born April 26th, 1809, at Ballymacarrett, near Belfast, but
in 1827 he left Ireland, for Glasgow. Here he was privately
trained for the ministry, and in 1831 became pastor of one of the
Presbyterian churches of Kirkcaldy, where he was ordained the
same year. In 1833 he removed from Kirkcaldy, and took charge of
the united churches of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, which, as
alreadystated, he left for Bury in 1839. For many years the Castle
croft friends, principally Mr. R. Butcher and Mr. J. Hamer, held
service at a little hamlet called Burrs, about two miles from Bury,
and midway between that town and Walmersley. The cause
originated in this way : The people of the village were accustomed
to collect upon the bridge on Sunday afternoons and thus while
away their time. One of their number, Mr. Richard Seed,
now in Preston, suggested one Sunday that they should pay a
small subscription weekly and hire a cottage in which they
could sit and read. This was done, and they met on the week
day as well as Sunday. A Bible class was commenced in con
nection with it, and eventually preaching, the Castlecroft friends
going one Sunday and the people from Walmersley Church
another. The place was kept on until the Cotton Famine, when
the village was deserted. Mr. F. Calrow, now of Bury, generously
provided the house with gas, free. There are several still living
who occupy good positions in society, and who are greatly indebted
to the little school at Burrs.
For thirty-two years Mr. Roseman continued to labour at
1 " Evangelical Magazine " for 1840, p. 649.

208 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Castlecroft, and the church reached a high point of prosperity.
On the 8th of August, i860, a service of prayer and thanksgiving
was held " to celebrate the extinction of the debt." Mr. Roseman
reviewed the history of the church from its commencement in
1837, and during the evening it is said that "Mr. Webster, the
senior deacon, presented to Mr. Roseman various gifts from his
people as a token of their esteem." On the completion of his
twenty-fifth year's pastorate he was presented with a portrait of
himself and a gold watch. His ministry, "marked by continued
peace and uniform prosperity," was brought to a termination,
through declining health, on the 28th of September, 1871 when
his congregation again presented him with " a tangible expression
of their deep regard." He continued to reside in the town after
his retirement from Castlecroft, and was often of use to the
churches as a supply. He was a firm friend of temperance, and
had as colleagues in this work the late Rev. Franklin Howorth
and Mr. Thomas Hampton, town missionary. He died on
August 2nd, 1888, in his eightieth year, his funeral taking place
on Monday, August 6th, at the Brunswick Cemetery. An address
was given by his friend, the Rev. A. Anderson, B.A., of Stand;
and on Sunday, August 19th, his funeral sermon was preached by
the Rev. F. Carter, of Northwich. The Rev. T. Skyrme, from
Airedale College, succeeded Mr. Roseman in 1872, and resigned
in 1878. The Rev. H. A. Lawson, M.A., who was educated at
Edinburgh and Glasgow, began work as a Congregational minister
in 1866 at Ryton, Durham, subsequently laboured at East Hartle
pool and Newcastle-on-Tyne, followed Mr. Skyrme at Bury in 1878,
and continues to work here with acceptance amongst his people.
A descriptive note or two in addition to what has been given
are still necessary. The neighbourhood has probably altered
considerably since the date when the chapel was erected. Then
it appears to have been promising ; now it is not so. The property
round about is not of the first order, and even of that there is less
than the promoters of the undertaking opined there would be.
The sacred edifice, itself a very high building, stands upon elevated
ground. The inscription — "Congregational Chapel, 1840" —
which stands in the front and near the top, requires decent eye
sight to decipher. It is almost a square building, severely plain,

BLACKFORD BRIDGE. 209
and is surrounded by a large graveyard. There seem to have
been in this only a few interments, three of Mr. Roseman's
children being amongst the number. Two of them, aged seven
and nine years respectively, died within the space of six months,
and only some two or three years after his settlement in Bury.
The chapel entrance opens into a vestibule, from which to right
and left are steps leading into the gallery. Two aisles, also from
the vestibule, lead up to the pulpit, which is opposite the entrance.
It is supported by four pillars, stands against the wall, is of a
moderate size, and is ascended by steps somewhat steep and
trying. Immediately behind are the organ and choir chamber,
and below is the communion pew, on one side of which is a neat
marble font. The pews below are all stained, open, and modern
in style. There are galleries all round, the part behind the pulpit
forming the organ and choir chamber. In the gallery are the old,
deep, straight-backed pews, which contrast somewhat unfavourably
with those below. On each side of the chapel are two sets of
windows, three each, having the small panes common fo the days
when it was built. It is a large, light, airy structure, and if a little
old-fashioned is exceedingly comfortable looking. Few structural
alterations have been made during the fifty years of its existence.
Many of our chapels have been put together piecemeal, between
the inception and completion of the undertaking a generation,
perhaps even two, passing away : first the school, then the chapel,
next the galleries, and, to finish with, a transept or two. But Mr.
Roseman and his friends adopted a more courageous policy.
They at once erected a building which for half a century has
served them in all their religious work, with few alterations. The
most important one was the uplifting of the chapel floor by about
two feet some twenty-five years ago, giving thereby more space to
the school below. At the same time the old pews were replaced
by the present ones. Some ten years ago also the chapel was
painted and decorated. Adjoining the chapel is a smaller building,
which serves for two classrooms. There are about 450 scholars
in the school.
Congregationalists began to hold services at Blackford Bridge,
about two miles south of Bury, in 1869. The room hired for the
purpose was situated in the village, and Mr. Jones was appointed
3—14

210 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Evangelist, but he remained only some twelve months. The
Rev. J. McMillan, from West Burton, who had previously con
ducted services here for several weeks, became the pastor
in 1875, in which year a school chapel was erected at a cost
of ,£1,000, capable of seating 350 people. In October, 1877, a
church was formed consisting of ten members. Mr. McMillan
held the pastorate until 1880, when he removed to Barrow-
in-Furness, where he still labours. In 1883 the present minister,
Rev. William Nicholls, from Ravenstonedale, took the oversight
of the church. In 1885 increased accommodation for the Sunday
School had become necessary, and new classrooms were erected at
a cost of .£450, towards meeting which a Sale of Work in October
of that year realised ,£190. On the night of November 19th,
1887, a "disastrous fire" destroyed the school chapel, which
" untoward event threatened to bring to a standstill the various
operations of the place." " Happily," continues the " Congregational
Calendar" for 1888, "it has called forth the sympathies and help
not only of Christian friends and neighbours, but also of persons
who make no open profession of attachment to religious institu
tions. The result is that, including £500 received from the
insurance office, and £200 raised by a bazaar held in New Road
School, for the purpose of meeting the expense of a new boundary
wall," the friends now have in hand the sum of .£1,330. Acting on
the suggestions of neighbouring friends, the members of the church
and congregation, at a meeting held on the 4th of January [1888],
determined, if ,£1,800 were raised, to begin building a chapel.
The entire cost of this, and of the restorations rendered necessary
by the fire, is estimated at £2,000." The restored schoolroom
was opened on June 14th, 1888, by the Rev. G. S. Reaney, of Man
chester, and the new chapel, with sitting accommodation for 350
people, in March, 1889, by the late Dr. Macfadyen, of Manchester.
The debt upon the premises was cleared off last year. The church
from its commencement has received generous assistance from the
funds of the Lancashire County Union, and still does so.
1 Wm. Nicholls says the bazaar was really for the purpose of building a
new chapel.

DESCRIPTIVE NOTES.

VII.— TOTTINGTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
On the left of the road leading from Bury to Ramsbottom, and
about three miles from the former place and two from the latter,
is the Tottington Congregational Church. Immediately in front of
it is the lofty eminence known as Holcombe Hill, at whose foot on
the other side nestles ". Dundee Chapel," whose history has already
been given.1 Tottington Congregational Church, with its lofty
tower and spire, forms a conspicuous landmark for a considerable
distance. "It stands upon an elevated plot of ground," says the
"Lancashire Congregational Calendar" for 1867, "at the junction
of three roads, the situation being peculiarly adapted for the
Gothic structure, which forms a picturesque object in the midst of
the bold scenery by which it is surrounded." It was erected in
1866, and is further described in the work just named : —
It is built of stone obtained from local quarries, in the early decorated
style ; the length 8oft. by 48ft. wide, affording accommodation to 580
hearers ; but, by the addition of side galleries, which may be introduced at
a small cost, 200 more sittings will be obtained. The plan comprises a
nave with entrance vestibule in front, and Minister's and Deacon's vestries
behind, over which there are galleries, the arches of which are deeply
recessed and effectually " brought in parti-colours."
The building cost £3,200, the architects being Messrs. Wood-
house and Potts, of Oldham. The pulpit is at the end opposite
the entrance, below it is the communion pew, and behind it the
organ. Over the entrance is a gallery used principally by the
children belonging to the Sunday School. A handsome marble
tablet, containing also a medallion, to the right of the pulpit, is
thus inscribed : — JAMES HAINSWORTH,
of Holly Mount College, Tottington, Lancashire,
Born ist August, 1829 ; died 21st May, 1885.
" He walked with God."
This tablet is erected by pupils in memory of a loved master and friend,
whose best monument is the undying influence of his simple Christian life
and character. 1 Vide pp. 154-167.

212 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Mr. Hainsworth was educated for the Baptist ministry, and for
some time had a church. He and his pupils used to occupy about
forty sittings in the Tottington Chapel, and his death has been
severely felt. On the right side of the chapel is a large graveyard,
which is rapidly being filled.
The building thus described is the third which has been used
by the Tottington Congregationalists, and we must now sketch
the history of the cause here. It originated in quite an interesting
and unusual way. The name of Mr. Robert Hadfield in particular
is associated with its beginning, and concerning him a few par
ticulars will be acceptable to the reader. He was a teacher in
the Ashley Lane Congregational Sunday School, Manchester, and
and of very decided religious character. It is thus recorded of
him : —
Shortly after his marriage he was thrown out of work and much reduced.
It so happened that a Mr. Edward Bond, who at that time was a partner in
the firm of Nelson, Knowles & Co., calico printers, becoming acquainted
with Robert in Sunday School work, gave him an introduction to his friend
Mr. Beswick, manager of the works at Tottington Mill, near Bury. Armed
with this Robert set off one morning to walk from Manchester to Tottington.
The interview was very disappointing, for he was told there was no room for
him, and with a heavy heart, and probably with an empty stomach, he began
to retrace his steps homeward.
He was, however, called back before he had proceeded many
yards and given a situation. Some unpleasantness in the Sunday
School belonging to St. Ann's Church, Tottington, led to Robert
Hadfield being appointed superintendent with a view to his
reorganising it. This he did, and a large company of young
people was gathered together, and much earnest work done. Mr.
Hadfield and the secretary (Mr. S. Knowles) ventured on one
occasion to offer a gentle remonstrance to the clergyman for some
misconduct, who thereupon, without consulting anyone, deposed
him from the office of superintendent. Says a writer : —
A sad scene followed, both teachers and scholars wept at the departure of
those who had been so blessedly successful, and upon the superintendent and
secretary leaving most of the teachers and scholars, too, would not go any
more. And now there opened up a new and unexpected path. The young

HOLHOUS SUNDAY SCHOOL. 213
people were wandering like sheep without shepherd, and at this juncture a
house far away in a quiet glen called Holhous was vacant. This was taken
at a small rent, the inside walls removed, and after being fitted up was
eventually opened under the name of Providence Independent Sunday School,
Holhous, Tottington. It was used both as a Sunday School and preaching
room, became crowded with young people, and many precious lambs were
folded there by the Great Shepherd. It was a beautiful experience to see on
a fine Sabbath morning such numbers of clean dressed children wending
their way from all points and by devious paths to this sequestered spot, and
to hear their voices as they sang the morning hymn mingling with the song
of the lark.
Tottington is first mentioned in the Report of the Lancashire
Congregational Union for 1848, where it is stated that it was pro
posed to constitute it, along with Edgworth, into a district station.
The year following the Report says : —
" The time has perhaps now come when the cause here will
demand the attention and assistance of the Union in conjunction
with Edgworth Moor."
It also mentions the erection of a new building in 1848 at the
cost of £1,000, to be used both as school and chapel. The open
ing services were conducted by Dr. Halley, then of Manchester.
This building stands just across the road from the present chapel.
Over its doorway is the inscription : —
" Green
Mount, 1848."
In 1880 an important enlargement took place in the shape of
new classrooms being added at a cost of £150. A still more
important undertaking has just been completed. A new portion
has been added to the left side, which will give accommodation to
at least 160 more persons. The memorial stone of this new part
was laid on Saturday, March 15th, 1890, by Mr. Joshua Knowles,
in the unavoidable absence of his father. The cost of the
enlargement was £1,000.
We have anticipated somewhat in order to finish with the
descriptive part, consequently must retrace our steps. In the

214 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
extract just given from the Union Report it is said that the time
had " perhaps now come " when the Union should take up the
cause at Tottington. Whether it actually did at that time is not
clear, but it is not again mentioned until we come to the Report
for 1856, where we read : —
A small grant was made at the last annual meeting for the preaching of the
Gospel in this village. Considerable success has been realised during the
year — a large school has been gathered — a church formed, and Rev. J.
Spencer Hill has become the minister.
The church would be formed either in 1855 or at the beginning
of 1856, when the Congregational ministers of Bury and Park, near
Ramsbottom, were present. The following fourteen persons then
entered into fellowship : Robert Hadfield, and Margaret, his wife;
Samuel Knowles, and Ellen, his wife ; James Greenhalgh ; Peter
Warburton, and Maria, his wife ; John Ashworth and his wife Ann;
Fanny Holding ; James Taylor, and Ann, his wife ; Thomas
Hindle, and Ann, his wife.
The Rev. J. Spencer Hill, whose ministry began in 1844, was
(rained at Bedford and removed to Tottington from Youghal. He
remained barely a year, and went to Charlestown, Manchester.
He was afterwards at Exeter and Middleton, near Oldham. From
this place he withdrew in 1877, and went into the Established
Church. The hymn book question seems to have been a serious difficulty
at the beginning of this church's history. Many were for Dr.
Watts's hymns, and some for the Leeds Selection. It was this,
principally, which led to the retirement of Mr. Hill ; and the next
minister heard of it almost as soon as he settled. This was the
Rev. Joseph Bliss, from Leyland, who began his labours at
Tottington on the first Sunday in December, 1857. The Report,
for i860, states that five out-stations were regularly visited by him,
that his excellent wife had been very active in conducting a Female
Bible Class and weekly mothers' meeting, and that by a vigorous
effort the debt had been paid off. The question of a new chapel
was repeatedly talked about during the ministry of Mr. Bliss, but
nothing was done, and he resigned his charge in July, 1864,
having accepted an invitation to the church at Brampton.

STAND HALL. 215
Says his biographer in the "Congregational Year Book " for 1883,
he found at Tottington a " church of eleven members, and at the
end of seven years, when he removed to Brampton, in Cumberland,
he left more than one hundred." Mr. Bliss died suddenly at
Blackpool, on the 28th of September, 1882. In 1865 the Rev.
Frederick Carter, a Lancashire College student, succeeded
Mr. Bliss at Tottington. The long talked of new chapel was
erected in j866, and the Report for 1868-9 saYs : —
Such prosperity has followed the opening of this new chapel and the
labours of Mr. Carter that the people feel themselves able not only to dis
pense with the aid of the Union, but also to add a small amount to the salary
of their minister.
In 187 1 Mr. Carter removed to Park Chapel, Cheetham Hill,
Manchester, which has been quite recently closed. He is now at
Northwich, in Cheshire. His successor was the Rev. T. H.
Blackshaw, from Airedale College. He began his ministry in
1872, and in 1879 removed to Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, where
he now labours. The Rev. John Shuker, entered upon duty here
on the first Sunday of March, 1880. He had previously laboured
for seven years at Poulton and Hambleton, in the Fylde District,
where he was ordained. The important alterations in the school
which have been made during his ministry have already been
described. He resigned in the early part of 1891, and is now the
pastor of the Trinity Congregational Church, Swinton, near
Manchester. The present minister, the Rev. John D. Boyd, from
Lancashire College, commenced his labours here on August 23rd,
1891.

VIII.— STAND UNITARIAN CHAPEL.
A writer of sixty years ago has the following respecting Stand : —
" A hamlet in the township of Pilkington, parish of Prestwich cum
Oldham, hundred of Salford, 3 miles N. from Prestwich. This is
a populous and thriving village. Stand Hall is the seat of the

216 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Misses Johnson." 1 To this may be added a sentence from Baines's
" Lancashire " :—
The Old Hall of the Pilkingtons at Stand, forming the Stand in the park,
from whence the place derives its name, and which, according to tradition,
was originally a storey higher than at present, with a flat roof for the purpose
of viewing the hunting below, is still standing ; and near it is a large ancient
farm erected from the remains of a neighbouring chapel, which contains some
curiously carved oak principals, still in good preservation. The roof of the
barn, which is also of ancient carved oak, bears some resemblance to the roof
of the south aisle of Prestwich Church.2
In maps it appears as "Whitefield," or "Stand," and is about mid
way on the line between Manchester and Bolton via Radcliffe, being
close to the latter town, and only a few miles from Bury, to and
from which town steam trams run somewhat frequently. Through
it runs Ringley Road, over Cinder Hill to Ringley, Stoneclough,
and Farnworth. Clark's Hill is close by, from which on a clear
day a good view of the country may be obtained for many miles
around. The origin of Nonconformity in this district is thus set forth by
the editors of " The Manchester Socinian Controversy," published
in 1825.
The founders of the Dissenting cause at this place were mostly, it is sup
posed, the old hearers of Mr. Pyke, who was ejected in 1662 from Radcliffe
Church in the neighbourhood. Many of the nonconformist ministers, who
resorted to Manchester as a place of refuge, it not being a corporation town,
supplied the neighbouring villages as they had opportunity, and Stand
enjoyed that privilege among the rest. Tradition affirms that the first
preaching place here was a barn in Higher Lane.3
This passage gives us a good name to commence with in the
Rev. Thomas Pyke. The Parliamentary Commissioners in their
report of 1650, have the following about him : —
Wee present that Rauffe Ashton of Middleton, Esquier, as patron of the
p'ish Church of Ratcliffe, aboute sixe yeares agoe did bestowe the said
p'sonage wth the benefices apptennces therevnto belonginge vpon Mr-
Thomas Pike, Batchlor of Arts, who is now Rector of the said Church
1 " New Lancashire Gazetteer," published in 1830.
* Croston's Edition, vol. ii., p. 366.
3 P. 156.

RADCLIFFE CHURCH.

2i 8 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
there is in glebe lands belonginge to the said Rectory twenty pounds p.
Ann., And in Rents thirty shillings p. Ann., And in tyths twenty-eight
pounds ten shillings p Ann. And the said Mr- Pike is a godly preachinge
Minister, well quallifyed in lyffe and conversacon ; and that the demesne
lands belonginge to the said Mr- Ashton, in Radcliffe afforesaid, are worth
one hundred and fiftie pounds p. Ann., And hath not payd any tythes for
ought wee knowe ; And that the said Mr- Pyke hath and doth receive the
said benefites and p'ffitts to his owne prop, vse.1
Mr. Pyke had previously laboured at Walmsley, near Bolton.
In 1662, on the passing of the Act of Uniformity, he suffered
ejection from Radcliffe, whence he removed to Blackley, near Man
chester, where in the house of Mrs. Travis he preached occa
sionally when opportunity offered. On the passing of the
Indulgence Act in 1672 he licensed his house at Blackley, and at
Blackley Chapel he laboured until his death, which took place
after three days' sickness on the 19th of August, 1676. As soon
as more favourable times permitted, the Nonconformists of Stand
elected the Rev. Robert Eaton as their minister, and in 1693 a
chapel was erected for him which is said to have been " hand
some." Our principal authority for information respecting Mr.
Eaton is Calamy. He states that he was born in Cheshire,
where several branches of the Eaton family resided during the
17 th century, owning considerable property, and holding quite
Puritanic views. He received his education at Cambridge, and
settled first in Essex, whence he removed to Walton, near Preston.
On the restoration of Charles IL, in 1660, Mr. Eaton was ejected
from Walton to make room for a Royalist clergyman. He was
ejected from Daresbury, in Cheshire, 1662, and at one time is said
to have been chaplain to Lord Delamere.
After Mr. Eaton's ejection from Daresbury he appears to have
resided in Manchester, and he preached for the Nonconformists of
Stand, though the exact date of his appointment to the pastorate
is not known. His house was in Deansgate, where was con
ducted on October 29th, 1672, the ordination of the Revs. Samuel
Angier, of Denton, Joseph Dawson, and John Jollie.2 Probably
1 " Commonwealth Church Survey" (Record Society Series), vol. i., p. 29.
2 Dr. Halley says this was the first ordination in England of Noncon
formist ministers. " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 249.

WALTON CHURCH.

220 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Mr. Eaton preached for the Nonconformists of Stand long before
the erection of the chapel in 1693, and he continued to reside in
Manchester. He laboured at Stand until his death, which took
place in 1 701. In the "Northowram Register " is the following
notice of his burial : —
" Mr. Robert Eaton, a N. C. [Nonconformist] minister, bur. at
Manchester August 25, 1701, aged 70." '
Calamy says that "he was a solid divine, a good scholar, and a
judicious Christian; of great moderation, and exemplary in his
behaviour."2 His funeral sermon was preached by his friend and
fellow worker, Henry Finch, who, like himself, was ejected from
Walton. The Rev. Samuel Eaton was the next minister at Stand.
He was the son of Robert Eaton just named, and, like his father,
was resident in Manchester during his ministry at Stand. He was
trained at Mr. Frankland's Academy, Rathmell, and his marriage
is referred to in the " Northowram Register " thus : —
"Mr. Saml. Eaton of Manchester & Mr. Marlers dau. Sep. 22
[1682]." 3
He was ordained at Macclesfield on June 17th, 1700, along with
several others, the ordainers being the Revs. Mr. Angier, Mr.
Chorlton, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Jones, Mr. Scoles, Mr. Aldred, and
Matthew Henry. His ministry at Stand began in 1701, and
terminated with his death. The following from the "Northowram
Register " relates to this event : —
Mr. Saml. Eaton, of Manchester, minr. at Stand in Prestwich Parish, died
Sep. 5. [1710] aged abt. 53. A man of unknown learning, greatly respected,
& much lamented, a very great loss.4
Matthew Henry, in his diary, under date September 12th, 1710,
Tuesday, also says : —
¦- P. 106.
2 "Nonconformist's Memorial" (1802), vol. ii., p. 380.
3 P. 45-
4 P. 252.

THE EATON FAMILY. 221
I hear of the death of Mr. Samuel Eaton, of Manchester, minister at Stand,
near Manchester ; aged about 54. He was buried last Thursday. He was
a man of great integrity and learning. It is time to cry, — "Help, Lord." He
buried two sons and a son-in-law, Mr. Cheney (of Warrington) within two
or three years last past.1
In the "'Northowram Register" are several notices of Mr. Eaton's
family. His daughter, Anne Eaton, married Mr. John Cheney,
"a mercer in Warrington," in July, 1705. He died in January,
1709, and she married Christopher Basnet, minister at Liverpool,
on February 9th, 17 14. She died September 13th, 1737. Mr.
Eaton's son, Bezaleel, died about the beginning of December, 1 707 ;
and his second son, Marler Eaton, was buried at London, July,
14th, 1709. There is also mention of a Mr. John Eaton, a grocer,
of Warrington, whose wife eventually married for a second husband
Nehemiah Reyner, minister at Gorton. In the " Register " is the
following entry respecting Mrs. Eaton's death : — ¦
" Mrs. Eaton, of Manchester, wid. of the late Mr. Saml. Eaton,
a N. C. minr., died there Febr. 19 [1721]." 2
The next minister at Stand was the Rev. Joseph Heywood. He
was admitted into Mr. Frankland's Academy, Rathmell, February
10th, 1690, and began his ministry at Stand in 1710. Nothing is
known about him beyond the fact that he died in October and
was buried Nov. ist, 1729, probably in the chapel at which he had
laboured. He was followed by the Rev. William Harrison in 1730.
In 1737 he removed to Buxton, where he continued until 1755,
when he became pastor of Chinley, Derbyshire. Increasing age
and infirmities led him to resign the pastorate here in 1782, and
on the 27th of March, 1783, he died. His doctrinal sentiments are
said to have been " strongly tinctured with Arianism," and
accordingly gave serious offence to his people at Chinley. The
Rev. William Bond was the next minister. He was trained by
Dr. Ebenezer Latham, of Findern, near Derby, and had previously
laboured for a few years at Wheelock Heath Chapel, near Sand-
bach, in Cheshire. In the minutes of the Cheshire Ministers,
under date September 7th, 1731, is the following : —
* "Memoirs of the Rev. Matthew Henry " (Williams), p. 267.
2 P. 282.

222 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
" The people of Wheelock applied to the Assembly for ye ordina
tion of Mr. William Bond. The ordination to be at Wheelock
on Wednesday, ye 27th Oct. next." ]
He began his ministry at Stand in 1737, and continued until
about 1 78 1. His successor was the Rev. William Dodge Cooper,
who was educated at Hoxton, came here in 1781, and removed to
Gorton, near Manchester, in 1788, where he died in 1801. The
Rev. Mr. Aubrey succeeded Mr. Cooper at Stand in 1788. He
is said to have been the first to preach Unitarianism here, and as
a consequence a number of the congregation left in 1791, and
established Stand Independent Church. Mr. Aubrey left in 1795,
and subsequently laboured in Gloucester and Swansea. The
next minister at Stand was the Rev. Thomas Smith. He was
trained for the Wesleyan ministry, and laboured for a short time at
Dukinfield and Risley. In June, 1797, he removed to Stand,
where he remained until 181 1. In that year he removed to Park
Lane, near Wigan, arid left the ministry in 1822. The Rev.
Arthur Dean succeeded Mr. Smith in 1811. He was trained at
Manchester New College, York, and came direct from college
to Stand. He remained until December 18th, 1831, when he
retired to Bowdon, and died November ist, 1856, in his sixty-
ninth year. The Rev. Thomas May came next. The date of his
birth is 1806, and the place of his education Belfast Academy.
He entered the ministry in 1825, being at that time Calvinistic in
his views. In 1829 he accepted an engagement for two years as
minister of the Unitarian congregation in Edinburgh, removing
thence to Dundalk. He came to Stand in 1831, and removed to
Tavistock in June, 1841, and died July 18th, 1842. The Rev.
Philip Pearsall Carpenter, B.A., LL.D., succeeded Mr. May in
1841. He was born in 1819, trained at Manchester New College,
was at Stand from 1841 to 1846, at Warrington from 1846 to
1861, retired to Montreal in 1865, and died in 1877. The Rev.
John Cropper, M.A., comes next. He was born in 1806,
educated at Glasgow, settled at Stand in 1846, and remained until
1866. He was at Wareham from 1866-7, and died in 1889. The
1 " Nonconformity in Cheshire " (Urwick), p. 191.

STAND CHAPEL. 223
next minister was the Rev. William Croke Squier, who was born
in Essex in 1832, and trained at the Home Missionary Board,
Manchester. He began ministerial duties at Preston in 1858,
removing to Stand in April, 1867. Failing health led to his resig
nation in 1885, and the remainder of his days he spent in retire
ment at Ringley Row, Stoneclough, near Farnworth. He died
April 23rd, 1888, and was interred on Saturday, the 28th, in the
Stand Unitarian Chapel graveyard. The present minister, the
Rev. Robert Travers Herford, B.A., received his training at Man
chester New College, Owens College, and Leiden. He began
ministerial duty at Stand in 1S85. To his kindness I am
indebted for a considerable amount of the information contained
in this sketch.
The chapel, whose history has been just given, stands on an
elevated position on the left hand side of the road leading from
Ringley to Stand. Its broad side, covered with ivy, faces the road,
and in front of it is the burial ground. There is one large window
in the centre and two smaller ones on each side. On the left is
the doorway, over which is the following inscription : —
Conditum A.D. 1693.
Renovatum A.D. 1818.
On the same side is a minister's vestry, and close by also the large
and commodious school buildings erected in 1867. To the right
is a small bell tower added in 1867, the base formerly standing
upon the gable end. Here is a flight of steps which lead into the
organ chamber and up the bell loft. Close by on this side is the
manse, which is at least a hundred years old. One aisle runs from
the door the length of the chapel — dividing it longitudinally. At
the further end is a gallery which serves as organ and choir
chamber ; at the other end also is a gallery, and on the right of
the aisle the seats are slightly raised, whilst on the left is the pulpit
with the small communion pew beneath. A short time ago the
chapel was cleaned and beautified, and so everything has a bright
and cheerful appearance. The ceiling in particular is noteworthy
and pleasing. Several tablets are fixed against the walls, three at
least of which belong to the Philips family, one of whom — R. N.
Philips — was late member for Bury. There is also one tombstone

224 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
in the doorway, bearing date 1772, belonging to the Richardsons.
In the gallery of the previous building was a date 1693, when the
chapel is supposed to have been erected, and according to Dr.
Evans's list — (1717-1729) — it had a congregation of 338 people,
of whom thirty-one were county voters. The building remained
until 1818, when it was taken down and the present one erected,
on almost identically the same spot. It was opened on Good
Friday, 1819, and has sitting accommodation for about 400
persons. In " Notitia Cestriensis " is an interesting passage re
lating to Stand, which may appropriately be given here : —
A House and some Land, worth about £4 per annum, lying near the
Stand in Pilkinton, was left to Charitable uses by Henry Syddall, of Ratcliffe
Bridge, Tailor, in i6g6,x but being left to ye Disposall of a Dissenter, Roger
Walker, of Radcliffe, Butcher, a Presbyterian Meeting-house is built upon
part of y6 land, and a Dissenter teaches School in part of y° house ; but
w1 is done wth ye profits of y8 estate cannot be learnt. Curate's acct.,
anno 1718. The present master is Wm. Walker, one of their own gang.
Mr. Scholes' acct, 1722." 2
It has already been stated that considerable alterations were
made in 1867, amongst them being the removal of two cottages
abutting the chapel to the right, which has given more space for
burial purposes. In one of them lived old Jemmy Collier, a great
Radical, who was on especially intimate terms with the late Mr.
Robert Philips, father of Mr. R. N. Philips. He was also a
bee keeper, is said to have known all his bees and to have been
known by them, and occasionally to have given them an outing
for a week at once to Blackstone Edge. On anniversary occasions
the cottages, as well as the chapel, were usually crowded with
people, and the collecting boxes never failed to appear in them.
Another humorous tit-bit is still retailed to the following effect.
Some seventy years ago, whilst one of the ministers was preaching,
he observed through the window a man passing with a bucket of
pig's wash on his head, when suddenly the bottom fell out and the
unlucky carrier received the contents on himself. The sight was
1 This would seem to point to a little later date than 1693 for the
erection of the chapel if it be accurate.
2 Chetham Society Series, vol. xix., p. 111.

226 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
too much for the divine, and, though in the midst of the service, he
sat down in the pulpit and burst into a fit of laughter.
In the graveyard are no very old tombstones, though there are a
few interesting ones. The oldest bears date 1750, and belongs to
the Taylor family. John Taylor died September 15th, 1796, aged
seventy-seven years. He was the grandfather of the founder of
the Manchester Guardian, and great-grandfather of the present
proprietor. There is also a vault belonging to the Hanson family,
one of whom, Colonel Hanson, was a Chartist leader many years
ago. There is one other which bears the names of two successive
wives of William Walker, the first of whom died in May, 1775,
and the second in October of the same year. Mr. Walker married
a third wife within the twelve months. There are a few objects of
interest to the antiquarian connected with the chapel. The bell
still in use bears date 1709. There is also an old communion
plate without date, but which is associated with the earliest history
of the place, and a beautiful little silver chalice, on the one side of
which are the initials, W.
W. M.
and on the other the following inscription : —
" The gift of Margaret Walker,
to th' Stand Chapel, 1759."
In the minister's house also are several books, principally
theological, left by the Rev. Arthur Dean, former minister, for the
use of his successors. The principal families attending the chapel
are the Philipses, the Farrars, and the Taylors, and for a country
place the congregations are said to keep up well. It should be
stated that the organ is the gift of the late Robert Philips.

IX.— STAND INDEPENDENT CHURCH.
In the previous sketch it was stated that a division took place at
Stand Unitarian Chapel towards the end of the last century during
the ministry of Mr. Aubrey, who was the first to preach distinctly
Unitarian doctrines there. The seceders " pitched their tent first

THE BARN AT SHEEP HEY. 227
in a barn at Sheephey, where the Rev. James M'Quhae, of Black
burn, preached the first sermon, from 2 Timothy iii., 16 ; shortly
afterwards in a cottage near the door of this house ; and then they
built, in 1791, these walls." Such is the account of the origin of
the Congregational interest here, as given by the Rev. A. Anderson,
B. A., in a sermon preached in the old chapel on Sunday, March
22nd, 1885, just before it was taken down. He further says : —
The parcel of ground upon which this house is built, together with the
chapel yard, was (1791) a generous gift from a kind neighbour, Mr. Peter
Walker, of Stand House. The piece on which the Chapel House and
Sunday School now stand was in like manner granted to our fathers by
another kind neighbour (a nephew of Mr. Walker) Mr. Richard Kay, also of
Stand, merchant. . . . And here let me say that this congregation has
itself added two parcels of freehold land to the original two.
The first pastor of this new interest was the Rev. James Fordyce,
who is described as a man of considerable pulpit ability. He
came to Stand from Eastwood, in 1791, and remained for eight
years and a half. It is said that his opinions were strongly
Unitarian, and during his ministry the cause seriously declined.
The only reliable income of the place at the time of his resignation
was ^14 15s. His successor was the Rev. William Coles. He
first comes into view as an agent of the celebrated Captain Scott,
who sent him to labour for about three months at Middlewich, in
Cheshire. Thence he removed to Greenacres, Oldham, settling
there on the 27th of August, 1794. He remained at Greenacres
for about six years and a half, and through the influence of the
Rev. Noah Blackburn, was introduced to the Stand people. I
copy from an authentic source the following interesting account of
his settlement at Stand and condition of the church at the time : —
In the spring of 1801, a church consisting of 12 members was formed by
the Rev. Leonard Redmayne, of Horwich. The church and congregation
then united in giving an invitation to the Rev. William Coles, minister of the
Independent interest at Greenacres Chapel, near Oldham, who complied
with their request, and commenced his services among them in April, 1801
Under his ministry the cause soon began to revive ; and what was before a
wilderness soon blossomed like the rose — all hearts and hands were united
together in forwarding the good work.1
* " Historical and Biographical Notices," by the Rev. G. G. Wadding-
ton, p. 307.

228 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
The terms of Mr. Coles's invitation were not very tempting.
He was invited for " three years at a salary of ^80 per annum,
and to pay out of it ^10 per annum for rent." Of course it must
be remembered that money at that time was more valuable than
now, but even with that proviso Mr. Coles was not likely to be
troubled with too much of it. In a short time the cause pros
pered so greatly that his salary became ^120 per annum. His
biographer states that he was " very lively, smart, active, and
energetic, a good visitor, and a good preacher. His greatest
failing was a natural propensity to undue levity, which sometimes
exposed him to unfavourable remarks, injured his reputation, and
was a chief cause of his removal from Stand."1 He resigned his
charge here on Wednesday, the 12th of October, 1808, and settled
at Bakewell, in Derbyshire, where he died and was buried. A
brass tablet on the old pulpit at Bakewell records the death of his
wife and her bequest to the chapel of ^50. Mr. Coles's successor
at Stand was the Rev. Richard Slate. He was born in London,
July 10th, 1787, trained at Hoxton Academy, whence he came to
Stand, and was ordained here on the 19th of April, 1810. From
the Evangelical Magazine for August, 1810, the following
account of this service is copied : —
April 19th. The Rev. R. Slate (late a student of Hoxton Academy) was
ordained over the Independent Church at Stand, near Manchester. Mr.
Jones, of Bolton, began by reading the Scriptures, &c. Mr. Fletcher, of
Blackburn, delivered the introductory discourse, &c. Mr. Blackburn, of
Delph, offered the ordination prayer ; Mr. Charrier, of Liverpool, delivered
the charge from 2 Cor., iv. 2. Mr. Evans, of Stockport, preached to the
people from 1 Thess., ii. 12 ; and Mr. Roby, of Manchester, concluded with
prayer.1 In 1826 he removed to Grimshaw Street, Preston, where he
exercised a useful ministry during nearly thirty-five years, resigning
in 1861. At a meeting over which his friend, Mr. George Hadfield,
M.P., presided, he was presented with a beautifully illuminated
address, together with a purse containing ,£400. After his resig
nation he continued to reside in Preston, and to be a member of
1 Ibid., p. 309.
^ P. 331.

A STAUNCH NONCONFORMIST. 229
the church of which he had so long been pastor. His intimate
friend was the Rev. Joseph Dyson, of Farnworth, at whose ordina
tion he had assisted. Between the two men there was an under
standing that when one of them died the survivor should conduct
the funeral service. Mr. Dyson was the first to die, and was
interred on Thursday, December 6th, 1867. Mr. Slate, according
to promise, though very weak, was present and took part in the
service. The journey proved fatal to him, for, having caught cold
at the funeral, he himself died on the following Tuesday, December
10th, at the ripe age of eighty years.1
His son-in-law was the Rev. Anthony Bateson, for some years
Congregational minister at Horwich, Egerton, and Middleton,
near Oldham. Mr. Slate was followed at Stand by the Rev.
James Deakin. He was educated at Rotherham, and on the
termination of his college course went to Chorley, near Preston,
where he was ordained May 25th, 1825, no fewer than seventeen
ministers taking part in the service. He resigned his Chorley
pastorate May 22nd, 1828, for Stand, where he remained until
185 1. During his ministry "the people seemed to have prosperity,
and the church doubled its membership. This was the time more
especially of large and interesting missionary meetings."2 In 1852
Mr. Deakin removed to Hope Chapel, Hanley, Staffordshire, and
finally retired from the ministry in 1855. The closing years of his
life were spent at Egerton, near Bolton, where he died on the 20th
of May, 1880, aged seventy-six years. His remains lie in the
family vault in the Walmsley churchyard. The following estimate
of his character is worth insertion : —
He was well read in our old Nonconformist theology, and took great
pride in his library. His conversation was clear, cheerful, and replete with
memories of men whom he had known in his earlier days, and side by side
with whom he had fought in his Master's cause. He was a staunch Noncon
formist, a cordial hater of all modern innovations, and courageous in the
defence of his opinions.3
1 The reader is referred to vol. i. of this work for a lengthy notice of this
good man, to whose careful researches in denominational history Lancashire
Congregationalism is most deeply indebted.
2 Sermon by Mr. Anderson.
3 "Congregational Year Book," for 1S81, p. 370.

230 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
It has previously been stated1 that his children and grandchildren,
the Deakins of Belmont and Egerton, are generous supporters of
Congregationalism in those two villages. During Mr. Deakin's
ministry, about 1847, some twenty or more members left Stand
and established the Radcliffe Congregational Church.
The present pastor, Rev. Alexander Anderson, B.A., began his
labours here in 1852. The following extracts from the Evangelical
Magazine for 1852 respecting his settlement and ordination here
will interest some who, like Mr. Anderson, "remain unto this
day " :— STAND, NEAR MANCHESTER.
Mr. A. Anderson, B.A., of Cheshunt College, has accepted a call from the
church and congregation worshipping in the above place, and commenced
his labours on Lord's Day, February 22nd. On the following Tuesday a
tea meeting was held in connection with the settlement of the new pastor.
The Rev. Messrs. Roseman and Hardacre, Mr. James Rae, B.A., and other
gentlemen took part in the proceedings of the evening.2
Again,
The church and congregation assembling in the Independent Chapel, Stand,
near Manchester, having admitted Mr. Alexander Anderson, B.A., to the
office of pastor, several pastors and members of neighbouring churches
joined with them on Wednesday, the 29th ult. [November], publicly recog
nizing and confirming the union. A part of Paul's First Epistle to the
Corinthians was read and prayer offered by the Rev. W. R. Thorburn,
M.A., of Bury ; the Rev. J. Clunie McMichael, of Farnworth, delivered a
discourse on Ecclesiastical Polity ; the Rev. Richard Slate, of Preston,
sketched the local history of the Independents from the time of the Act of
Uniformity, and then requested and received a brief expression of Mr.
Anderson's religious experience and belief; the ordination prayer was the
offered by the Rev. James Griffin, of Manchester ; after which the Rev.
William Henry Stowell, D.D., President of Cheshunt College, addressed
the minister, founding his charge on that of Paul to Archippus (Col. iv., 17),
and, in conclusion, invoked the divine blessing. Upwards of a hundred of
the assembly remained to dinner in one of the schoolrooms, and enjoyed
the speeches of the Revs. Dr. Stowell, Richard Slate, Anthony Bateson, of
Egerton; Mark Hardaker, of Pendlebury; W. Hope Davison, of Bolton-
and Mr. Charles Thorpe, one of the deacons of the church. The Rev.
Richard Fletcher, of Manchester, delivered a charge to the church and
congregation on the Sunday afternoon following, from Rom. xvi. 3.3
1 Vide pp. 69, 81.
2 P. 220.
3 R 773-

THE REV. A. ANDERSON, B.A. 231
Mr. Anderson is one of the oldest Lancashire ministers, and is
still deeply beloved by his people and respected by his denomina
tion. He has done an enduring work at Stand. " On four or five
occasions," he says, " we have altered, enlarged, or improved this
old house." In 1867 a new Sunday School was erected, and, as
already stated, services were held in the old chapel for the first
time prior to its demolition on Sunday, March 22nd, 1885, the
preachers being the Revs. W. Hewgill, M.A., of Farnworth ; H.
William James, of Radcliffe; and Alexander Anderson, B.A. The
memorial stone of the new chapel was laid by the pastor July
25th, 1885, and the building opened for worship on October 28th,
1886, the preachers being the Revs. Dr. Hannay and Alex.
Mackennal, B.A. The total cost of the building and of altera
tions in the chapel yard was .£5,700, towards which the people
have contributed most generously. " No sooner was it decided to
* arise and build,' " says a writer, " than the people showed that
they truly had 'a mind to give,' for before a single workman was
on the ground subscriptions were promised, exclusively from mem
bers 0/ the Congregation, to the amount of ,£3,966 9s. 3d."1
The following is a description of the new building : —
It is in the perpendicular style of Gothic architecture, and comprises
nave, with aisles having entrance porches at the front ; and chancel, with
minister's vestry on one side, and choir vestry, with organ chamber over it, on
the other. The arrangement of seats is on the three gangway plan, viz., a
centre gangway of four feet and two side gangways of three feet each. The
seats in the nave and aisles are of pitchpine, those in the chancel of wainscot
oak, as are also the pulpit, reading desk, communion table, and organ screen.
The wall at the back of the communion table is enriched with three beautiful
terra cotta panels, modelled by Morris, representing, in relief, the Last
Supper, Christ giving sight, and Christ giving hearing. These were a gift
from Mr. William Pickstone. The windows are of muffled glass — slightly
tinted, with roundels and devices of rich colours sparingly introduced into
the tracery — -except the large five-light chancel window, and four in the
south aisle. The church is handsome in appearance both externally and
internally. Great attention has been paid to details, and the workmanship
throughout is ol the best character. Being erected upon the top of the
rising ground leading from Radcliffe, the graceful spire can be seen for a
considerable distance." z
111 Manchester and Salford Congregational Magazine " for March, 1887.
2 Ibid.

2 32 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Handsome is scarcely the word to use in describing the
building; gorgeousness is more appropriate. Perhaps if one
might venture upon a criticism, a plainer structure would have
been more in keeping with its surroundings. Certainly it is very
different from the building it has replaced, which had no preten
sions to architectural beauty. When the late Dr. W. H. Stowell
was introducing the present minister, he said : " One thing I will
say nothing of here ; it is the subject of architecture." Look
ing at the building to-day the doctor would find plenty of
material for a disquisition on ecclesiastical architecture if he felt
so disposed. The chapel is only a few minutes' walk from the
Unitarian Chapel, down a lane to the left of the road leading from
Ringley to Stand. There are in it 500 sittings, every one of which
was " let " before the opening services. Mention has already
been made of the formation of the Radcliffe Congregational
Church by members from Stand, and here also the Congrega
tionalists of Farnworth, then Halshaw Moor, worshipped, when as
yet they had no house of their own. The churches of Blackford
Bridge, near Bury, and Besses o' th' Barn have had large accessions
to their fellowship from this source. On Saturday evening,
March 3rd, i860, the Jubilee of the Sunday School in connection
with Stand was celebrated, when an address was given by Mr.
Anderson, and on the following Sunday a sermon was preached by
the former minister, Rev. R. Slate. Both were afterwards printed
and circulated privately as a memorial of the Jubilee. From a
copy which lies before me I extract the following passage, which is
interesting on many accounts : —
It was fifty-one years last New Year's Day since I first stood in this pulpit
and preached my first sermon as a supply sent by the tutors of Old College,
Hoxton, near London. My continuance in that capacity was about six
weeks. After my return to college I received an invitation from the church
and congregation then assembling in this place to become their pastor.
Having consulted with Christian friends and sought the direction of God by
prayer, I replied in the affirmative, and on July ist, 1809, I entered on my
stated ministry, when scarcely twenty-two years of age. How very few are
now living who welcomed me as their pastor, when with fear and trembling
I commenced my ministry in this place ! . . . When I came hither there
was no school connected with this place of worship. . . Within two
months of my entrance on my pastorate I preached two sermons on The

RADCLIFFE CONGREGATIONALISM. 233
nature and value of a religious education, with a special reference to Sabbath schools.
A meeting was held of those favourable to the object — a resolution was
unanimously adopted to commence a school — and a committee was appointed
to endeavour to carry the same into effect. In about seven months after
that meeting two rooms were built, capable of accommodating three hundred
scholars, at a cost of not less than ^400. In three months from the opening
of the rooms they were well filled with teachers and scholars, and from that
period to the present time, with but few exceptions, the school has been well
sustained. During the fifty years of its existence it is probable that three
thousand scholars have received instruction within its walls. In 1830 the
school was considerably enlarged.
Stand Independent Church is one of those churches in which
there are no signs of decay, which with the roll of years has
renewed its youth, where minister and people are an honour to
their denomination.

X.— RADCLIFFE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The origin of this Church has been already referred to. During
the ministry of the Rev. James Deakin, at Stand, some twenty
or more members left, and with them began the Congregational
Church at Radcliffe. This was about the end of the year
1847. Previous to this date, however, efforts had been put forth
by the Congregationalists of Stand to commence a cause at
Radcliffe. A " preaching station " had been desired, but being
unable under the leases then granted to obtain land for building
purposes, they took a room in Sugar Lane, where a Sunday School
was commenced by Mr. Robert Taylor, Mr. Adam Kay, Mr.
Samuel Barrow and other members of the church at Stand. In
the year 1838 the Rev. Samuel Compston was engaged to preach
in the room on Sunday evenings, but Mr. Kay's removal from the
neighbourhood led to the termination of this effort about the close
of 1840.
The seceders of 1847 found sympathisers and friends in those
who had previously laboured at Sugar Lane. Operations were

234 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
commenced in some cottages in Thomas Street. A Sunday School
was started, and service conducted on Sunday evenings. The
school began with about a dozen scholars, but at the end of the
first year there were 170 scholars and twenty-one teachers and
officers. Preaching was continued only for a few Sundays in
Thomas Street, when the worshippers removed to a " building at
Mow Brow, which had been erected by a company of shareholders
as a Mechanics' Institution and Hall of Science, employed for
public lectures and meetings, also as a Day School, and which
building being offered for sale was purchased by Mr. John Burd,
then of Mount Sion Printworks, at a cost of over £300, and by
him fitted up as a chapel."1 It was opened as such on Wednes
day, January 26th, 1848, the Revs. Wm. Roseman, W. R. Thor-
burn,- M.A., John Anyon, and S. T Porter taking part in the
services. The first " school sermons " here were preached on April
23rd, 1848, by Dr. Clunie and the Rev. Richard Fletcher, both of
Manchester, the collections amounting to £11 13s. ud. The
church, comprising twenty-four members, was formed on May 18th,
1849, by ministerial brethren from Bury and Manchester, and the
Lord's Supper was first celebrated by them in their church capacity
the following month. The supply of the pulpit was mainly in the
hands of the Rev. J. L. Poore, of Hope Chapel, Salford, and the
progress of the new interest is said to have been " very
encouraging." The first minister of this new society was the
Rev. John Hopkins. He was born at Nottingham iii 1824, and
studied for the ministry at Cheshunt College, whence he came to
Radcliffe. Mr. Hopkins appears to have had a fair number of
"trial sermons" to preach before the people could make up their
minds in his favour. He supplied no less than six or seven Sun
days, and then was invited to become the pastor for two years.
The " call " was agreed upon at a Church Meeting, held January
ist, 1850, and his reply accepting was read to the members on
January 30th. His term of office expired on February 8th, 1852 ;
but on being re-invited he began a second period of ministerial
life at Radcliffe in the following June. He resigned on the 25th
of August, 1855, and removed to Range Bank School, Halifax.
1 " Radcliffe Congregational Church Manual " for 1S82.

MR. BURD. 235
In i860 he settled at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, but after a
ministry of two years, failing health brought about his retirement.
He lived for a short time at Westbury, Wiltshire, and died on the
31st of March, 1865. Mr. Hopkins is said to have been esteemed
by " those who marked his career as a consistent and sincere
Christian and as a faithful and earnest minister,"1 After the
departure of Mr. Hopkins, the church remained vacant some six
years. Financial difficulties were in the way of a settlement, partly
through the failure of Mr. Burd, one of the church's most generous
supporters. About the end of 1858, the chapel, which had never
been put in trust, was purchased from Mr. Burd's creditors at a
cost of ^360, and a tea meeting was held on the 23rd of August,
1859, to commemorate the event.
The next minister, the Rev. John Thompson, who was trained
at Airedale College, began ministerial life in 1856 at Marsden, near
Burnley, whence he removed to Radcliffe. His duties as pastor
here began on Sunday, September ist, 1861. During his
ministry the large schoolroom in Water Lane was erected at a cost
of ^1,400. It was opened in the early part of 1867, and served
for public worship as well as for Sunday School purposes. Mr.
Thompson resigned his charge at Radcliffe in January, 1871, and
for some time resided at Great Ayton, Yorkshire, without charge.
He afterwards ministered at Haslemere, Surrey, Harting, in Sussexi
and is now resident at Buckland, Portsmouth, without charge.
His successor was the Rev. J. C. McCappin. He entered the
ministry in 1867, and came from Rochdale to Radcliffe, beginning
his stated labours here on Sunday, November 12th, 187 1.
During Mr. McCappin's pastorate the present handsome chapel
was erected. The corner stone was laid by Mr. Henry Lee, of
Manchester, on June 15th, 1S72, an address being given by the
Rev. J. A. Macfadyen, M.A., of Manchester. The building was
opened for public worship on Wednesday, September 17th, 1873,
by the Rev. E. R. Conder, M.A., of Leeds. The total cost of the
chapel was about ,£3,335, and, on the 2nd of May, 1874, a tea
meeting was held to rejoice over their freedom from debt. The
chapel stands in a commanding position at the top of Blackburn
1 " Congregational Year Book " for 1866, p. 262.

236 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMLTY.
Street, being the main street in the town, and adjoins the schools
where services were previously held. Internally it measures
76ft. 6in. by 40ft. 6in., and is 28ft. 6in. high. It is galleried on
three sides, and behind the pulpit is a recess for the organ and
choir. It has sitting capacity for 780 people, and its internal
arrangement is thus described in the " Congregational Year Book "
for 1874: —
There is a handsome vestibule with two outer sliding doors at the chief
entrance, and ornamental open framing glazed with embossed glass between
it and the chapel. This vestibule is divided by swing doors on each side
from an inner vestibule which leads into the principal aisles of the ground
floor and upwards to the gallery. The ground floor and galleries are
furnished with open seats, in which the convenience of the sitter with
regard to personal comfort and with reference to the disposition of
umbrellas, hats, and books, has been especially attended to. The
arrangement of the pulpit and communion is somewhat novel. A strong
moulded rail across the front only of a raised dais is surmounted by the
table, which stands upon a strong square base with dwarf columns at
each angle. At the back of the pulpit is a screen dividing the vestries from
the chapel, and above this is the gallery for the singers and organ, the top
panels of the front of which is filled with inlaid parqueterie panels.1
On November 2nd, 1874, a Day School was commenced, and
from 160 scholars enrolled the first day the number increased to
300 before Christmas. A new infant school for Sunday and Week
Day was opened on July 29th, 1876, the total cost being about
,£800. In 1879 the chapel was beautified and a few alterations
were made at a cost of ,£308. The crowded condition of the
Sunday School necessitated enlargement in 1882, which made a
further outlay of about ,£1,200. In that year Mr. McCappin
resigned and removed to Longsight, near Manchester, and thence
to the Congregational Church, Worsley Road, Swinton, near Man
chester, where he is now resident without charge. The Rev.
H. W. James, the present pastor, who was trained at Lanca
shire College, received a unanimous invitation on the 24th of
May, 1883, and commenced his labours on July ist. He
was ordained the following month, when Dr. Thomson presided,
Dr. Hodgson gave an exposition of Congregational principles, the
1 P. 420

GOOD ADVLCE. 237
Rev. R. M. Davies, of Oldham, offered the ordination prayer, and
Professor Scott gave the charge to the minister. On the followinc
Sunday Professor Lyon Turner gave the charge to the people.
In 1888 the sum of ^120 was spent in renovating the chapel,
and the re-opening service was held on Wednesday, June 18th,
when the Rev. Dr. Mackennal preached. These services were
continued on the Sunday following, the Revs. G. S. Reaney, of
Manchester, Alex. Anderson, B.A., of Stand, and the pastor
being the preachers. In connection with these services was an
interesting gathering of old scholars on the Saturday previous
(June 2 ist), when Mr. Burd, who had so much to do with the
early history of the place was present, and met with a cheering
reception. The whole block of buildings school, and chapel
occupies an area of from 800 to 1,000 square yards. There are
some 970 scholars in the schools, and during the present pastorate
a debt of ^800 has been wiped off.
When the secession from Stand took place there was consider
able heat generated, as there usually is about such matters. At
one of the meetings when the unpleasantness was going on, an old
lady is reported to have said to the friends who were thought to be
the cause of it, " I wish you would either go away quietly or tarry
quietly." It was a wise and proper wish, and churches would be
none the worse with more such ladies amongst them. Her advice
was taken, and the secession was a peaceful one, and it is satisfac
tory to know that between the two churches and their ministers
there is the most cordial feeling. In the early days they " could
not afford to pay for a preacher," and students from college were
arranged with to come for their travelling expenses, which were
about two shillings per week ; but anybody seeing the stately
buildings in Blackburn Street to-day would say that there is con
siderable wealth there, and the people have had a " mind " to give
as well as "work." Like its mother close by, Radcliffe Congre
gational Church presents all the signs of health and power, and
promises to serve well the denomination to which it belongs. It
ought to be stated that the church received generous help from
the funds of the Lancashire County Union from 1861 to 1873.

238 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
XII.— STUBBINS, DUNDEE, AND OTHERS.
In this section it is proposed to give a brief account of several
Congregational interests, which properly fall under the chapter
dealing with Bury and neighbourhood ; and first in importance is
the one at Stubbins, near Ramsbottom. The following is
extracted from the Church Book : —
The church at Stubbins was commenced by Mr. Samuel Porritt, who was
joined by his brother James, and others. Being impressed with the needs
of their own neighbourhood, which was without a place of worship of any
kind, they opened, on the 15th September, 1861, a room for Sunday School
and worship, in one of the mills of Messrs. Porritt Bros, and Austin, kindly
granted for the purpose. On the 27th of July, 1862, eight members were
dismissed from the Park Congregational Church to form one there, which
took place on the nth of the following October. Here the Sunday School
was carried on and worship conducted until April 30th, 1866, when the new
school buildings were opened. In the following year, August 14th, the new
chapel was opened with sermons by Dr. Dale.
The style of architecture is Gothic, and the building is. of fine,
clean freestone, the gift of Mr. James Porritt, one of the original
eight members. It is situated about midway between the villages
of Stubbins and Edenfield, and is one of the memorial chapels in
connection with the Bicentenary of Nonconformity. The cost of
both buildings was about ^6,000, exclusive of the land, and
towards it the Bicentenary Committee voted the sum of ,£500.
By the munificence of Mr. James Porritt the church and schools
were freed from debt in August, 1869, and the same gentleman
generously presented the land in 1875. The present minister, the
first and only one, is the Rev. Thomas Cain, whose training
was received at Lancashire College. He began his labours here
in 1865.
Dundee Congregational Church, Ramsbottom, must not be con
fused with the older interest of that name, whose history has been
given. The building, which serves both as Day and Sunday School
as well as a place for public worship, was erected in 1885, at a cost
of ^£1,500, and stands in the same lane as the old Dundee Chapel,
only a little further down and nearer the town. The story of the
dispute which led to its origin is both long and bitter, and need not

AFFITSIDE AND FOUR LANE ENDS. 239
be given here ; suffice it to say that the original promoters of the
undertaking were teachers and scholars from the old Dundee
School, and so connected with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
The present minister, the Rev. E. L. Morris, from the Nottingham
Congregational Institute, began his labours here in 1890. There
is accommodation for 300 people, and there is promise of a strong
church here in the not distant future.
Affitside and Four Lane Ends are two out of the way villages a
mile and a half and two miles respectively from Tottington. In
the extract previously given from the County Union Report
for 18141 the Rev. Peter Ramsay, then stationed at Holcombe
Brook, is mentioned as preaching once a fortnight at both
these places, but there is no further mention of them in
the Reports until 1838, when they appear together, Mr. T.
Hampton, of Bury, having charge of them. The attendance
upon worship at Four Lane Ends is given as from sixty to eighty,
with a Sunday School containing no children and twenty
teachers. At Affitside the week-night attendance is put down
aa 100, Sunday fifty — "the poverty of the people (not being
furnished with suitable clothing) is assigned as the reason for this
remarkable disproportion." It is also stated that Messrs. Ashworth
and Sons, members of the Society of Friends, had given a plot of
land for the erection of a school at Affitside. This was built in
1841. For well-nigh twenty years Mr. Hampton preached the
Gospel, and in other ways looked after the spiritual interests of the
people in this barren wilderness, until failing health brought about
his retirement in 1854. No other minister has ever been appointed,
except that the Rev. John Wilson, afterwards of Castleton, had
charge of Affitside about two years. This place has sitting
accommodation for over 140 people, and is superintended by the
church at Green Mount, Tottington. Four Lane Ends has seats
for 200 people, and is worked by the Castlecroft Church, Bury.
For several years the church was under the pastoral care of Mr.
Jas. Nuttall, Union Square, Bury. There is also connected with
it a good Day School under a master. To both places a small
grant is made from the Union Funds.
1 Vide, p. 165.

CHAPTER IV.
ROCHDALE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

I.— BLACKWATER STREET UNITARIAN CHAPEL, ROCHDALE.
In 1662 the Rev. Robert Bath was ejected for Nonconformity
from the Rochdale Parish Church. He was born in Kent about
1604, and took for his wife the niece of Archbishop Laud, by
whom he was sent into Lancashire, being appointed vicar of
Rochdale, March 2nd, 1635-6. His name appears in the list of
Presbyterian ministers who constituted the Bury Classis in 1646,
and in 1650 he is described by the Parliamentary Commissioners
as a "godly minister and well qualifyed."1
After his ejection he "preached to a numerous assembly"2 in
a secluded spot called Underhill, and subsequently lived at Deep-
lish Hill, where he died March 12th, 1673-4, being buried in
Rochdale Church. Mr. Bath had as an assistant the Rev.
Zachariah Taylor, who, like himself, suffered ejection through
the passing of the Uniformity Act. He had formerly been a
Royalist and chaplain in the king's army, but on the " defeat of
the king's forces he quietly submitted to the existing govern
ment." 3 Subsequently he taught a school at Rochdale, next at
Bolton, then at Kirkham, dying in February, 1692, at the age of
seventy-four years. His son, the Rev. Zachariah Taylor, was the
author of a little tract called " The Lancashire Levite." The Rev.
1 " Commonwealth Church Survey " (Record Society Series, vol. i.), p. 19.
2 Calamy's " Nonconformist's Memorial " (1802), vol. ii., p. 376.
3 Halley's " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 179.
It is open to question whether Dr. Halley does justice to Zachariah Taylor's.
Nonconformity.

"AMEN CORNER." 241
Henry Pendlebury, M.A., is the next name associated with Non
conformity here, but nothing can be ascertained either as to the
date of his settlement, length of ministry, or, indeed, his exact
relation to the people. On the title page of some of his works he
is described as late minister of the gospel at Rochdale, and that is
our only reliable information respecting the matter. Where the
Nonconformists of Rochdale worshipped at this time is also a
matter of uncertainty, but probably it was in a structure designed
only to be temporary, and adapted for the purpose. Tradition
points to the neighbourhood of Lower Gates, and the old house
known as " Amen Corner " is supposed to have been so named
because of its close proximity to the Nonconformist meeting place.1
At this time the little congregation was frequently favoured with
the services of Oliver Heywood, who in his diary under date July,
1672, only a few weeks after the Indulgence Act had been passed,
which gave liberty to Nonconformists, writes : —
Saturday I went to Ratchdale, preacht in their meeting house on lords
day July 7 1672 — had a mighty auditory — much assistance — hopes of good.2
The next minister of whom we have information is the Rev.
Joseph Dawson. He was the son of the Rev. Joseph Dawson,
ejected from Thornton, near Halifax, several of whose sons were
educated for the ministry. His training was received at Rathmell
Academy, under the Rev. Richard Frankland, and there he was
ordained June 7th, 1693. He laboured for a short time at Hart
ford, near Richmond, in Yorkshire, removing thence to Rochdale
about 1698. It was during his ministry that the chapel in Black-
water Street was erected on a piece of " waste or void land called the
Colepitt Garden," given in 1716 by John Smethurst. On the r7th
of October in the year following the building was registered at the
Manchester Quarter Sessions as " a meeting place for an assembly
1 The Rev. T. P. Spedding questions this interpretation and thinks the
name is due to the fact that the Parish Clerk resided close by, if not in the house.
2 Diaries, vol. i., p. 290. This extract by no means proves, as several
writers on Rochdale Nonconformity seem to think, that a chapel, as we under
stand the word, had then been erected. The Indulgence Act had only just
been passed, consequently there had scarcely been time to erect a new build
ing. Probably all that is meant is that a house or barn had been licensed for
religious worship.
3—16

242 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
of Protestants dissenting from the Church of England." Mr.
Dawson continued his ministry at Rochdale until the time of his
death, April, 1739, being then seventy-two years of age. He was
interred, like his father, in the burial ground of Morley Chapel, near
Leeds. In the " Northowram Register " he is described as a very
" worthygood man," who had "preacht there [Rochdale] forty years,"
&C1 Mr. Dawson was followed by the Rev. Josiah Owen, grand
son probably of John Owen, of Abernant, near Carmarthen, and
nephew to the Rev. Charles Owen, D.D., of Warrington. His first
pastorate was at Bridgnorth, which he left in 1735, being after
wards for a short time at Walsall and Stone, in Staffordshire,
whence he removed to Rochdale about 1740. He is described as
" a man of great scholarship, wit, and notoriety, taking an active
and leading part in the Jacobite controversy of his day, and being,
indeed, the literary chief of the Whig or Liberal party in this
neighbourhood."" It was during his ministry in 1743 that the
chapel was enlarged. The date of his death is not quite clear, but
it was probably towards the end of 1752. He was the author of
several minor works of a controversial and theological character.
The Rev. Thomas Hopkins, who had been educated at Carmar
then College, and held pastorates at Middlewich and Northwich,
succeeded Mr. Owen. His ministry was terminated suddenly by
his death on August 9th, 1754. He was interred in the south aisle
of the chapel, and his funeral sermon on the 18th of August was
preached by the Rev. Thomas Braddock, of Bury. The Rev.
Richard Bolton is the next on the ministerial roll of whom I have
any information, though there is some uncertainty as to the time
of his settlement. He was at Monton in 1771, and at Preston
in 1774- The Rev. W. Hassall followed in 1773, but after
a short time failure of voice obliged him to relinquish the charge.
He then opened a school in the town, which he conducted with
great success for many years. He died February 6th, 1829, aged
seventy-eight years, and was interred in the chapel yard. His
successor was the Rev. John3 Cooke, M.D., from 1776 to 1778,
1 P. 325.
2 "Christian Reformer" for 1856, p. 356.
3 So the " Monthly Repository" for 1822, p. 196, but Colonel Fishwick
(" History of Rochdale "), on what authority I do not know, gives his
Christian name as William. Vide also " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. i.

A REMARKABLE MEMORY. 243
who removed about the latter date to Preston. The Rev. Thomas
Threlkeld, from Risley, near Warrington, followed in 1778. It is
recorded of him that he had a remarkable memory and a "pre
eminent power of acquiring languages," yet, notwithstanding "his
ability to recall names, dates, incidents, and faces long since passed,
he was quite incapable of delivering a sermon otherwise than by
very close reading of his manuscript." He remained at Rochdale
until his death, which took place on April 6th, 1806, being buried,
as was his wife, who survived him only a short time, within the
chapel, near the pulpit stairs. The Rev. William Marshall, who
had been educated at Manchester Academy, was minister at
Belper from 1801 to 1806, Rochdale 1806-1810, St. Albans
1813-1835. He died in 1849, and was followed at Rochdale in
1 810 by the Rev. Richard Astley. He was the son of the Rev.
Thomas Astley, at one time minister at Preston, and was trained at
the Manchester College, then at York. On completing his college
course he settled at Rochdale, but remained only until February,
18 1 2, when he removed to Halifax. His subsequent pastorates
were at Gloucester and Shrewsbury. He died at Stourbridge, March
19th, 1855, aged seventy years. The Rev. Peter Wright followed,
in 1813, and in 1814 removed to Stannington, near Sheffield, where
he died in 1854. The next minister was the Rev. Gilbert William
Elliott, who officiated here from the close of 1814 to 1826, when
he removed to Prescot, where he died December 20th, 1847, age(i
sixty-six years. His successor was the Rev. Franklin Howorth
from September, 1826 to 1831. His next charge was at Bury,
where he adopted Trinitarian views and originated the Free
Christian Church there. The Rev. George Heaviside, trained at the
Manchester College, York, minister at Stockton-on-Tees from 1826
to 1 83 1, settled at Rochdale towards the close of the latter year. He
remained until his death on February 22nd, 1840. His-successor
was the Rev. George Winchester Philp, another Manchester College
student, who settled at Brentford in 1838, returning to Rochdale
in 1840. Two years afterwards he resigned and entered St. Bees,
to prepare for the ministry of the Established Church. He died in
1845. The Rev. William Smith succeeded in 1843. During his
ministry the old chapel was taken down and the present one erected
on its site. The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday, April

244 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
33rd, 1856, by George Holt, Esq., of Liverpool, and the new
building was opened on Thursday, June nth, 1857. Mr. Smith
removed in 1859, and was followed for a few months by the Rev.
P. C. Clayden, his successor being the Rev. S. F. Macdonald, who
laboured here from i860 to 1862, when he died. The Rev. James
Pillars was the next minister, holding the pastorate only about a
year. In 1864 he went to Sydney, New South Wales, where he
died in 1875. The Rev. T. H. Smith took charge in 1864 and
resigned in 1866, removing to Halifax, and dying there in 1875.
The Rev. Thomas Carter, whose ministerial training was received
at Manchester New College, London, after labouring at Lewes from
1856 to 1867, accepted the pastorate of the congregation at Roch
dale. He resigned in 1890 and is now resident in the town with
out charge. In that year the Unitarian congregation, which had
worshipped in Clover Street Chapel since 1818, agreed to join the
Blackwater Street congregation, and both are now under the
pastoral care of the Rev. T. P. Spedding. The old building,
demolished in 1856, was much smaller than the present one, and
was surrounded by a graveyard. According to Dr. Evans's list of
Presbyterian Chapels there was, at the beginning of last century, a
congregation here numbering 442 persons, of whom twenty-one
were county voters.1

II.— PROVIDENCE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ROCHDALE.
The story of Congregationalism in this town reads differently from
that of many others. Usually, when the older interest passed over
to Unitarianism, there was a secession of those who clung to Evan
gelical principles, and eventually they originated a Congregational
church.2 But such does not seem to have been the case in Roch-
1 For much of the information contained in the foregoing sketch I am
indebted to a sermon preached by the Rev. William Smith in the Blackwater
Street Chapel, being the last before its demolition on Sunday, February 3,
1856 ("Christian Reformer" for 1856, p. 352), and to Colonel Fishwick's
" History of Rochdale."
2 I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness in this account to a sketch of
Providence Chapel by Councillor J. W. Bamford (" Providence Chapel and
Christian's Penny Magazine," for 1868).

THE REV. JOHN ELY. 245
dale. The history of Congregationalism here does not go beyond
the present century, probably because of the " existence in the
town of a Baptist church, both evangelical and moderate."1
The Revs. Wm. Roby and S. Bradley, both of Manchester, are
named as amongst the earliest of those who conducted Congrega
tional worship in Rochdale, the place of meeting being the old
Theatre, then in Toad Lane, and afterwards an upper room in
Cheetham Street. On the 27th of February, 1814, Providence
Chapel2 was bought for the sum of ,£1,600, and opened for
public worship on Wednesday, March 2nd, when the Revs. W.
Roby and Dr. Fletcher, of Blackburn, were the preachers. On the
1 2 th of June of the same year the Rev. John Ely, from Hoxton
Academy, preached his first sermon here, and eventually he
received and accepted an invitation to the pastorate. His ordina
tion took place on August ist of the following year, when the
Revs. R. W. Hamilton, of Leeds, J. Cockin, of Halifax, J. Slatterie,
of Chatham, and Wm. Roby, of Manchester, took part in the
service.3 On the 9th of December following, in presence of the Rev.
Wm. Roby, who presided on the occasion, a church was formed
of six persons, Mr. Ely making the seventh. Mr. Ely's ministry
at Rochdale continued until 1833, when he removed to Salem
Chapel, Leeds, where his labours terminated with his death,
October 9th, 1847, aged fifty-three years. He was one of the
generation of great preachers of fifty years ago, of whom Con
gregationalism is justly proud, and in both counties where his life
was spent his name is still held in loving memory.
Mr. Ely was succeeded at Rochdale by the Rev. T. C. Carlisle
1 Halley's " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 464.
2 This chapel was built in 1806 for the Rev. Joseph Cooke and his
friends, he having been expelled from the Wesleyan Methodist body on
account of his theological views. Mr. Cooke continued to labour here
until his death, becoming almost a Unitarian in his later years. In front
of the communion in Providence Chapel is a small brass plate containing
this inscription : — ¦ Beneath is the
Grave of the
Rev. JOSh COOKE.
3 " Evangelical Magazine," for 1815, p. 465.

246 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
in 1835. He remained until 1837, and was followed in 1838 by
the Rev. David Hewitt, who was born at Welford, in Northampton
shire, January ist, 181 1, educated at Highbury College, settling
on the completion of his college course at Rochdale. After a
ministry here of twelve years he removed to Exeter, where he con
tinued his labours until December 18th, 1875, when he died. The
Rev. Wm. Spencer was appointed Mr. Hewitt's successor at
Providence Chapel in 1852. He had been trained at Newport
Pagnel, and held pastorates previously at Holloway and Devonport.
He left Rochdale in 1857 for Cowbridge Chapel, Hertford,
ultimately becoming one of the District Secretaries of the British
and Foreign Bible Society. He died in London, May 3rd, 1872,
aged sixty-seven years. The Rev. Geo. Snashall, B.A., from
Airedale College, began his labours at Rochdale in 1859, and
terminated them in 1866. He is now the pastor of the Victoria
Park Congregational Church, London. The Rev. J. C. McCappin
was the next minister, having charge of the church from 1867 to
1871. He is now resident at Pendlebury without charge. The Rev.
R. G. Williams followed in 187 1. He had been trained at High
bury, and laboured at Coventry, East Dereham, and Penzance.
After a ministry of thirteen years at Providence Chapel he died,
January 14th, 1874, aged sixty-two years. The present minister,
Rev. Robert Veitch, M.A, from Airedale College, entered upon
duty September 7th, 1884.
It has already been stated that Providence Chapel was purchased
from the sympathisers of the Rev. Joseph Cooke, for whom it was
built. It is situated in High Street, on elevated ground, and is a
lofty brick building. Over the entrance is a stone tablet thus
inscribed : — Providence Chapel,

The body of the chapel was repewed in modern style in the
jubilee year 1864, but in the galleries, which are on three sides the
deep, straight-backed seats will still be found. There is sitting
accommodation for 750 people. On the left of the pulpit is a
marble tablet with the following inscription : —

INTERESTING TABLETS. 247
In memory of the
Rev. JOHN ELY,
Who was for 19 years the faithful and devoted pastor of the people worship
ping here. He entered on his duties as the first Independent minister of this
town in June, 1814, laboured successfully until his removal to Leeds in July,
1833, and departed this life, greatly beloved, on the gth of October, 1847,
aged 54.
June, 1864.
On the other side of the pulpit is another tablet in memory of
Mary Ann Ely, the pastor's sister. She was buried near the
communion pew, a small brass plate marking the spot, which is
thus inscribed : Beneath this is the
grave of
M. A. ELY.
There is yet one other interesting tablet, the inscription upon
which is here appended : —
Sacred to the memory of
JOHN ROBY,1 Esq.,
Banker, of this town.
He was born at Haigh, near Wigan,
January 5th, 1793, and was drowned in the wreck of the
Orion steamer off Port Patrick, June 18th, 1850.
Aged 57.
His first wife, Ann Bealey, was born at Derrikins, near Blackburn, Decem
ber 10th, 1794, and died at Great Malvern, January 3rd, 1848, aged 53.
" Redeemed by the blood of Christ, being now at rest in His presence
awaiting the resurrection to everlasting life."
Alongside the chapel is a considerable graveyard, which contains
many tombstones, and behind it is a large and commodious
Sunday School, erected in 1846. The church is just now facing a
heavy undertaking in the shape of rebuilding, because the present
structure has been pronounced unsafe. Worship in the meantime
is being conducted in the adjoining school.
1 This was the gifted author of " Traditions of Lancashire," vide, p. 125.

248 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.

III.— MILTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ROCHDALE.
An important secession from Providence Chapel in 1852 led
to the formation of Milton Congregational Church. The matter
in dispute was the choice of minister. The seceders conducted
worship in the Public Hall, and a church was formally constituted
on March 21st, 1852. The management of affairs was entrusted
to the following committee : Thomas Fisher, Jesse Barron, John
Hoyle, Robert Kelsall, John Ashworth, J. T. Pagan, C. W.
Challinor, Thomas Southworth. The Rev. H. W. Parkinson,
from Coward College, accepted the church's invitation to
the pastorate in May, 1852, and was ordained the follow
ing August, when the Revs. G. W. Conder, of Leeds ;
James Bruce, of Bamford; J. L. Poore, of Salford; Samuel
Martin, of London ; Doctor Halley, of Manchester ; and several
others assisted in the service. Mr. Parkinson was the son of
William Parkinson, a Russian merchant, and was born at Moscow,
May 20th, 1825. In consequence of impaired health the family
returned to England, and settled at Hull, where Mr. Parkinson,
junior, joined the church under the pastoral care of the Rev.
Thomas Stratten. From this place he went to college, taking, on
the completion of his course, the oversight of the new church at
Rochdale. The congregation at once set to work in the direction
of providing for itself a suitable home, and on the 23rd of March,
1854, the present handsome structure was opened for public
worship, the Rev. Dr. Raffles preaching in the morning, and the
Rev. Thomas Binney in the evening. It is in the Gothic style,
but wide in the middle part, so as to be better adapted
for congregational worship, and will seat about 900 people.
The school premises are close by, and the whole block of
buildings, which cost near ,£5,000, are quite imposing. Mr.
Parkinson continued a most successful ministry until the time of
his death, which took place on Thursday, August 20th, 1874. He
was interred in the Rochdale Cemetery, and on Sunday, August 30th.
the Rev. Prof. Scott, of Lancashire Independent College, preached
his funeral sermon from 1 Thess., iv., 14. In the chapel is a
tablet thus inscribed : —

CALDERBROOK. 249
This Tablet
is erected by the
Church and Congregation
in loving memory of
The
REV. HENRY WILLIAM PARKINSON,
Who died August 20th, 1874,
Aged 49 years.
He was the first minister of this church, and filled that office for
more than 22 years.
In May, 1875, a call was presented to the Rev. J. Hirst
Holloweil, of Cheshunt College, but was not accepted by him ;
and the Rev. J. B. Aitken, of Airedale College, succeeded
to the pastorate in 1877. He laboured successfully until the
summer of 1889, when he removed to Wilmslow, Cheshire, where
he still ministers. The church again sought the services of the Rev.
J. H. Holloweil, who, after several years' ministry at Bedford
Chapel, London, had removed to Park Hill, Nottingham. Mr.
Holloweil accepted the invitation and began his labours here on
the third Sunday of January, 1890. He has, in addition to his
pastoral duties, done yeoman service in the cause of education, and
is appealed to as an authority in all matters relating thereto. The
membership of the church is about 300.

IV— CALDERBROOK, SMALLBRIDGE, AND OTHERS.
In the immediate neighbourhood of Rochdale are five other
Congregational interests whose histories must now be briefly
sketched. The first in point of time is the one at Calderbrook, a
village some three or four miles north of Rochdale. The Report
of the Lancashire Congregational Union for the year ending April,
1823, contains the first notice of this place, where it says is "a
promising sphere of exertion, if it could possibly be occupied as a
new Itinerant Station." Nothing, however, appears to have been
done until the Christmas of the following year, when a large room

250 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
was rented and opened for public worship, where a congregation
of from ioo to 150 persons assembled both on Sunday and week
days. About the same time "a very commodious chapel" was
erected at Smallbridge, some two miles nearer Rochdale ; and it
is said that " the expenses of erection, of rent, and of supplies at
both these places have been hitherto defrayed principally by the
exemplary zeal and liberality of the Rev. J. Ely and his friends."1
In 1825 the Rev. J. Williams, from Brampton, near Carlisle, took
charge of the two stations ; a church was formed at Calderbrook,
consisting of ten members from Mr. Ely's church, dismissed for
the purpose, and the congregation at Smallbridge is said to range
from 100 to 150. Mr. Williams removed to Leigh in the early
part of 1826, and subsequently to Park Chapel, Ramsbottom.
The two places were worked more or less in union for several
years, but it will be more intelligible to the reader if each history
is given separately.
On Tuesday, February 5th, 1833, the Rev. Henry Cheetham,
a member of Providence Congregational Church, Rochdale, was
ordained as pastor of the church at Calderbrook ; and on Tues
day, July 22nd, of the following year, a new chapel was opened,
the preachers being the Revs. Dr. Raffles, J. Sutcliffe, and
J. Ely. The cost was about ^500, the site and stone for the
building being " the gift of a member of the church."2 Mr.
Cheetham continued his labours here until 1842, when he resigned.
In December, 1843, the Rev. Daniel Calvert, who had been
trained at Airedale College, and spent some years at Tosside, near
Settle, began his labours as Mr. Cheetham's successor. He died
at Calderbrook on the 22nd of September, 1849, aged fifty-five
years. Shortly afterwards the vacancy was refilled by the Rev.
S. Sugden, from Hoxton Academy. In 1864 the Executive Com
mittee of the County Union report that they " have long looked
with anxious thoughts upon the circumstances of this station," and
the grant from the Union Funds, which up to that time had been
continued, was withdrawn. Mr. Sugden laboured here and at
Littleborough until 1876, when he retired from the ministry.
1 Lancashire County Union Report for the year ending April, 1824.
2 " Evangelical Magazine" for 1834, p. 379.

CONGRE G A TIONALLSM AT SMALLBRIDGE. 251
Under the new name of Summit the church is now worked in
conjunction with Littleborough. The chapel has accommodation
for about 400 persons.
The origin of Congregationalism at Smallbridge has already
been given. On the 4th of February, 1828,1 a church was formed
consisting of seven members from Mr. Ely's church. The
Report for 1830 says that Smallbridge had been made the centre
of an itinerancy, and that a suitable agent had been found in the
person of the Rev. J. Cummins, " formerly a missionary artisan
in Madagascar." Before April, 1832, Mr. Cummins had removed
to Blackpool, where he laboured four years.2 Shortly after the
removal of Mr. Cummins the church at Smallbridge dissolved
itself, and, " with one exception, the members returned to the com
munion of the church at Rochdale, under the pastoral care of the
Rev. John Ely." s For the next few years the pulpit was supplied
principally by Mr. Cheetham, the Calderbrook minister ; but on
Tuesday, June 27th, 1837, the Rev. Joseph Priestley, of Airedale
College, was ordained to the pastorate. The ministers taking
part were Revs. H. Cheetham ; J. Pridie, Halifax ; A. Blackburn,
Eastwood; Dr. Clunie, Manchester; J. Galland, Oldham; J.
Sunderland, Bury ; and J. Sutcliffe, Ashton-under-Lyne. About
this time the church was re-formed, the number in fellowship at
the time of the ordination being eight.4 The following extract
from the Report for the year ending April, 1841, will give some
idea of the spirit against which Dissent had to contend half a
century ago : —
An unusual spirit of persecution appears to have manifested itself in this
place [Smallbridge] during the past year, so that the efforts of our friends
to do good have been thwarted in every direction, and threats and intimida
tions in various ways have been employed to diminish the attendance both
at the chapel and the school ; in consequence of which both have considerably
1 The ''Lancashire Congregational Calendar" wrongly gives 1824 as
the date of the church's formation.
" Vide " Lancashire Nonconformity," vol. i., for further particulars
respecting him.
3 Lancashire County Union Report for the year ending April, 1833.
* Lancashire County Union Report for the year ending April, 1837 ;
also, " Evangelical Magazine" for 1837, p. 639.

252 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
suffered, and so violent has been the oppression that, in some instances, Mr.
Priestley has been interrupted even in his visitation of the sick, while the
infant school has entirely broken up.
Mr. Priestley continued his ministrations here until 1844, when
he resigned. In the "Congregational Year Book" for 1846 he is
named as the minister of Kirkby Stephen, but his stay there must
have been of short duration.1 For two or three years the pulpit was
supplied by the Rev. George Hinde, of Manchester, a minister
resident there without charge. In 185 1 the Rev. J. Norris was
appointed pastor, but he remained only about a year, being followed
in 1862 by the Rev. R. Seddon, from Shaw. In 1864 Mr. Seddon
removed to London. In 1866 the present handsome Gothic
structure, capable of accommodating about 750 persons, was
erected, together with schoolrooms, at a cost of over ,£3,370, and
the same year the church ceased to be a recipient of help from the
Funds of the County Union. The Rev. Robert Hall, educated at
New College, and who had formerly laboured at Highbury Chapel,
Birmingham, and Cockermouth, in Cumberland, became the pastor
here in 1866, and remained until 187 1, when he resigned. He is
now resident at Southport without charge. In the same year the
Rev. C. E. Dickinson, from Rotherham College, was chosen, and
he remained until 1888, when he removed to Winchester, Hants.
In the following year the present minister, Rev. T. Parker, from
the United College, Yorkshire, began his labours here.
Littleborough, which is about midway between Smallbridge and
Calderbrook, and through which the old Roman road runs on its
way over Blackstone Edge, is mentioned in the Report of the County
Union as early as 1828 as one of the preaching stations in connec
tion with the two churches just named. It was not, however, until
1869 that the work took definite shape, in which year a room was
erected for public worship. The Report for the year ending April,
1876, states that a church had been formed, consisting of twenty-
seven members, that a new chapel had been finished and opened,
and that Mr. Sugden, the minister of Calderbrook, had been
engaged for twelve months. He was followed, for a few months
1 In the list of Airedale students he is named Joshua Priestley, and he
seems eventually to have left the denomination for the Wesleyans.

MILNROW AND CASTLETON 253
by a Mr. Grant, and then by Mr. J. R. Phillips, who remained
until 1879, when he removed to Werneth, Oldham, where he still
labours. The Rev. J. Whitton, now of Orrell, had charge of
Summit and Littleborough from 1880 to December, 1882 ; and
then the Rev. D. Morgan, from Lancashire College, 1886 — 1888.
The present minister, Rev. John Jones, from Ruskington, Lincoln
shire, began his labours here in March, 1 889. There is sitting
accommodation at each place of worship for about 400.
The County Union Calendar, ending April, 1867, gives the
origin of the Congregational interest at Milnrow in the following
words : —
At this village, which is near Rochdale, within one mile of which 8,000
people reside, an eligible building, erected by the Countess of Huntingdon's
Connexion, has been purchased, in which a school exists, numbering 261
scholars and 27 teachers. At the services 100 people attend.
Mr. Douglas was the Evangelist appointed to the station. He
remained about twelve months. The Rev. H. Archibald, now of
Longridge, followed in 1869, and remained until 1876. The Rev.
John Hamer supplied the pulpit from 1879 to 1882. No further
appointment was made until 1889, when the present minister, Rev.
J. Magee, from Nottingham Institute, began his labours. Last
year the chapel trustees claimed compensation from the Milnrow
Local Board for damage done to the building through the construc
tion of a drain. This led to some litigation, but the verdict was
given in favour of the trustees, and the sum of £364 was awarded
unto them. A new building is therefore projected. It ought to be
stated that it was largely due to the efforts of Mr. William Shaw,
of Rochdale, who has from the first greatly interested himself in
the cause here that the claim was successful.
The Congregational Church at Castleton, formerly Blue Pits,
a village two or three miles south of Rochdale, originated in the
following way : —
On the 15th March, 1866, a few friends from Rochdale and Heywood, in
conjunction with Henry Lee, Esq., of Manchester, opened a room at this place
for public worship, and for the establishment of a Sabbath School.1
1 " Lancashire Congregational Calendar" for year ending April, 1867.

254 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMLTY.
On March 30th, 1870, a school chapel was opened, which will
accommodate 350 people, the cost being about £2,350. The Rev.
E. H. Simpson held the pastorate from 1870 to 1873, being
followed in that year by the Rev. Thomas Porritt, from Airedale
College, who remained until 1876, when he resigned. He is now
at Morley, near Leeds. His successor at Castleton was the Rev.
W. Riding, from 1876 to 1879. The Rev. John Wilson, of
Affitside, was pastor here from 1882 to August 29th, 1888, on
which date he died, aged sixty years. The present minister, Rev.
A. Finlayson, from Lancashire College, began his labours here in
January, 1890. It may be added as a closing sentence, that
these churches are illustrative of the useful work done by the
Lancashire Congregational Union in different parts of the county, all
having been, and some still being, recipients from its funds to a
very considerable extent.

V.— BAMFORD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Congregationalism in Bamford is getting well on towards
its centenary year, and its history is full of interest. Fortunately
the Church Book has been well kept, which is by no means always
the case with our churches. Prefixed to it is a history of the
church up to the time of the Rev. Thomas Jackson's death, of
which I shall make free use. I copy as follows an account of the
way in which the Gospel was introduced into the village : —
Long previous to the formation of a church at Bamford the Methodists had
exercised their occasional labours in these parts, particularly in the neigh
bouring village of Heywood, where they have still a small society, but no
considerable fruit of their ministry is discoverable either at that place or this.
In the year 1796 Benjamin Holmes, minister of Park Chapel, began
preaching at Wolstenholme, Laneside, and Ashworth. A spirit of hearing
was excited, and some serious persons kept up regular meetings in that
neighbourhood. July, 1798. Mr. John Winder, then of Bury [afterwards many years
minister of the Congregational Church at Edgworth, near Bolton], at the
instance of Mr. Rob. Kay, began to preach in and about Heywood, but

EARLY EFFORTS. 255
though numbers attended his ministry, no very satisfactory evidence of real
usefulness at that time appeared.
November 23rd, 1799. Thomas Hackin, who lately had come from Ossett,
in Yorkshire, in the character of an itinerant preacher, was requested by
John Winder to enter into his labours ; with this Mr. Hackin complied, and
for some time preached twice every Lord's Day, with appearances of good
success. A desire for erecting a chapel was expressed, and ground was
actually taken for that purpose, when at length a persecution arose, the
number of hearers diminished, the room which they had hitherto occupied
was taken away, and no other room in Heywood could then be obtained.
January, 1800. A proposal was made by Mr. Rob. Kay (by whose munifi
cence religious knowledge in these parts has been greatly promoted) of
uniting in one congregation — the hearers of Ashworth and Heywood. The
intended chapel was then proposed to be at Bamford, as a central spot.
With this object in view, a house was engaged by Mr. Kay to be occupied
both as a Sunday School and a temporary preaching place. But the Metho
dists who officiated as teachers in the school were so illiberal as to declare
that if Calvinistic preaching was continued in those premises they would no
longer countenance the school. In consequence of this Mr. Hackin, by Mr.
Kay's direction, but under no small discouragement, employed his preaching
efforts at other places in the neighbourhood.
May, 1800. Mr. Hackin was (in answer to prayer, and in a manner not a
little providential) directed to the village called Spotland, which though but
a mile from Rochdale, and of considerable population, was almost in total
darkness ; the proposal of preaching among them was kindly and instantly
received, and the regular attendance among them on a Lord's Day morning
was soon followed with evident tokens of concern for their immortal souls.
July, 1800. Mr. Hackin again visited the neighbourhood of Bamford, and
calling at the house of Ralph Holt obtained leave to preach in his barn, and
afterwards in the house. Places for preaching now began to open on all
hands, and public sermons three times, and often four times, on the Lord's
Day, besides twice in the week, were attended with appearances of good in
the souls of the people.
October, 1800. From these appearances and the successful itinerant labours
of Mr. Holmes, at Ashworth and that neighbourhood, it was deemed more
than ever necessary to erect a place of public worship.
Jan., 1801. A subscription was opened for the purpose, and ground being
taken at Bamford the building immediately commenced.
The chapel thus commenced was opened for worship on the
30th of September in the same year, and the following is an
account of the service : —
On Wednesday, September 30th, a small, neat chapel was erected and
was opened at Bamford, near Rochdale, Lancashire. Mr. Ely, of Bury intro-

256 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
duced the service by prayer and reading the Scriptures. Mr. Littlewood, of
Rochdale, gave thanks unto God for the erection of this house for His service;
and prayed for the successful dispensation of the Gospel therein. Mr. Roby,
of Manchester, preached from Psa. xxvi., 8; and Mr. Blackburn, of Delph,
from 1 Cor., i., 23. Mr. Coles, of Stand, concluded. The erection of this
chapel was occasioned principally by the successful itinerant labours of Mr
Hackin. The expense is nearly defrayed by the liberal subscriptions of a
few individuals. It could not contain the congregation that assembled at
the opening.1
What became of Mr. Hackin, who figures so prominently in the
early annals of Bamford Congregationalism, is not known ; but
he does not seem to have been chosen pastor of the interest he
had largely originated. Under date February, 1802, the church
minutes say : —
" Ebenezer White, formerly of the Academy at Hoxton, came
to Bamford and supplied for several succeeding months."
Nor was Mr. White permanently invited, though he remained
until the month of August. It is to his diligence that we are
indebted for information about Bamford Chapel up to this point.
From Bamford he went to Chester, where he laboured until his
death on May 5 th, 181 1, at the early age of forty. The Rev. J. T.
Parsons began his labours at Bamford on the 2nd of January, 1803,
as the first minister. He was trained at Hoxton Academy and
settled first for a short time at Congleton, in Cheshire, removing
thence to Bamford. Proposals were made as early as August, 1802,
whilst Mr. White was preaching here, for "the serious persons
being organised into a regular society and declaring themselves an
independent church" ; but this was not done until September, 1803.
As then organised, the church consisted of eight men and two
women. There were two deacons, Robert Ashworth and John
Crabtree ; and the Lord's Supper was administered to the church
for the first time on the 2nd of October, 1803. The building
of a vestry and manse was begun in July, 1803, and in May, 1804,
" the house and vestry were finished and entered upon by the
minister." Mr. Parsons remained at Bamford until the spring of
1 " Evangelical Magazine" for 1801, p. 454.

THE REV. J. GRAY. 257
1809, when he removed to Chorley. He died in Manchester
and left a widow, who also died in 1858, at a very advanced
age. It is said that he " bore a good character, but was of a hot
temper; he was much valued as a preacher by those who loved
good, sound, and high Calvinistic theology." J
The Rev. John Gray followed. He was educated at Mr. Roby's
Academy, Manchester, and preached first for the Bamford people
on the nth of June, 1809. He did not, however, begin his
regular ministry here until May 16th of the following year. He
was ordained on the 23rd of August, 1815, when the Revs. Noah
Blackburn, of Delph ; William Jones, of Bolton; William Roby,
of Manchester; and Joseph Fletcher, M.A., of Blackburn, took
part in the service. Failing health brought his ministry to a close
on the first Sunday in November, 181 7, when he administered the
Lord's Supper for the last time. He died on the nth of April,
1818. Retiring and unobtrusive, it is said that it " was with con
siderable difficulty his permission could be obtained for a stone
to be placed over his mortal remains. The only inscription he
would allow being: ' 1818. A sinner saved by grace.'" His
widow survived him many years, and resided at Rochdale. She
died on the 16th of January, 1864, was interred at Bamford, and
according to her instructions her husband's name as well as her
own was inscribed upon the tombstone, which states that Mr.
Gray was forty-two years of age, and his wife, Agnes, seventy-eight
The Rev. John Adamsou, of Patricroft, was invited to the vacant
pastorate after Mr. Gray's death. He, however, declined the
invitation, but recommended the Rev. Thomas Jackson, of
Wharton, near Bolton. Mr. Jackson was, however, deeply attached
to his Wharton congregation, and when he was invited to Bamford
in May, 1819, it was after considerable hesitation and doubt that he
decided to accept the invitation. He preached his farewell sermon
at Wharton " to a numerous and affected auditory" from Phil, i.,
27, and about the middle of July, 1819, began his ministry at
Bamford. His course did not run smoothly here at first.
Previous to his acceptance of the invitation to Bamford he wrote
a long and deeply interesting letter stating certain conditions on
1 Church Book.
3— 17

258 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
which he would become their minister. These were accepted, but
trouble arose soon after his settlement in trying to act them out.
His preaching, too, gave rise to some dissatisfaction. Respecting
this his biographer writes :
Both the preceding ministers had been accustomed to use a high standard
of doctrine, and the practical application of the same doctrines by Mr.
Jackson were by many deemed too legal, and this added to the grievance
respecting writing 1 created much uneasiness. Prejudices were generally
excited, and for some period of time the people were instructed to believe
that the doctrine preached by Mr. J. was rather Arminian than Calvinistic.
After struggling some time, with no probability of reconciling differences,
it was thought best to separate the contentious and uneasy members, and
though this for a time produced something of the feeling of the Israelites as
recorded in Numbers xvi., 41, yet it was found a needful, and proved »
wholesome and salutary step.2
About the year 1821 "Mr. Robert Kay, of Manchester, came
with his family to reside at Meadowcroft in Bamford. His
eldest son, well versed in the system of Sabbath instruction,
practised in Manchester, took the superintendence of the boys'
school, and in a little time such improvement took place that it
was agreed to enlarge the school, which was done in 1822." A
large cotton mill erected at Hooley Bridge by Messrs. Fenton and
Schofield brought a great increase of population into this neigh
bourhood, and in the summer of 1828, says the Church Book,
A gallery in front of the pulpit was commenced. The chapel was re
opened on the completion of the gallery on Christmas Day with a missionary
sermon by the Rev. R. S. McAlI, of Mosley Street, Manchester, which was
followed by the first public meeting ever held at Bamford on behalf of
missions. The collections and subscriptions which had not before exceeded
£22 were on this occasion £$g 3s. ijd., and an interest was then excited
which continued and increased so that the collections in 1834 were ^75 4s. 6d.,
about £g of which was collected in the Sabbath School in nine months.
Mr. Jackson died somewhat unexpectedly, after a long and most
useful ministry, " at two o'clock on the Tuesday morning, May 16th,
1 One of the conditions laid down by Mr. Jackson before accepting the
call of the church was that writing should not be taught in the school on
Sunday. 2 Church Book.

THE VALUE OF A TRACT. 259
having completed his 67th year on the 15th of April, 1837." The
Sunday previous, May 14th, is said to have been "the first he had
passed in bed, and the third he had omitted preaching in thirty
years." His remains lie in Bamford Chapel graveyard, a tomb
stone marking the spot. By his side also are those of Mary, his
wife, who died June 4th, 1839, aged seventy-three years. He left
two sons, Thomas and James. To the pen of the former we are
indebted for the historical sketch of the church from the days of
Mr. White to the death of Mr. Jackson. A monumental stone in
the Bamford Chapel graveyard records the death of James Jack
son, of Hooley Bridge, on December 13th, 1868, at the age of
sixty-two years. For a long period, it states, he was deacon of the
church, for thirty years superintendent, and it further says that he
was " the first public registrar of births and deaths for the Birtle
district, and the duties connected with that position he performed
for thirty years."
Mr. Jackson's successor was the Rev. Wm. Blackburn. He was
born at Garstang, near Preston, in 1797, his father being a Roman
Catholic. His conversion to Protestantism was due to a tract he
received at Grimshaw Street Chapel, Preston, from the Rev. W. M.
Walker, who was accustomed to distribute such to his retiring
audience. His training for the ministry was received at Rotherham
College, and he had for his first charge Silver Street Chapel,
Whitby. From this place he removed to Bamford in 1838, com
mencing his duties on the first Sunday in January. He resigned
on the 29th of March, 1846, and removed to Manchester to act as
Secretary and Superintendent of the Manchester City Mission.
Failing health eventually made his resignation and retirement from
labour necessary, and he removed to Southport. Without pastoral
charge he remained there until his death, which took place on
October 18th, 1862. His remains were interred in the burial
ground of Chapel Street Chapel by his friend and former fellow
student, the Rev. J. E. Millson. The next minister was the Rev.
James Bruce, who was born at Kelso, Roxburghshire, January 23rd,
1804, and educated in part at Glasgow University. His ministerial
training, like that of his predecessor at Bamford, he received at
Rotherham College, and his first settlement was Lofthouse, in the
North Riding, whence he removed to Howden, and thence to Bam-

260 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
ford in July, 1846. He left in May, 1856, for Cannon Street,
Manchester, and afterwards lived in retirement at Liverpool and
Leamington. At Cubbington, a village about two miles from
Leamington, he died suddenly on Tuesday morning, September
28th, 1873. The Rev. James Browne, B.A., followed in 1858.
He was trained at Homerton, entered the ministry in 1850, settling
first at Debenham, Suffolk. From this place he removed to
Ulverston, Lancashire, whence he came to Bamford, remaining
here until April, 1868. His next charge was Barnsley, in Yorkshire,
which he resigned in 1875. Since then he has been resident in
Bradford, without charge, but for several years has acted as Secre
tary for the Congregational College at Bradford. The Rev. R.
Ashcroft, from Adlington, began his ministry at Bamford on the
first Sunday in March, 1869, and resigned on the 25th of June,
1871, removing to Rock Ferry, Cheshire. The next minister was
the Rev. J. P. Wilson, an Airedale student, who settled here in
July, 1873. In May, 1875, he removed to Huddersfield, thence
to Bishop's Stortford, and. afterwards to Croydon, London, where
he how labours. The present minister, the Rev. W. M. Arthur,
M.A., son of the late Rev. David Arthur, for many years minister
of Belmont Congregational Church, Aberdeen, was educated
at Lancashire College, and settled first at Thornton, near Brad
ford. He removed to Bamford in August, 1875, an(^ so has been
here nearly seventeen years. With the exception of Mr. Jackson's
it is by far the longest pastorate this church has known.
Bamford Chapel is indeed "beautiful for situation." Trees and
rich meadow lands sunound it, and the general approaches
are such as remind one of a gentleman's residence. The building
itself, is handsome. The people, at any rate, think so. "You
will put ours down as one of the nicest," said a good woman when
it was known that a sketch of the place was being written. The
chapel, school, and manse stand in a line and join each other, hence
they present an imposing front. The chapel is the middle buildincr.
A large graveyard surrounds them, which is rich in monumental
stones. The school bears date 1861, but the chapel, as previously
stated, was built in 1801, though the trust deed is dated July
8lh, 1807. From the entrance two aisles lead up to the chancel,
which contains a handsome organ, and near to which is the pulpit.

SIR JAMES KAY-SHUTTLE WORTH. 261
The pews are all open, and made of pitch-pine. There is one
gallery, which is over the doorway. A beautiful stained-glass
window is thus inscribed : —
This window is erected in loving memory of Samuel Porritt, born Decem
ber 30th, 1815, died April 13th, 1884, by his wife.
On the right side of the chapel, going in, are three handsome
tablets in memory of the Fenton family, who once occupied all the
pews on this side. Joseph Fenton, of Bamford Hall, died June
18th, 1840, in his seventy-sixth year. His wife, Ann Fenton, died
on the 2nd of May, 1831, aged sixty-nine years. In the church
records it is said "her loss was much felt and deplored by her
fellow members, as she had been a principal cause in the erection
of the chapel at Bamford, and had ever watched over its pros
perity with intense anxiety, and exerted all her energies and influence
in the promotion of its best interests." There is another also to John
Fenton, Esq., of Crimble Hall, M.P. for Rochdale for some years ;
and a third to his son, Wm. Fenton, who contested North-East
Lancashire in the Liberal interest in 1868. The Fenton family no
longer reside in this district, and so their connection with Bamford
Chapel may be said to have ceased. There is a tablet also erected
to the memory of Mr. Thomas Kay, of Brookshaw House, near
Bury. He is named in the early records of the church, and along
with his sister, Mrs. Fenton, contributed liberally towards the
establishment of Congregationalism at Bamford. He was interred
on the 2nd of May, 1834, according to his own request, "in that
pew where he used to sit and listen to the gospel." His son,
James Philip Kay, attained considerable eminence in the medical
profession, and for some years was consulting physician at the
Royal Infirmary, Manchester. His services in the cause of educa
tion were eventually rewarded by the Government with a baronetcy.
In February, 1842, he married Janet, daughter and heiress of Mr.
Robert Shuttleworth, of Gawthorp Hall, and in the same month he
took the name and arms of Shuttleworth in addition to his own.
The name and fame of Sir James are enough for a lengthy article
in themselves, and so further indulgence in that direction is for
bidden. His son, Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, is the Liberal
member of Parliament for the Clitheroe Division of Lancashire.

262 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
It is no small honour for the Congregationalists of Bamford to be
able to say that Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth was once a superinten
dent of their Sunday School, and yet such was the case, and to the
very last he took a warm interest therein.1 During Mr. Arthur's
ministry the sum of jQi, 800 has been spent in repairing, painting,
and other alterations. The chapel, which seats about 500 persons,
is well attended, and the work here is well sustained.
One or two sentences must be devoted to the Congregational
Church at Norden, a few miles from Bamford, which originated in
1884 with a " secession from the Wesleyan Church in the village, in
consequence of a desire on the pirt of the people for greater
spiritual and ecclesiastical liberty. The seceders put themselves
in communication with the Rev. W. M. Arthur, M.A., of Bamford,
and immediately became members of the Bamford Church." They
were afterwards formed into a separate church. A school chapel
was erected in 1885, capable of seating 400 people, and a grant
was made from the funds of the County Union. The present
minister, Rev. VV. Williams, began his labours here in 1889.
1 At a meeting of old scholars at Bimford, in September, 1867, a letter
was read from Sir James. It is full of interest, and I regret that space will
not allow me to print it in full. The following passages are extracted there
from : —
"I was fond of accompanying the deacons in their visits on Sundays to
remote 'folds' and hamlets in the hills of Blackstone Edge and Todmorden,
or along the range from Knowl Hill to Rowley Moor. I remember long
walks with the deacDn, John Crabtree — his pious conversation on the way —
our arrival at a weaver's cottage in some far-distant ' fold ' on the edge of a
wild moor — the simple breakfast of oatcake, or oatmeal porridge and milk —
the gathering of the neighbours, and the primitive scriptural greetings some
times uttered — the simple services and the quaint, rather dogmatic, discourse
of my friend John. Ths mid-day meal of eggs, bacon, and oatcake; then
the walk home, and the arrival at Bamford in the twilight or night. In
these walks John lent his whole influence with me to induce me to become
a missionary, but I had an eager thirst for knowledge, and longed to go to
the university to study science, history, and metaphysics.
"Now, I bid you God speed. I have written all these words from my
heart. I often think of Bamford, and I should not wonder if, among my last
thoughts, is the Sunday School, in the organisation and management of
which I, forty-five years ago, received the first impulse to observe, inquire,
and ponder on the methods a-ad discipline of schools for the people."

ITINERANT WORKERS. 263

VI.— HEYWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The itinerant labours of Mr. Holmes, of Ramsbottom ; Mr.
Winder, of Bury ; and Mr. Thomas Hackin resulted, as we saw
in the last section, in the erection of Bamford Congregational
Chapel in 1801. The chapel was placed there as "a central spot,"
and was intended to serve the religious requirements of the people
of Heywood, Spotland, and Ashworth, as well as those of Bamford.
At that time these districts were but sparsely populated. About
fifty years ago the now busy little town of Heywood was denomi
nated a " hamlet." Hence it is not difficult to see how in the
beginning of this century Bamford Chapel would be considered
quite sufficient for all the neighbourhood. During the ministries,
however, of Mr. Parsons and Mr. Gray, at Bamford, Heywood was
not quite overlooked. They frequently preached here, but nothing
definite was done until "April, 1821, when Mrs. Fenton, of Bam
ford Hall, authorised the Rev. Thomas Jackson to open a preaching
room at Heywood at her expense, in which he preached on Sunday
evenings." Two years afterwards a small chapel in Oak Street,
formerly occupied by the Swedenborgians, was rented by them,
being opened for worship on the 10th of October, 1823. In Slate's
" History of the County Union," under date 1824, appears the
following : —
Heywood, between Bury and Rochdale, with a population of several
thousands of inhabitants, was brought under the fostering care of the Union
this year. A small place of worship, built by another denomination, was
rented, and occasionally supplied by ministers in the neighbourhood until
it became a station of the Union.1
On the 24th of July, 1824, the church was formally constituted
by the Revs. John Ely, of Rochdale, and Thomas Jackson, of
Bamford. The Rev. John Crossley, afterwards of Horwich, is
mentioned as the minister in charge of Heywood, along with
Middleton, in 1825. A Mr. Ramsay, who is described as "an
itinerant" in the Congregational Magazine for 1826, is put
down as stationed at Heywood in that year. He resigned in 1827.
1 P. 52-

264 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
In 1834 the County Union voted a grant of ^50 to Heywood to
aid the church in getting suitable supplies, and in 1835 the name
of the Rev. Thomas Jackson, of Bamford, is put down against it,
probably because he exeicised a kind of supervision over it. The
foundation stone of a new chapel was laid on Good Friday, 1835,
by Mr. John Fenton, M.P., of Crimble Hall. In November of
the same year the Rev. William Orgar became the minister. He
was born at Bishop's Stortford in 1811, and for some time attended
the ministry of the Rev. George Clayton, of London. He was
first engaged as an Evangelist by Lady Howard, on her estates
near Sheffield, removing to Heywood after two years' service. At
this time the Heywood Church numbered fifteen members. The
chapel was opened for worship on the ist of April, 1836, when
the Revs. John Ely, of Rochdale, and Richard Fletcher, of Man
chester, were the preachers. On the following Sunday the opening
services were continued by the Rev. J. Sutcliffe, of Ashton-under-
Lyne. The collections amounted to ^70, "which together with
subscriptions in Heywood, Manchester, and other places amounted
to the sum of ^500, still leaving a debt of the same amount." On
Friday, March 24th, of the year following, Mr. Orgar was ordained.
From the Evangelical Magazine for 1837 is extracted the
following respecting this service : —
The solemnities of the day were commenced by the Rev. James Kennedy,
of Bury. The Rev. Mr. Deakin, of Stand, delivered the introductory
discourse. The Rev. J. Sunderland, of Bury, proposed the questions and
received the confession of faith. The Rev. Thomas Jackson, of Bamford,
offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. R. S. M'All, LL.D., of Manchester,
gave the charge from 2 Timothy, iv., 7 and 8. The hymns were given out
by the Rev. Henry Cheetham, of Calderbrook; and the Rev. Joseph Galland,
of Greenacres, concluded the impressive and deeply interesting services.
The sermon to the people was preached in the evening by the Rev. J.
Sutcliffe, of Ashton-under-Lyne, from 2 Cor., i., first clause of nth verse.
The Rev. Henry Cheetham introduced, and the Rev. J. Sunderland con
cluded the service.1
The account states that the " cause is revived and encouraging,
and it is hoped a new era has commenced in the history of Indepen
dency here." Mr. Orgar remained only until November, 1839, when
1 P. 380.

HONOURED NAMES. 265
he removed to Hunslet, near Leeds. Afterwards he laboured at
Stubbin Elsecar, then at Bingley, next at Morley, and again at Stub-
bin Elsecar. He withdrew from the ministry in August, 1871, and
went to reside at Leeds, where he died on Wednesday, July 9th.
1873, after a ministry of thirty-seven years. During his pastorate at
Heywood it is said " the church increased from 15 to 50 members,"
and the debt was in part cleared off. The Rev. John Harrison,
of Rotherham College, followed, beginning his ministry on the
15th of January, 1843, his first sermon being from 2 Thess., iii., 1.
Two years afterwards the church ceased to be a recipient from
the Union Funds. Mr. Harrison's ordination took place on the
7th of August, 1843. The ministers who assisted in the service
were the Revs. David Hewitt, of Rochdale ; Dr. Davidson, of
Lancashire College ; William Blackburn, of Bamford ; Richard
Fletcher, of Manchester ; W. H. Stowell, Professor of Theology,
Rotherham College : John Ely, of Leeds ; Wm. Roseman, of
Bury ; E. Robinson, of Ramsbottom ; Thomas Brierley, of Old
ham ; John Harrison, of Ovenden ; and G. Baker, of Middleton.
Mr. Harrison resigned his charge here through ill health on April
6th, 1856. Subsequently he acted as Secretary for the English
Congregational Chapel Building Society. Failing health com
pelled him again to relinquish this post, and he died at his
residence, Park Road, Eccles, near Manchester, on November
the 2nd, 1867. He was interred in the family vault of his
father in-law, the late Mr. James Dilworth, of Manchester, at the
Cemetery, Harpurhey. His successor at Heywood was the Rev.
Evan Davies, a native of Cardiganshire, who was born in 1805.
He received his ministerial training at Western College, and
settled first at Great Torrington, in North Devon, where he
remained only a short time. Having been accepted by the
London Missionary Society he was ordained in April, 1835, as a
missionary to the Chinese, and sent to Penang. In 1840 he
returned to England, and in 1844 became pastor of the Congrega
tional Church, at Richmond, Surrey. From this place he removed
to Heywood, in February, 1857.
In the latter part of the same year the Church Book says it was deter
mined that a new organ gallery should be erected, together with clasa rooms,

266 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
the school enlarged, and the chapel repaired and beautified. This was
done, and the place was reopened on Good Friday, 1S58, when the Rev. Dr.
Raffles preached in the morning. In the evening a recognition service was
held connected with Mr. Davies's settlement.
In January, 1859, Mr. Davies resigned. He died at Hornsey
on the iSth of June, 1864, and was interred in the Abney Park
Cemetery. He was the author of several important theological
works. In July, i860, the Rev. J. R. Thomson, M.A, began his
labours at Heywood. He was trained at New College, London,
and began ministerial work in 1857 as co-pastor to the Rev. H. R.
Reynolds, B. A., East Parade, Leeds. From this place he removed
to Heywood, where he remained only until March, 1862, resigning
to take the " post of resident tutor at Cavendish College, Man
chester." In the year following he removed to Tunbridge Wells,
Kent, and is now resident in London, without pastoral charge.
The Rev. Thomas Slade Jones was the next minister. His
ministerial training was received at Rotherham College, and in
1859 he began work at Holly Walk, Leamington. There he was
ordained in May, i860, removing thence to Heywood, in October,
1862, where he remained until August, 1866. His next charge
was Sunningdale, in Berkshire, and afterwards he was at Turnham
Green. He died at the latter place on the 20th of March, 1883,
after a ministry of twenty-three years. The Rev. J. Yonge suc
ceeded Mr. Jones, in 1867, commencing his ministry on the first
Sabbath in January. He was trained at Cheshunt, and had pre
viously laboured at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. His ministry at
Heywood was eminently successful. It was in his time that the
present handsome buildings in York Street were erected. The
Church Book says : —
For some time it had been intended to erect a larger chapel, with efficient
school premises. A piot of land was secured, and immediately upon Mr,
Yonge's settlement the scheme was fully launched. The architect to whom
the work was consigned was Mr. W. F. Poulton, of Reading. Plans were
prepared by him which specified an outlay of some ^5,000, a sum which
was in the end considerably overreached, nearly ^6,300 being expended.
The memorial stone of this new building was laid on Good Friday,
April 10th, 1868, by Mr. Wm. Armitage, of Manchester, who

WORK AT CAPTAIN FOLD. 267
gave ;£ioo. Th; Revs. Dr. Parker, of Manchester ; Wm. Rose
man, of Bury ; J. Browne, of Bamford, and others took part in
the services of the day. The new buildings were opened on
Wednesday, June 9th, 1869, when the Rev. E. Mellor, M.A., of
Halifax, preached in the morning, and Dr. Parker in the evening.
The amount collected during the day was ^135. In the after
noon Mr. G. N. Hodgkinson presided at a dinner held in the
Lecture Room. The opening services were continued on Sunday,
June 13th, when Professor Scott, of Lancashire College, was the
preacher, morning and evening, and the pastor in the afternoon.
On Monday, June 14th, the Rev. David Thomas, B.A., of Bristol,
preached; Thursday, June 17th, the Rev. R. Eardley, B.A.,
Wesleyan minister from Bolton ; Sunday, June 20th, the Rev. G
Gill, of Burnley; and on Tuesday, June 22nd, the Rev. John
Guttridge, of the United Methodist Free Church. A debt of
;£i,6oo remained upon the buildings, to remove which a bazaar
was held on September 28th, 1870, and four following days, which
was opened by Mr. William Fenton, of Beaumonds, Rochdale.
The sum realised, including the proceeds of a remnant sale held
the following Christmas, was ^1,200. On Sunday, April 27th,
1873, the church celebrated its jubilee, when the Rev. Henry
Batchelor, of Glasgow, preached morning and evening, and Mr.
Yonge conducted a children's service in the afternoon. On the
Monday evening following a public tea meeting was held, presided
over by Mr. T. B. Willans, to celebrate the entire removal of the
debt. Mr. Yonge terminated his ministry at Heywood on
Sunday, October 29th, 1876, having accepted an invitation to the
Wycliffe Church, Warrington, where he still labours. It was
during Mr. Yonge's ministry at Heywood that the work at Captain
Fold was commenced. The church records say : —
In the minutes of church meeting held December 30th, 1868, a resolution is
entered authorising the renting of a cottage in Chadwick Lane for the pur
pose of a school. This cottage was opened early in iSSg, and soon proved
far too small. A plot of land in Rochdale Road was given to the trustees of
the chapel by Miss Alice Kay, and the present buildings were erected and
opened in 1872. The classrooms were added in 1874.
At a special church meeting held November 29th, 1877, "a

268 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
unanimous vote by ballot was taken giving the Rev. W. H. Fother-
gill a call to be our pastor." This call, however, does not seem
to have been accepted, and in March the following year it was
decided to invite the Rev. David Young, B.A. He was trained
at New College, entered the ministry in 1872, and had previously
laboured at Morpeth, in Durham. Mr. Young's letter of accept
ance was read at the church meeting held May 2nd, 1877. Ill
health, however, cut short a pastorate that was full of promise.
He resigned in February, 1878, and for some time remained
without charge. He is now labouring at Morpeth, the scene of
his eatliest ministry. The vacant pulpit was filled by the Rev. W.
H. Fothergill, who had previously been invited. He was trained
at Nottingham Institute, and entered the ministry in 1869. He
came to Heywood from Barrow-in-Furness, his letter accepting the
Heywood call being dated March 20th, 1878. A useful and
happy ministry was again terminated by sickness. After being
laid aside for several months he resigned at the end of July, 1885,
and was for some time without charge. He is now pastor of
Providence Congregational Church, Middleton. His successor
was the Rev. James Bainton. He was trained at Hackney,
entered the ministry in 1866, and had previously laboured at
Stebbing, in Essex, and West Bromwich, Staffordshire. He began
his ministry at Heywood in September, 1886, and terminated it at
the end of 1887. He is now the minister of the church at Rooden
Lane, near Manchester. The present minister, the Rev.
Silas Rixon, who was trained at Nottingham Institute, and had
previously laboured for over ten years at Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
entered on duty here in 1888. The chapel is well situated and
fairly central. Within and without it is " a thing of beauty," con
trasting favourably with the plain, antique-looking buildings in its
neighbourhood. It measures sixty-six feet by forty-two feet, has
one transept twenty feet by eleven feet, and side and end galleries.
The old chapel which it has superseded had sitting accommodation
only for 450 persons ; this for 750.

ORIGIN OF WHITWORTH CHAPEL. 269

VII.— WHITWORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Whitworth and Hallfold, according to an old gazetteer, are
two small hamlets in the township of Spotland and parish of
Rochdale. They are contiguous and about three miles north or
north-west of that town. Being only small and adjoining each
other the Congregational Church there sometimes gets the one
name and sometimes the other. It will be most convenient, per
haps, if we keep to the name Whitworth. The origin of Noncon
formity here is not very clear. Dr. Halley makes no attempt to
account for it, and the date, 1698, given by the "Lancashire
Congregational Calendar," is pure conjecture. Nor does Colonel
Fishwick help us much. His statement is : —
In 1717 there were at least nineteen Presbyterian householders in Whit
worth, and as this number increased a minister was stationed there and a
chapel erected.1
If already so large a proportion of the population was Non
conformist, it is surely not unreasonable to suppose that Noncon
formists were accustomed to have worship according to their own
fashion somewhere. In harmony with this is the tradition which
yet lingers in the neighbourhood that worship was originally held
in a farmhouse known as Fold Head, in the higher part of Hall-
fold. This, of course, would be after the ejectment of 1662.
Subsequently, I am inclined to think, that what happened in so
many other parts of the county happened here, viz., that the Non
conformists obtained such possession of the old Whitworth Chapel
from which their fathers had been ejected as satisfied them. I
am drawn to this conclusion partly by the fact stated by Colonel
Fishwick, that the four trustees of Whitworth Chapel refused to
pay the wages of a curate nominated by the Vicar of Rochdale
about 17 10 without their "consent or approbation.'' The matter
led to litigation, which did not receive a final settlement until
1720, about which time the first Nonconformist Chapel was
erected. But stronger evidence still is furnished in the person of
one of the Whitworth ministers — the Rev. Joseph Whitworth.
1 " History of Rochdale," p. 264.

270 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Colonel Fishwick says that he was the son of Abraham Whitworth,
of Rochdale, grandson of the Rev. Abraham Whitworth, B.A.,
being appointed to the curacy of Whitworth Chapel in 1679-80.
Mr. Fishwick states that he afterwards turned Presbyterian, and in
1696 removed to Cockey Moor Chapel. He proceeds also to say
that he was educated at Rathmell by the Rev. Richard Frankland,
entering there August 17th, 1676. Now, as that was the principal
academy for the training of Dissenting ministers in the eighteenth
century, it is not likely that Mr. Whitworth passed through an
Episcopalian changing to Presbyterianism afterwards. It is much
more reasonable to suppose that he was Nonconformist at the
time, and that he settled at Whitworth as such, thus proving the
Nonconformist character of the church. We can now understand
why, after his removal, the people resented the appointment of a
curate by the Vicar of Rochdale without their " consent or appro
bation." Respecting Mr. Whitworth's subsequent career there are
a few points which I have been unable to make clear. As already
stated, Colonel Fishwick identifies him with the Rev. Joseph
Whitworth of Cockey Moor, and says that he removed thither
from Whitworth and remained until his death. This is by no
means certain. In some notes of Mr. Frankland's students he is
mentioned as minister of Holcombe, and in Dr. Evans's list of
Presbyterian Chapels and Charities it is said that he removed
from Whitworth to Oswestry. In a brief sketch of the old chapel
at Oswestry, published in the " Transactions of the Shropshire
Archaeological Society," is the following, which is slightly con
firmatory of Dr. Evans's statement : —
Mr. Evans's [Rev. Jenkin Evans, who died in 1709] widow married a Mr.
Whitworth, who, it is supposed, was for a short time minister at Oswestry,
but we have no definite record until 1725.
I regret that I am unable to further identify Mr. Whitworth.1
aThat Colonel Fishwick's account of Mr. Whitworth is open to doubt,
take the fact that he makes him to marry Abigail, daughter of Abraham
Stansfield, of Rochdale, whilst in the " Northowram Register " 2 is the
following:— "Mr. Joseph Whitworth, minr. at Coley [should be Cockey]
Chappel, mar.  Aspinwal, May 31 [1711],
2 P. 204.

THE SCHOLEFIELD FAMILY. 271
"From an original document, dated 1718," says Colonel Fishwick,
" it appears that in that year five shillings and five pence was paid
for 165 square yards of land to erect a meeting house thereon."
Probably the first minister of this new meeting house was the Rev.
Radcliffe Scholefield, son of Radcliffe Scholefield, attorney-at-law,
Rochdale. He was educated by the Rev. Richard Frankland,
entering his academy whilst it was at Attercliffe, July 18th, 1688.
The date of his settlement at Whitworth is given by Colonel Fish
wick as 17 18, and in 1727 he removed to Ringway [or Ringhay],
in Cheshire. He died the year following near Radcliffe Bridge, and
was buried on the 16th of August, 1728. From the "Northowram
Register" I extract the following relating to this event : —
" Mr. Radcliffe Scholefield near Radcliffe Bridge, in Lancashire,
jun., August 16th. Minister at Ringway, in Cheshire."1
He appears to have been followed at Whitworth by the Rev.
Richard Scholefield, his son. His marriage is referred to in the
Register just named in the following terms : — ¦
" Mr. Richd. Scholefield, Preacher at Whitworth, and Elizabeth,
d. Mr. Dawson, Minr. in Rochdale, married Jan. 8, 1728."2
Shortly after this he removed to Buxton, where Colonel Fish
wick says he died in 1740 ; but in the Congregational Magazine for
1823 3 we have the following : —
Upon his [Mr. Holland's] removal in 1728, he was succeeded by the
Rev. Richard Scolfield, whose residence in this place was not of long con
tinuance.
And in 1737 the Rev. Wm. Harrison is named as minister at
Buxton. The " Northowram Register " contains the following
entry under the head of burials : —
" Mr. Richd. Scholefield, Min. at  , lately remov'd from
Whitworth, in Rochdale Parish [June, i74°]-"4
1 P. 301.
* P. 223.
3 P. 163.
4 P. 328.

272 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
The Rev. Lawrence Holden * followed, though again the exact
date is lost. He was born at Bolton in 17 10, and educated at the
Warrington Academy. His first settlement was at Whitworth,
where he married the daughter of Mr. A. Whitworth. The
following passage from Dr. Halley no doubt refers to him, because
he is the only Warrington student who ever laboured at Whit
worth : —
The congregation founded at Whitworth, near Rochdale, was in the
middle of the last century in a state of indifference or uncertainty respecting
religious doctrine. For some time the people listened to the preaching of a
student from Warrington, who did not succeed (even if he made the
attempt) in promoting the Arianism which he is supposed to have held.2
Mr. Holden removed from Whitworth to Doncaster, where he
remained only a short time. In 1750 he went to Maldon, in Essex,
and whilst here formed an intimate acquaintance with Archbishop
Seeker, who made to him flattering proposals to join the Establish
ment, but he refused. He published two or three volumes of
sermons, also in 1763 a paraphrase on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and
Ecclesiastes, in four volumes, and in 1776 his paraphrase on
Isaiah in two volumes. He died at Maldon on the 4th of August,
1778. The Rev. Titus Cordingley was the next Whitworth
minister. He was educated by Dr. Caleb Rotheram, at Kendal,
becoming a student in the academy in 1738. His first charge was
Whitworth, and by Dr. Halley he is described as " a very useful
and acceptable minister." He removed thence to Dob Lane, near
Manchester, and afterwards to Hull, where he died in 1758. A
remarkable character was the next minister, the Rev. James
Burgess. He was the eldest son of the Rev. James Burgess, for
many years minister of Lower Chapel, Darwen, and afterwards of
Greenacres, Oldham. He was born probably at Darwen, at any-
rate there he spent his boyhood, and was educated for the ministry
by the Rev. John Kirkpatrick, M.A., of Bedworth. He settled at
Whitworth in 1747, and was ordained there shortly after settle
ment. In a letter by Mr. Williams, of Kidderminster, bearing
date November, 1754, is an account of a Sunday which he
spent with Mr. Burgess : —
1 Not given in Colonel Fishwick's History.
2 l: Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 426.

A CURIOUS SERMON. 273
I spent Lord's day, Sept. 15th, at Whitworth, under the ministry of
my friend Mr. Burgess. In the evening the house he boards at was filled
with people, who came, as usual, to hear him repeat the substance of what
he had delivered that day. Happening to have the substance of two ser
mons by Mr. Darracott in my pocket-book on the words — " In the last day,
that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, ' If any man
thirst let him come unto me and drink,' " it fell to my lot to read them ; after
which many stayed for the sake of religious conversation, several of whom
were men of knowledge and experience, and talked pertinently of the deep
things of God, while many persons sat as witnesses.1
In 1770 Mr. Burgess removed to Hatherlow, in Cheshire. In
his diary, under date February 7th, 1770, he makes the following
entry : —
Independent congregation of Stockport seemed intent upon giving me a
call thither, but their hopes of succeeding were suddenly damped by the
unexpected death of Mr. Shepley, of Hatherlow, and upon very good
grounds, for Hatherlow congregation, which is far larger than that at Stock
port, gave me (so far as I know) an unanimous call to their place soon after.
The very same day on which I returned an affirmative answer to Hather
low call, a reverend brother informed me by letter that he was desired to
make use of his best interests with me to remove to S. Helens. It is
remarkable that Hatherlow and S. Helens were the two congregations
which I had for several years thought I could with more pleasure remove to
than any other congregation whatever in case I left Whitworth.2
Mr. Burgess remained at Hatherlow six years, and then went
back to his old charge at Whitworth. His second period of
ministerial service was concluded by his resignation about -1790.
Mr. Burgess was the author of several theological tractates, but
the best known of his writings is a sermon on Mark v., 42,
entitled " Beelzebub driving and drowning his hogs." The follow
ing three points were enlarged upon by the eccentric preacher : —
1. The devil will play at small game rather than none at all.
" All the devils besought him, saying : Send us into the swine that
isle may enter them. "
2. They run fast whom the devil drives. " The whole herd ran
violently." 1 " Extracts from the diary of Joseph Williams," by Benjamin Hanbury
pp. 403-404. 2 " Nonconformity in Cheshire " (Urwick), p. 485.
3—18

274 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
3. The devil brings his hogs to a fine market. " Behold the
whole herd ran down a sleep place into the sea and were choked."
The sermon is said to have made a great impression at the time.
In the Evangelical Magazine for 1806 there is a brief notice of
a new edition of this sermon, to which, it is said, the editor has
added " a short but interesting letter, written by the late venerable
author a little before his death."1
A copy of this letter is here subjoined :—
Dear Sir, — I am greatly obliged to you for your two friendly, cursory
visits ; but was afterwards sorry that discourse on my part was so
unprofitable on account of my deranged faculties. I might at least have
told you what I lately did a friend of yours, namely, that the four great
maxims which of late years have chiefly influenced me have been —
1. To see God in every creature.
2. To enjoy Him in all my enjoyments.
3. To hear and regard His voice in every providence ; and
4. To put up a silent, pious, ejaculatory prayer for every passenger I meet
on the road.
My paralytic hand will not permit me to add any more, except an adieu.
J. Burgess.2
Dr. Halley says : —
Although not a Calvinist, for he seems to have held the theological
opinions of John Wesley, the Rev. James Burgess zealously preached the
puritan doctrines of justification by faith, salvation by grace, redemption by
the death of Christ, and regeneration by the influence of the Holy Spirit,
, . . But he was a strange as well as an evangelical preacher. When his
wild imagination gained the ascendancy over his judgment, he often startled
his hearers by his incautious and extravagant assertions. As years advanced
he became moderate and sober-minded. His later method of preaching may
be conjectured from the charge he gave to Mr. Towers, his successor "to
preach doctrines practically, and to enforce duties energetically." 3
Mr. Burgess died probably in the early part of the present
century, and so must have been a very old man.4 The notice of
1 P. 607.
2 " Historical and Biographical Notices," by Rev. G. G. Waddington
p. 278. 3 " Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity," vol. ii., p. 426.
1 Colonel Fishwick says that he died in 1784, but this cannot be correct
as in the Baptismal Register his name appears until 1790.

THE REV. GEORGE TOWERS. 275
this eccentric yet gifted man, whose personality will not soon be
forgotten in Whitworth, shall close with the following pithy remarks
from a sermon of his on moderation (Phil, iv., 5) : —
St. Jude tells us that when Michael the Archangel had the roughest adver
sary in the world to dispute against, even the devil, he durst not bring one
railing accusation against him, for loving angels cannot, like peevish mortals,
either rail or scold. Now I considered that if even a devil must not be
treated indecently in a dispute, much less a Christian brother of the same
nature, of the same religion — yea, perhaps of the same communion with
myself. Who occupied the pulpit at Whitworth during the six years Mr.
Burgess was at Hatherlow I do not know ; but his successor, after
his final resignation, was the Rev. George Towers. He was the
grandson of the Rev. James Towers, minister at Tockholes, near
Blackburn, from 1722 to 1749. It is not quite clear when Mr.
George Towers began his Whitworth ministry, but it was termi
nated in 1794.1
The Rev. Thomas Robinson succeeded Mr. Towers in 1794,
and continued to labour here until his death in 18 19. He was
interred in the aisle of the old chapel, where his tombstone may
still be seen. A copy of the inscription on a mural tablet in the
chapel erected to his memory and that of his son will be given
later. The Rev. John Taylor, an Airedale College student,
succeeded Mr. Robinson in 1820. His ministry continued until
1825. when he died. He was followed in 1826 by his fellow-
student, the Rev. Wm. Gibson, who had previously laboured at
Mixenden, in Yorkshire. It is recorded that, " after accepting the
invitation from Mixenden he stayed with strange indifference some
months at Sutton, near Thirsk. He at length took the pulpit and
was ordained."2 His ministry at Whitworth continued until 1832,
when serious differences with his people led to his resignation. He
was suspected of Unitarian tendencies. Unseemly strife followed,
feeling ran high, and consequently on his removal the church
was in a divided and weakened condition. The Rev. Wm. R.
1 Vide vol. ii. of this work for a beautiful letter from Mr. Towers when
he was invited to leave Whitworth for Pole Lane Chapel, Darwenj
2 "Congregationalism in Yorkshire" (Miall), p. 319,

276 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
Thorburn, M.A., was called to the vacant pastorate in 1834. In
a valedictory sermon which Mr. Thorburn preached to his people
at Bury on December 20th, 1874, he gives some interesting par
ticulars about himself. He says that he was born in 1806,
educated at Glasgow University, which he entered when only
sixteen years of age, and where he " spent four years in classics,
mathematics, and philosophy, and portions of five years ¦ in
divinity." I then became a preacher, as it is called in Scotland, and they sent me to
Cumberland, then to John o'Groats — long journeys ; and then to the Orkney
Islands, where all the people are poor, and yet not a pauper is to be found in
the islands.
In the following passage he tells about coming to Whitworth
and the condition of the church at the time : —
I was involved in this period in four elections — not political elections — but
in elections to vacancies in the churches at Whitehaven, Dunoon, Edens-
head, and Lauder. In these cases I had large minorities, but, of course, I
lost the elections. "They were as a sword in my bowels " — painful elements
in my training. At last I had a call, unanimously, to Hallfold, in Whit
worth — just the place I did not wish to go to. I went. The interest was
very low at that time. Very few attended. They had a controversy about
Socinianism, and the congregation was reduced.
Mr. Thorburn was a Presbyterian, and so, during his ministry,
Whitworth was associated with the Presbyterian denomination. In
1843 the Lancashire Presbytery consisted of five congregations,
viz., Manchester, Lloyd Street, Dr. McKerrow; Blackburn, Dr.
Skinner ; Hallfold, Mr. Thorburn ; Tunley, Mr. Leslie ; and
Kendal, vacant. At his ordination, which took place on the
2 1 st of October, 1834, Drs. Skinner and McKerrow, with other
Presbyterian ministers, assisted. Another interesting passage
from the sermon named will show what success attended his
efforts at Whitworth, as also some of the difficulties he met with in
going about.
During my stay the church was more than quadrupled, and the seats all
filled. ... I had large Bible classes from the first, amounting to more than
100 members, there being three or four different series. They were altogether
anew thing there, and hence I had a vantage ground. I had four or five
district meatings, one each week. There were no proper roads then and I
had to carry my lamp when I went in the winter evenings. No doubt I got

THE TWO ROBINSONS. 277
my rheumatism on these journeys, when I plunged in the midst of mud and

ram.

During his residence at Whitworth Mr. Thorburn edited a
volume of sermons and lectures by the Rev. Robert Wardrop, to
which he prefixed a memoir. The Evangelical Magazine says : —
Of the memoir we say all that need be said, and no more than it deserves,
when we affirm, that as an indication of literary taste, and pious and friendly
feeling, it is in every way worthy of the production to which it is prefixed.
Mr. Thorburn left Whitforth for Bethel Chapel, Bury, in 1847, in
the account of which church his subsequent career is given.1
He was antiquarian in his tastes, and took great interest
in denominational lore. It is said that he spent considerable time
and effort in collecting materials for a history of Whitworth
Chapel, and left in MS. valuable information about it, which it is
to be hoped may some day see the light. The Rev. Richard
Robinson, son of the Rev. Thomas Robinson, already named,
was the next minister. He was born July 10th, 1797, and received
his early training under the Rev. Walter Scott, at Rowell,
Northamptonshire, afterwards principal of Airedale College.
From Rowell he was sent to the Academy at Blackburn, and
settled first at Cratfield, in Suffolk. Thence he removed to
Witham, Essex, and in 1848 to Whitworth. His ministry here
closed with his life on the 21st of June, 1858. The following
inscription is copied from a marble tablet in the chapel : —
This tablet is erected
in Remembrance of
the Rev. THOMAS ROBINSON,
Who was for 23 years Minister to the Independent Congregation, formerly
worshipping near this spot, and who died February 26th, 1819,
Aged 56 years.
Also of his wife Elizabeth and infant daughter.
And of the son of the above Parents,
the Rev. RICHARD ROBINSON,
Who after a ministry of 24 years over the Independent Church, at Witham,
was in 1848 chosen pastor of this Church,
The present Chapel being erected during his ministry.
He died June 21st, 1858, in the 61st year of his age.
These Servants of God lie interred beneath the aisle of the former Chapel.
1 Vide p. 199.

278 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY
The Rev. Robert Berry succeeded Mr. Robinson, at Whit
worth. He is the son of the late Rev. George Berry, for many
years pastor of Lower Chapel, Darwen. He entered the ministry
in 1857, settled first at Hindley, near Wigan, whence he removed
to Whitworth in 1861. He left in 1866 for York Road, London,
and is now labouring at Islington. In the same year the Rev.
Joseph Oddy, from Barnsley, became minister at Whitworth, leav
ing in 1875 f°r Tintwistle, Derbyshire. He is now pastor of the
Troutbeck Congregational Church, Windermere. The Rev.
W. H. Brearley, from Airedale College, settled at Whitworth in
1877, resigned in 1880, and eventually went to America. The
Rev. J. E. Clayton, who received his ministerial training at Lan
cashire College, settled first at Blackburn Road, Bolton, whence he
removed to Whitworth in 1882. He held the pastorate until 1890,
when he accepted an invitation to the Congregational Church ot
Cockermouth, in Cumberland, where he still labours. The pulpit
at Whitworth is still vacant.1
The chapel whose history has been sketched stands properly in
Hallfold, the river Spoddon, just beyond which it lies, dividing it
from Whitworth. It is on slightly rising ground to the right of the
road which leads out of the way from Rochdale to Facit.
Being curious to know whither this road would lead, an
ancient villager was questioned on the point, who returned as
answer : — " Fooak ca' id daon th' Ha Fowd — alus hes done fifty
yer." School, chapel, and manse stand close together, and impress
the visitor with their clean, neat appearance. The manse is an
exceedingly comfortable looking structure. The Sunday School
was first erected about 181 1, enlarged in 1846, and the stone was
laid for the present building on May 10th, 1872.
The old chapel, which was erected about 17 18, survived until
1849. It stood a little higher up the road than the present build
ing, at the upper end of the old graveyard. The present structure
was opened for public worship on the 29th of March, 1850, and
it is interesting to know that as far as possible the materials of the
old chapel were used in the erection of the new. In 1882, just
1 Since this was written the Rev. J. G. Murray from Marsden, near
Huddersfield, has accepted the charge — entering upon duty June 5th, 1892.

LOYALTY TO EVANGELIC ALLSM. 279
before the commencement of Mr. Clayton's ministry, considerable
nternal alterations were made which necessitated an outlay of
some ^600. The chapel is a tall, oblong building, its long side
being almost in a line with the road. In this side there are two
rows of windows, four each, which contain small squares, and
they are about the only thing which reminds one of the past. The
chapel front is approached by a number of steps from the road,
and is quite imposing. There are two doorways, which lead
into a vestibule, right and left of which are staircases into the
gallery. In this vestibule is a tablet thus inscribed : —
" Hallfold
Chapel,
A.D. 1849."
Two aisles lead up to the pulpit, behind which is the organ.
The pews are of a deep brown, contrasting somewhat strangely
with the communion, pulpit, and gallery front, which are almost
yellow. Three coronas suspend from the ceiling, besides which
gas brackets run round the place. The chapel is galleried round,
except where the organ stands ; and everbody may see the minister.
Close by the pulpit is a handsome marble tablet " erected by the
worshippers," as a tribute of respect to " Mary, wife of their pastor,
the Rev. J. E. Clayton, who died 27th July, 1888, aged 45." On
each side of the pulpit also the pews have been made to give place
to forms, where the little folks sit so that they may be immediately
beneath the watchful eye of their minister. The chapel is com
fortable looking, and will seat about 800 persons. It is worth
pointing out that when the wave of Unitarianism swept the
northern parts of England, about the middle of last century, Whit
worth was one of the few Lancashire Churches which remained
loyal to the principles of Evangelical religion.

VIII.— TODMORDEN, CLOUGH FOOT, AND BACUP.
In the year 1835 the Rev. Henry Cheetham, of Calderbrook, con
ducted religious service once a month at Bottoms, a place midway
between Todmorden and Calderbrook. In 1838 a few members

280 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
of the Congregational Church at Eastwood, then under the
pastoral care of the Rev. Amos Blackburn, opened a preaching
room at Salford, in Todmorden. The Revs. H. Cheetham and A.
Blackburn principally supplied the pulpit during the first six
months, after which supplies were obtained through the County
Union. In October of the following year a church was formed
consisting of seven members, who were dismissed from the
church at Eastwood for the purpose.1 Whilst the friends were
deliberating upon the erection of a suitable place of worship
" Patmos Chapel, a neat and commodious building, erected by the
Methodist New Connexion,2 was offered for sale," 3 and was pur
chased by them. The cost, including burial ground and house for
minister, was ,£1,250. The chapel, which had accommodation
for 400 people, was opened for Congregational worship on Decem
ber 22nd, 1841, when the Revs. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, J.
Pridie, of Halifax, and J. Ely, of Leeds, were the preachers. The
first minister of the church was the Rev. Robert Stephens, from
Blackburn Academy, who entered upon his labours here in
February, 1842, being ordained to the pastorate on Wednesday,
June 29th, following. He resigned in April, 1853, and removed to
East Retford. He died at Stockport in retirement in 1890.
Shortly after Mr. Stephens removed the church withdrew from the
County Union, but it appears again in association with it as a
grantee church in 1857. The Rev. J. Hardman, from Barnard
Castle, began his ministry here in the spring of 1855. "After
protracted weakness and suffering, which had greatly hindered him
in his ministerial work," he died March 7th, 1859. His successor
was the Rev. Edward Potter, from Honley, who began his ministry at
Todmorden on the second Sunday in June, i860. He resigned at
Christmas, 1864, and is now resident at Harrogate without charge.
TheRev. H. A. Campbell, M.A. , formerly a minister in theEstablished
Church, followed Mr. Potter at Todmorden in 1865, removing in
1869 to Wednesbury. The Rev. John Constance, from Bere
Regis in Dorsetshire, followed here on the first Sunday
in May, 187 1. In 1875 tne church intimated that it was in a
1 So says the Rev. J. Constance, but the Union Report gives the number
as nineteen, six of whom were dismissed from the church at Eastwood.
2 It was built in 1816.
3 County Union Report for the year ending April, 1842.

CLOUGH FOOT. 281
position to do without further help from the Union Funds, from
which, up to this time, with the exception of a few years, a
generous grant had been received. On Sunday, April 7th, 1878,
closing services were held in the old chapel, the preachers being
the Rev. R. Stephens, the first minister of the church, and
the Rev. J. Constance, the resident minister. The corner
stones of the new building were laid on Saturday, June 8th,
of the same year, by Alderman James Law, of Bradford, and Mr.
John Cockcroft, of Croft Bank, Todmorden. Exactly a year
afterwards the congregation removed to their new school premises,
the preacher for the day being the Rev. R. M. Davies, of Oldham.
On Thursday, September 25th, 1879, their new chapel was opened
by the Rev. J. G. Rogers, B.A., of London, The total cost of
school and chapel, including furnishings, enlargement of organ,
&c, was £5,000, and after all the opening services there was a
a debt upon the premises of £2,600. Mr. Constance resigned
October 31st, 1880, and removed to Oak Street, Accrington, being
succeeded at Todmorden, in January, 1882, by the Rev. J. J.
Pool, from Rotherham College. He left in 1883 for Calcutta, and
is now pastor of the English Congregational Church at Rheims.
In July, 1884, the Rev. W. G. Rees, of Flint, accepted the
invitation of the Todmorden Church, removing to Ryan Street
Chapel, Bradford, in 1889. In the following year the Rev. John
Constance, whom failing health had compelled to leave Accrington
a few years before, returned to his old charge at Todmorden, and
is still the minister here. A meeting of the church was held on
Tuesday, July 28th, 1891, to celebrate the extinction of the debt,
which for many years had been such a heavy burden.
The Congregational interest at Clough Foot, in the neighbour
hood of Todmorden, was commenced some fifty years ago. The
"Lancashire Congregational Calendar" gives 1840 as the date
when the church was formed. In 1846 it is simply called a
preaching station, receiving a small grant that year from the
Union Funds. In 1852 a chapel was erected capable of seating
400 persons. The following ministers have laboured here : Rev.
John Holroyd, 1852-1858 ; Rev. T. Edwards, 1858-1861 ; Rev.
P. Haworth, 1863-1865 ; Rev. A. Miers, 1866-1873. Since the
latter date the church has been vacant for several years. It is now
" supplied, and not connected with the Union.

282 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
Bacup, a mere village in 1835, is now a considerable town,
about four miles west of Todmorden, " in the valley of the Irwell,
and at the eastern edge of the forest of Rossendale."1 Congrega
tionalists began operations here on the second Sunday in March,
1848, in a room hired for the purpose,2 and the effort was attended
with so much success that attention was at once turned in the
direction of erecting a new chapel. This was begun in 1850, but
one disaster after another came upon it ; " it gave way in various
parts, and it was necessary either to take it down altogether or to

ENTERING INTO BACUP.

allow it to stand and settle throughout the winter before attempting
to proceed further towards its completion."3 The chapel was
finished in 1851, and in the same year a pastor was chosen to
preside over the church. This was the Rev. Wm. Waite, from
Airedale College, concerning whom his biographer writes : —

1 Baines's " History of Lancashire" (1870 Edition), vol. ii., p. 48.
2 Lancashire County Union Report for year ending April, 1848.
3 Ibid., for year ending April, 1851.

CONGREGATIONALISM AT BACUP. 283
" Settled at Bacup, January 1 ; was ordained in May ; married
in September; died in September, 1852."1
The Rev. Mark Howard, from Stockport, followed in 1853, and
remained until 1856, when he removed to Heckmondwike, dying
there January 25th, 1890. In 1857 the Rev. Norman Glass, of
Western College, began his labours here. In the following year
Mr. Glass removed to Cardiff, and is now resident in Manchester
without charge. The Rev. T. Lawson, from Ashley Lane, Man
chester, was the next minister, commencing his pastorate in 1859,
and terminating it in 1866. He has since that time been labour
ing at West Hartlepool, Durham, where he is still the minister.
The Rev. R. A. Bertram, from Openshaw, succeeded Mr. Lawson
at Bacup in 1866, and the church was again rendered vacant in
1867 by his removal to Barnstaple. He died in London, November
14th, 1886, aged fifty years. The Rev. Wm. Lance, from Market
Deeping, began his ministry at Bacup in 1868, closing it in 1870,
having accepted an invitation to Axminster. He is now resident
at Cheltenham without charge. A successor was found in the
Rev. R. Nicholls, from Horwich, who began his labours
in October, 1870. Mr. Nicholls remained until the early
part of 1881, when he removed to Lower Chapel, Darwen, where
he is still the minister. His successor at Bacup was the Rev. W.
Riley, from Airedale College, in 1884, who removed to Hyde,
Cheshire, in August, 1889. The present minister is the Rev. A. F.
Bartlett, educated at Liverpool and Nottingham Institute, who
entered upon duty here in October, 1891. There is sitting accom
modation in the chapel for 570 people.
1 " Congregational Year Book" for 1853, p. 233.

NOTES.

Page 19.— The eldest son of the Rev. James Wraith was James Wraith, a chemist and;
druggist in Blackburn towards the end of last century. He was the grandfather of Mr.
Samuel Hope Wraith, of Darwen.
Page 45,— Since the account of the Rev. John Harrison was written I have met with a few
other items of information. He was the son of Peter Harrison, of Hindley, who suffered
much in the ecclesiastical courts. John Harrison was at Ashton-under-Lyne in 1641-2, signing
the List of Protestors. In the registers of the Parish Church of Ashton is an entry relating to
his death, which corrects the date in my book: "Mr. John Harrison, late rector of this
church, dyed the last day of December [1670], about foure clocke afternoon." "Vide "Man
chester Classis,"p. 430, by Mr. W. A. Shaw, M.A., being vol. xxiv. of the Chetham Society's
publications (New Series).
Page 49.— The Rev. Michael Briscoe gave the Presbyterian Classis a little trouble. In
the minutes of the Bolton and Bury Classis, of which a copy is preserved in the Bolton Free
Library, is the following : —
"Aug. ye 3, 1648. Upon complaint made of one Mr. Briscoe, preacher att Walmsley,
wthout approbation or desire of ordination, and there being just cause of feare that he is ill
effected to ye governmt and contrarily minded, itt is ordered that he be sent for to appear at
ye next meeting."
" Sep._ 12th, 164S. Mr. Briscoe, preacher att Walmsley, not being thereto approved by
ye Classis concerning his preaching at Walmsley. he returned answer in writing that when he
should know or could conceive any just ground for dissatisfaction in yt particular he should
be ready charefully to give to ye Classis (as to any that in ye name of Christ should require
itt) an account thereof in his preaching soe, &c. He could not tell that he had therein gone
beyond ye rule of ye Word, &c. Ordered that he be againe sent for, and that itt be signified
to him that his going on to preach without tryall, approbation, and ordination (as he hath
since) is not warrantable."
At the meeting of the Classis, held November 9th, 1648, "Apud Bury," the following was
agreed to : —
' ' That some Justice of Peace be Informed by Letter of Mr. Briscoe, of Walmsley, his preach
ing without ordination, and his refusing to appear before this Classe, being Lawfully summoned
by warrant, according to ordinance of parliament."
" 14th day of December, 1648. That Justice Bradshaw be desired to Issue out a warrant
for bringing in Mr. Briscoe, who refuseth to appeare upon sev'all sumons of ye classe."
Mr. Briscoe held the appointment of Lecturer at Blackburn during the time that he was
at Walmsley, and possibly resided there. Mr. Abram, the historian of Blackburn, has recently
printed * Bond from Thomas Eckersall, of Bury, to Mr. Briscoe, which seems to indicate
as much : —
" Knowe all men by these presents that I, Thomas Eckersall, of Bury, in the Countie of
Lancaster, yeoman, stande bound and firmly tyed by these presentes unto Michaell Briscoe,
of Blackburne, in the said Countie, Preacher and Minister of God's Word, in two hundred
poundes of good lawful money of England, to be payed to the said Michaell, or his certame
attorney in this behalfe, his heires, ex'ors, adm'ors, or assignes, to which payment well and
trulie to be made I bynd me, my heires, ex'ors, and adm'ors firmly by these presentes, sealed
with my seale, Dated this one and twentith day of December, in the yeare of our Lord God,
1652. The Condition of this obligac'on is such that if the above bound Thomas Eckersall, his
heires, ex'ors, and adm'ors, and every of them doth in all things well and trulie performe,
fulfill, and keepe all and singular the grantes, covenantes, and agreementes which on his and
their partes are to be performed and kept, menconed and expressed in one payre of Inden-

286 LANCASHIRE NONCONFORMITY.
tures, made between the said Thomas Eckersall upon the one party and the above named
Michaell Briscoe upon the other party, bearing date with these presentes, according to the
effect and true meaninge thereof, then this present obligacon to be voyde and of none effect,
or else to remaine in full power, &c. Sealed and delivered in presence of Tho. Hammond ;
Henry E. Ellisone, his marke ; John J. B. Baron, his marke. Thomas Eckersall."
Page 86. — When this page was written I had not been able to consult the Minutes of the
Bolton and Bury Classis, which give us considerable information respecting affairs at
Rivington Church during the time of the Commonwealth. At the first meeting of the Classis,
held on "March ye 25th, Ano. Do. 1647, apud Bury," the following matters were attended
unto : —
"Mr. Harper chosen Moderate began wth prayer upon complaint made wth a peticon
articles exhibited against Mr. Thomas Blackburn, Ministr att Rivington, by Richard Ker-
shawe, George Shaw, William Hopson, Richard taylor, Wm. Anderton, and John Anderton.
Ordered that summons be issued out to require ye said Mr. Blackburn to appear before
ye Classis "
At the next meeting, April 22nd of the same year —
" Articles agt Mr. Thomas Blackburne, Minister at Rivington, informed vt sufira : ist, he
doth not attend his charge, but is many days absent, and slights the congregation with cut
publicke notice or private eithr in due time, and so itt cometh to passe yt people Loose their
Labour to Church and are disappointed of the means, and some take occasion to drinke and
profane ye Lord's Day, wittes, Richard Karshaw, Wm. Anderton ; (2) he neglects ordinarily
the observation of the publicke fast, wittes, Richard Karshaw and Wm. Anderton ; (3) he
us'eth to kneell downe att his first comeing both into ye dcske and pulpitt, wittes, George
Shaw, John Anderton ; (4) we conceive he is not ordained ministr in any Lawfull manner,
Wm. Jepson, George Shaw, wittes ; (5) never the lesse he inordinarily taketh upon him to
baptize ate Rivington, Wm. Anderton, Richard Kershaw, wittes ; (6) he hath baptized a
child borne of Popish parents in the hundred of Lealand and the father was absent (wittes)
John Anderton, Richard Kershaw ; (7) we conceive he hath not taken ye National Covenant,
George Shaw, William . . . son (wittes) ; (8) he useth to preach without prayinge before,
George Shaw, Richard Taylor (wittes) ; (g) He useth to associate himselfe wth profane com
pany, George Shaw, John Anderton, Richard tayler (wittes) ; (IO) he hath testified his
(unwillingness to come to private dayes and conference being several times desired, George
Shaw, wittness."
Mr. Blackburn subsequently appeared before the Classis, and showed his ordination certifi
cate, from which it appears he was " ordained by a bishop in December, 1644, or September,
1645." He was therefore an Episcopalian, and not a Presbyterian. On May 20th, 1647, the
Classis resolved " noe farthr to approve of ye s& Mr. Blackburne to be Minister att Rivington."
I have pointed out in the book that Mr. Newton could not have followed Mr. Blackburn, as
the tablet in the church states, and the minutes confirm this contention. They state that the
Rev. John Walker was "approved to be Minister at Rivington," October 14th, 1647. He,
however, did not long remain, as " Mr. Nuttall, minister of ye Gospell," was " approved to
be minister att Rivington," May 24th, 1649.
Page 87.— In the " Illustrated Itinerary of the County of Lancaster," p. 279, published in
1842, is some further information respecting Newton's tablet : —
" Mr. Anderton, an intelligent farmer who resides near this chapel, conferred obligations
on us by his free and courteous communications. He showed us a handsome oak cabinet,
whose age he places early in the sixteenth century, filled with geological specimens, collected
by himself in different parts of the county. He has also a good collection of spars and car
bonate of barytes, obtained in the neighbouring mines of Anglezark. The greatest curiosity,
however, was an old stone, which was found in digging the foundations of the present build
ing, used as a chapel by the Presbyterians. The stone was unfortunately broken, but Mr.
Anderton joined the parts carefully together, and placed them in a substantial oak frame."
The foundations could not be those of the " present building," for it was erected in 1703.
Page 88. — There is in existence a neatly-written manuscript sermon by Mr. Walker headed
thus : —
*' A Sermon occasioned by ye death of SAMUEL CRANE, preached by MR. WALKER,
Rivington, Sept. 7, 1698. Ps. ix., 10, v.r'
Samuel Crane, who resided in or near Chorley, was the grandfather of the Rev. Edward
Crane, minister at Norwich. The sermon was transcribed by the Rev, Samuel Audland,
sometime minister at Kendal. In the sermon Mr. Walker refers to the two Nonconformist

NOTES. 287
Societies of " Rivington and Horrige.*' In 1672 the house of Thomas Wellesbie was licensed
as a preaching place, and at " Rivington, in the oratory of John Bradshaw, Esq., one Samuel
Newton and one Hill " preached. Vide " Memorials of the Crane Family " (Preston Guardian
Office), pp. 5-7.
Page 119. — Under date, April 22, 1647, the Minutes of the Bolton and Bury Classis give
the following : —
"ffor prpration there unto Mr. Peter Bradshaw, aged 28 yeares appearinge signifyed his
desire to be ordained Minister, and prsented his Certificates, ye one of his behavor ye other
of his callinge, to officiate att Cockey Chappell, both wch ware received and approved of,
where upon after was examination in ye Tounges & Arts, he being found competently
sufficient, itt was ordered that a schedule should be affixed to ye dore of ye sd Cockey
Chappell signifieing yt if no one exception ware brought in against ye sd Mr. Peter Bradshaw,
yt there should proceedings be made unto his ordination at Cockey Chappell, upon ye 12th
day of May next following, wch day was appointed to be kept a fast by yt Congregation, Mr.
Harper and Mr. Pike to preach." Mr. Horrocks, Mr. Bath, and Mr. Scholefield also
assisted. Page 127. — Pr. Clare. Peter Clare was a famous Manchester clockmaker of last century.
Some quaint anecdotes are told about him, one of which may be given. In reply to a friend,
who remarked that it was a given time by the sun, Peter said, "Does thee not know that the
sun has been notoriously wrong for a long while, and that nobody minds him now? I'll tell
thee what the time is by my clocks." He was a correspondent of " Tim Bobbin," and had a
son, Peter, who followed the same calling as himself. The second Peter is referred to in
Canon Parkinson's " Old Church Clock;" and he died November 24th, 1851, in the 71st year
of his age, the immediate cause of death being " ossification of the heart."
Page 133. — Mr. Shaw (" Manchester Classis ") says that the Rev. Thomas Holland did
not belong to the Hollands of Denton, but is almost certainly the son of Adam Holland, of
Newton. He was born in 1623, laureated at Edinburgh April 15th, 1645, ordained to Ringley
Chapel April 15th, 1647, and removed to Blackley in 1654.
Page 134,— The Rev. John Angier, son of the ejected minister of Ringley, went to
America, where he married the daughter of William Aspinall, with whom he returned to
England. He probably continued at Ringley until the Restoration, and conformed in 1662.
He was presented to the vicarage of Deane on June 2nd, 1663. Here he continued probably
until his death, about 1673 (" Manchester Classis," by Mr. Shaw).
Page 156. — The following interesting particulars respecting the Rev. Henry Pendlebury
have been extracted from the Minutes of the Bolton and Bury Classis :—
"14th day of December, 1648. A controversie being in ye congregation of Ashworth
Chappie about a minister, Mr. Ramsbottom, theire psent ministr, wth ye major pt of ye well
affected in ye congregation, desiring one Mr. Pendlebury doe continue to preach att ye sd
Chappell, and that he preach before ye Classe att ye next meeting att Bury, in reference to
his approbation and ordination to ye ministrey upon ye Text, 1st Tim. ist , 15th."
" January ye 18th, 1649. Mr. Pendlebury this day preached upon ye Text assigned, and
hath encouragmt to proceed, and being demanded whether he purposed to goe on to ordina
tion, he answered that he desired to have his call to Ashworth Chappell more Cleare for his
own satisfaction. Ordered, that Mr. Smethurst, who officiates there without a sufficient call,
be admonished to desist, and he, being psent, promised so to doe."
"April nth, 1650. The people of Horridge Chappell signified there desire to have Mr.
Pendlebury to be theire Minister, and the said Mr. Pendlebury also sigmfing williness^ to
close wth them, whereupon ye Classe, anxious to hasten his ordination, willed him to p vide
such certificates as ware required, and to prepare his thesis, which was now given him—
vizt an fides Solajustificat agt ye next meeting of ye Classe."
" Kug. 15th, 1650. Mr. Pendlebury appeared and brought in 3 certificates ; one of his
taking ye nationall Covenant ; anoth* of his honest life and conversation att ye place where
he did last officiate ; a third, of his takeing ye degree of Batchelor m Arts in ye university
of Cambridge • but because in his Interime Mr. Livesey had consumated a marriage betwixt
ye said Mr. Pendlebury and one Sarah Smith, clandestinely, irregularly, therefore ye sd Mr.
Pendlebury and Mr. Livesey are appointed to appear again att ye next meeting.

288 LANCASHLRE NONCONFORMITY.
" Sept. 12, 1650. Mr. Pendlebury is appointed to bring in a Certificate to ye Classe att
there next meeting, und"" hands of his owne and his wive's parants, testifieing there consent
to ye marriage betwixt them." The matter appears to have ended satisfactorily, as he was
ordained on Wednesday, October 23rd (not 3rd, as in the text), when " Mr. Bradshaw
preached and Mr. Tilsley did the rest of the work. ' Mr. Slate, it will be noted, whom I have
followed in the text, mentions several other helpers.
Page 162. The Rev. B. R. Davis, of Chowbent, gives an account of the Rev. Thomas
Horrox, in the '' Monthly Repository" for 1828 (p. 19), in which he questions whether Mr.
Horrox was ever settled as minister anywhere. "At an early age," says Mr. Davis, "he
elinquished preaching altogether, supposing it injurious to his health; and having formed
this resolution, he could never afterwards be prevailed on to preach for any one excepting
once." In the Isle of Man he was private tutor a few years to the family of Mr. Busk, one
of the officials of the island, returning afterwards to Chowbent, where he "became farmer
of his own leasehold estate." On the death of his mother, in 1804, at the advanced age of
ninety-two years, he retired to a small cottage, where he lived "alone, without any
attendant, mixing little with society, but always cheerfully receiving and hospitably enter
taining those friends who were in the habit of visiting him in his retirement." He died Dec.
9th, 1827, in the 77th year of his age, and "left a legacy of ,£200 to the College at York, and
another of ,6100 to the " Dissenting Chapel in Chowbent."
Page 205. — Mr. Butcher, of Bury, informs me that his brother held the post of superin
tendent for many years, but not " thirty-eight," as stated in the text. This is corrected in
the large paper edition.
Page 218. — As stated in the text, in the account of the Rev. Robert Eaton, I have followed
Calamy, whom Mr. Shaw (Manchester Classis) corrects in several particulars. He was born
July 23rd; 1623, admitted to Walton, near Liverpool, in 1655, and died August 22nd, 1701.
Calamy gives Walton, near Preston, and that is the church whose picture is given.
Page 240. — The Rev. Zachariah Taylor, senior, was born in 1618 or 1619, and after serving
as chaplain in the king's army, officiated in some minor capacity at Grappenhall. He was at
Gorton from December, 1651, to April, 1653. In July, 1653, he was at Cockey Moor, and
afterwards with Mr. Bath.
Page 244. — The history of the Clover Street Congregation does not properly come within
the scope of this work, but the following brief sketch from the pen of the Rev. T. P. Spedding
will be read with interest ; — ¦
" Clover Street Chapel, to whose amalgamation with Blackwater Street Chapel reference
has been made, owes its origin to the followers of the Rev. Joseph Cooke, who, in 1803, was
an itinerant preacher in the Union Street Wesleyan Circuit. He was requested to 'desist
from travelling,' by Conference, in 1806, in consequence of sentiments in his sermons which
were supposed to be contrary to the teachings of Wesley. A number of members seceded
with him, and Providence Chapel, High Street, was built for him. Here he laboured until
his death in 181 1. Dissensions shortly arose in consequence of his successor, after three
months' ministry, revealing himself as a Calvinist, and the great majority of the congregation
withdrew. The chapel a little later passed into the hands of the Congregationalists, who thus
found a home in Rochdale. The ' Cookeites,' as they were called, built a new chapel at Clover
Street, which was opened in 1818 as a Unitarian place of worship. From it have sprung a
number of meetings in Rossendale, whose members were for many years known as the
Methodist Unitarians. This movement has, in fact, been declared to be the first doctrinal
secession from Methodism. Its early leaders were dissatisfied with the current teachings of
their old churches, and ventured upon a course of free and reverent enquiry, which led them
into Unitarianism, before they were aware of the existence of any body of worshippers hold
ing similar views. Until 1858 the services were carried on chiefly by three men. Messrs.
Taylor, Wilkinson, and Ashworth, who, with occasional assistance, supplied the pulpits also
at Newchurch and Todmorden. From then until 1862 collegiate supplies were obtained after
which Rev. James Briggs-was appointed minister. His successors have been Revs Joseph
Freeston, J. C. Hirst, T. Elliot, and T. P. Spedding, who settled in 1886, and who Was
invited to the ministry of the amalgamated churches in 1890."
Page 249. Dr. Halley, in the preface to his work, says that he had been "sadly troubled
about the spelling of the names of several persons and places " ; and so have I. Mr. Parkin-

NOTES. 289
son's name has come in for two or three variations, but the correct form appears in the Index.
That is true also of a few others, which the reader will easily note. The correct form appears
in the Index.
Page 250.— The name of the Rev. Samuel Rhodes has been omitted from the list of
ministers at Smallbridge. He was educated at Idle Academy, and laboured about ten years
at Stainland, in Yorkshire, leaving there for Smallbridge about 1S27. He remained only a
short time, and ultimately left the ministry. The reference is to him in the County Union
Report for the year ending April, 1829, which says : " It is with extreme regret that we are
obliged to report that painful occurrences in this station have led to the resignation of the
itinerant who recently occupied it."

3— J9

INDEX.

Abram, W. A., 285.
Adamson, John, 137, 257.
Addington, Dr., 20.
Adshead, Mr., 51.
"Agreement of the People, The,"
2, 87.
Affitside, Meeting at, 165, 239.
Ainsworth, W. H., 133.
Ainsworth, Ralph, 54, 92, 93, note 1.
Airedale College, 31, 67, 69, 114,
144, 191, 198, 208, 215, 246,
249, 250, 251, 252, note 1; 254,
260, 275, 277, 282, 283.
Aitken, J. B., 249.
Aldred, Jeremiah, 8, 220.
Allard, T. Barnes, 182.
Allard, Elizabeth, 182.
Allard, Susanna, 182.
Allard, William, 125, 181, 182.
Allen, E., 62.
Allon, Dr., 31, 37, 192.
Altham Church, 50.
Anderson, Alexander, B.A., 192,
208, 227, 230, 237.
Anderton, Peter, 92.
Anderton, Thomas, 92, g-}, 94.
Anderton, Thomas, in.
Anderton, William, 286.
Andrews, John, 83, 92.
Andrews, Robert, 96.
Angier, Edmund, 133.
Angier, Elizabeth, 133.
Angier, John, 129, 130, 134,
Angier, John, 133, 287.
Angier, Samuel, 50, 133, 218.
Angier, Mr., 220.

Anzleark, Mr., 188.
Anyon, John, 150, 173, 178, 234.
Anyon, Sarah, 174.
Anyon's Well, 178.
Archibald, Hugh, 253.
Armitage Family, The, 182.
Armitage, William, 266.
Arthur, David, 260.
Arthur, W. M., M.A., 260, 262.
Ashcrott, R., 260.
Ashford, Charles, B.A., 199, 200,
201.
Ashley Lane Sunday School, 212.
Ashton, Rauffe, 119, 216.
Ashman, Mr., 74.
Ashworth, Preaching at, 254.
Ashworth Chapel, 156.
Ashworth, Ann, 214
Ashworth, Caleb, Dr., 105.
Ashworth, Henry, 171.
Ashworth, John, 37.
Ashworth, John, in.
Ashworth, John, 214.
Ashworth, John, 171.
Ashworth, John, 248.
Ashworth, Richard, 18.
Ashworth, Robert, 256.
Ashworth, Thomas, 187.
Aspden, Michael, 187.
Aspinall, Mr., 160.
Aspinall, John, 59.
Aspinall, Robert, 198.
Aspinall, William, 2S7.
Aspland, R. B., 14.
Astley, Richard, 243.
Astley, Samuel, 93.

INDEX.

291

Atkins, Thomas, 172.
Atherton, William, 206.
Attercliffe Academy, 271.
Aubrey, Mr. 222, 226.
Audland, Samuel, 286.
Backhouse, Benjamin, 25.
Bacup Congregational Church, 282.
Bailey, J. E., 49.
Bainton, James, 268.
Baker, Franklin, M.A., 3, 7, 8, 12,
13, 14-
Baker, G., 265.
Bala College, 147.
Bamford Congregational Church,
71, 176, 254, 263.
Bamford Hall, 263.
Bamford, J. W., 244, note 2.
Bank Lane Chapel, Walmersley,
170.
Banks, Henry, 42, 175.
Barber, Samuel, 198.
Barlow, Mr, 72, 74, 76.
Birnes, Alfred, B.A., 31, 37, 137,
note 1, 142, 149.
Barnes, H. A., 147.
Barnes, Thomas, M.P., 25, 30, 146,
149, 152.
Barnes, Dr. Thomas, 13, 124.
Barrett, G. S., B.A., 200.
Barrett, John, 150.
Barron, Jesse, 248.
Barrow, Samuel, 233.
Bartlett, A. F., 283.
Barton, Robert, 88, note 3.
Barry, Sir Charles, 134.
Basnet, Christopher, 221.
Bass House, 158, 176.
Bass Lane Chapel, 157, 178.
Batchelor, Henry, 267.
Bateson, Anthony, 66, 114, 229, 230.
Bath, Robert, 47, 156, 240, 287, 288.
Bayley, Dr., 131.
Bayley, Ralph, 71.
Baaley, Ann, 247.

Bealey, James, 125.
Bealey, Joseph, 124.
Beecher, H. W., 32.
Belfast Academy, 222.
Belmont Congregational Church,
66, note 2, 78-81.
Belsham, Thomas, 125.
Bennet, Grace, 18.
Bennet, John, 16.
Bennet, William, 18.
Bennett, Dr., 65.
Benson, Dr., 9.
Berry, C. A., 31.
Berry, George, 174, 278.
Berry, Robert, 278.
Bertram, R. A., 283.
Besses o' th' Barn Congregational
Church, 232.
Best, Robert, 25, 34, 36-39, 192.
Binney, Dr., 248.
Binns, J., 77.
Birch, Richard, 195.
Bispham, Thomas, 105.
Blackbourn, Thomas, 86, 286.
Blackburn, Academy, 66, 67, 78,
79, 114, 189, 280.
Blackburn Grammar School, 51.
Blackburn, Amos, 251, 280.
Blackburn, Noah, 138, 16S, 188,
189, 197, 227, 228, 256, 257.
Blackburn, William, 199, 206, 259,
265.
Blackshaw, T. H., 215.
Blackstone Edge, 224, 252, 262,
note 1.
Blake, R., 65, 198.
Bliss, Joseph, 214.
Blue Pits, 253.
" Bobbin Tim," 287.
Bolton, Massacre at, 1 ; Execution
of Lord Derby at, 2 ; Deans
gate Meeting House, 3, 5, 7;
Bank Street Unitarian Chapel,
6, 62; Free Library, 7, note 1;
Alarmed by Approach of

292

INDEX.

Scotch Rebels, 7 ; Duke's
Alley Chapel, 12, 16, 187;
Moor Lane Chapel, 14, 33;
Visited by John Wesley, 16 ;
Visited by George Whitefield,
17, 18; St. George's Road
Congregational Church, 30 ;
Daubhill Congregational
Church, 31, 42 ; Mawdsley
Street Congregational Church
33 ; Blackburn Road Congre
gational Church, 31,42; Albert
Place Chapel, 35, 36; Rose
Hill Congregational Church,
39; Tong Moor Mission, 39;
Derby Street Congregational
Church, 42.
Bolton and Bury Classis, The, 47,
156,240; Minutes of, 119, and
note 1, 285, 286.
Bolton, Richard, 242.
Bond, Wm., 221.
Booker's " History of Blackley
Chapel," 47, note 2.
Bourn, Joseph, 7.
Bourn, Samuel, 6, 54, g4>
Bourn, Samuel, 7, 10, 94.
Bourn, Samuel, 94, 111.
Bowden, R., 64, 78, 79.
Boyce, Mr., 106.
Boyd, J. D., 215.
Boyle, John, 41.
Boyle, Joseph, 41, 42.
Boyle, Robert, 41.
Braddock, Ellen, 179.
Braddock, Thomas, 159, 178, 181,
242.
Bradley, John, 92, note 1 ; 94.
Bradley, S., 33, 65, 245.
Bradshaw,, Justice 285.
Bradshaw, Peter, ng, 287.
Bramall, T., 79.
Brearley, W. H., 278.
Brettell, Jacob, 125.
Bridgeman, Dr., 3, 131.

Bridgnorth Academy, 198.
Brierley, Thomas, 265.
Briggs, James, 288.
Bright, Jacob, 171.
Briscoe, Michael, 48, 64, 129, 285.
Broadmans, Preaching at, 165.
Brown, George, 166.
Brown, Hugh Stowell, 31.
Brown, J., 206.
Brown, J. B., B.A., 32.
Brown, R., 24.
Brown, W. L., M.A., 35, 36.
Browne, James, B.A., 260, 267.
Brownlow, George, 94.
Brownlow, James, 54, 92.
Bruce, James, 248.
Buck, John, 9.
Buckley, Mrs. J. E., 147.
Bull, Mr., 171.
Bunhill Fields, 20, 22.
Burd, John, 234, 235, 237.
Burford, Mr., 185.
Burgess, James, 272.
Burgess, James, 272.
Burrs, Preaching at, 207.
Bury, Grammar School at, 70, 154 ;
New Road Congregational
Church, 71, 181, 185, 203, 206 ;
Bank Street Chapel, 159, 178;
Free Christian Church, 182 ;
Silver Street Chapel, 183, 185,
186, 187; Preaching at Moor-
side, 186 ;. Worship at Tenters,
186, 187; Bethel Chapel, 188,
195 ; Castlecroft Congrega
tional Church, 190, 203, 239;
Shorefield Meeting House,
204, 205 ; Blackford Bridge
Congregational Church, 209,.
232.
Butcher, Richard, 205, 207, 28S.
Butcher, William, 205.
Cain, Thomas, 192, 200, 238.
Campbell, H. A., M.A., 280.

INDEX.

293

Calamy's " Nonconformist's Me
morial," 4, 47, and note 2, 87,
88, and note 1, 99, 133, 218,
220, 240, 288.
Calderbrook Congregational
Church, 249-251, 279.
Calne, 6.
Calrow, F., 207.
Calvert, D., 250.
Calvert, R., 198.
Carlisle, T. C, 245.
Carmarthen College, 60, 242.
Carpenter, Dr., 222.
Carter, F., 208, 215.
Carter, Thomas, 244.
Castleton Congregational Church,
253-
Cavendish College, 266.
Chadwick, Mr., 189.
Challinor, C. W., 248.
Chapel Struck by Lightning, 72.
Charrier, P. S., 34, 188, 228.
Chater, John, 192.
Cheetham, Henry, 250, 251, 264,
279, 280.
Cheney, John, 221.
Cheshunt College, 25, 108, 230,
234, 249, 266.
Chilwell Baptist College, 127.
Chinley Chapel, 18.
Chorlton, John, 9, 220.
Chowbent, 93, 94, 103, 104, 129,
162.
Civil War, The, 130.
Clare, Peter, 127, 287.
Clarke, J., 69.
Clayden, P. C , 244.
Clayton, George, 264.
Clayton, J. E., 43, 278.
Clough, James, 26, and note 1.
Clough Foot Congregational
Church, 281.
Clunie, Dr., 173, 189, 234, 151.
Cockcroft, John, 281.
Cocker, Moses, in, 112.

Cockey Moor, 3, 5, 12 ; Meaning
of, 115; Snake at, 116; Epis
copal Chapel, 117; Dissenting
Chapel, 115-127, 270, 288.
Cockin, Joseph, 20, 188, 245.
Coe, C. C, F.R.G.S., 15.
Coles, William, 227, 256.
Collier, F. G, 101, 105, 106, and
note 3 ; 108, note 2 ; 109.
Collier, James, 109.
Collier, Jemmy, 224.
Collier, Mr., 143.
Compston, Samuel, 233.
Comstive, Thomas, 172, 173, 176.
Comstive, Mary, 173.
Coningham, John, 9.
Conder, E. R., M,A., 235.
Conder, G. W., 25, 248.
"Congregational Year Book," 30,
37, 66, note 1 ; 215, 236.
Congregationalism, Story of, 185.
Cooke, Dr., 242, and note 3.
Cooke, Joseph, 245, note 2 ; 245, 288.
Constance, John, 280, 281.
Cooper, W. D., 222.
Cordingley, Titus, 272.
Cotton, John, 130.
Cotton Famine, The, 207.
Countess of Huntingdon's Con
nexion, 253.
Cover, William, 78.
Coward College, 248.
Crabtree, John, 256, 262, note 1.
Craig, J. Kerr, 162, 163, and note
1 ; 166, 167.
Craig, R., M.A:f 192.
Crane, Edward, 286.
Crane, Samuel, 286.
Critchlaw, Alice, 45.
Critchley, Francis, 131.
Crimble Hall, 261, 264.
Croal River, 128, and note 1.
Croft, Gabriel, 74.
Crompton, Abigail, 3, 119.
Crompton, Abraham, 96.

294

INDEX.

Crompton, Alice, ng
Crompton, James, 3, ng, 120.
Crompton, John, 121.
Crompton, J. W., 81, note, S4.
Crompton, Thomas, 50.
Crook, Charles, 41.
Crookall, Lawrence, 41, 69,
Cropper, John, M.A., 222.
Cropper, John, 171.
Cross, Edward, J. P., 147.
Cross, J. K., M.P., 37.
Crossley, David, 108, and note 1.
Crossley, John, 108, 263.
Crossley, Richard, 108.
Croston, Mr., 117.
Cruesden, Mr., 171.
Cummins, J., 251.
Cunliffe, Mr., 65, 71.
Dale, Dr., 37, 69, 238
Daniels, E., 42.
Darbishire, John, 94.
Darbyshire, Mr., 171.
Darracott, Mr., 273.
Darwen Congregationalists Try to
Regain Walmesley Chapel,
60, 64.
Daventry Academy, 13, 59, 95, 105,
107, 124, 181.
Davidson, Dr., 265.
Davies, David, 61.
Davies, Evan, 265.
Davies, R. M., 31, 237, 2S1.
Davies, Taliesin, 26.
Davies, Thomas, 60.
Davis, B. R., 288.
Davison, W. H.,25, 31,42, 43, 230;
His "Centenary Memorials,"
22, 23, 24, 27,
Davison, W. H., M.A., 31.
Davenport, John, 57.
Dawson, George, 96.
Dawson, Joseph, 218, 241.
Dawson, Joseph, 241, 271.
Dawsons, Messrs., 94.

Deakin, E. C, 69. 78, 81.
Deakin, E., 42.
Deakin, James, 69, 173, 204, 229,
230, 233, 264.
Dean, Arthur, 222, 226.
Dearden, Betty, 73.
Dearnley, Isaac, 147.
Deaville, J. G., 190, 192, 193.
Dewhurst, Evan, 52, 54, 55, 64.
Dial, The, 144.
Dickinson, C. E., 252.
Dickinson, Dr., 191.
Dickinson, Richard, 119, 121.
Didsbury Wesleyan College, 42.
Dilworth, James, 265.
Dimmock, E. R., 96.
Dixon Green, 141, 143, 146, and
note 1.
Dixon, Thomas, M D., 8, 9, n.
Dixon, Thomas, 11, 12.
Dob Lane Chapel, 13, 95.
Dobson, Joshua, 10, 12, 124.
Dobson, Mr., 93, note 3.
Doddridge, Dr., 12.
Douglas, Mr., 253.
Dream, An Interesting, 177.
Druidical Customs, 83, 84.
Dundee Chapel, 154, 168, 178, 211,
238.
Dundee Congregational Church,
238.
Dunn, George, 74.
Dyson, Joseph, 25, 138, 141, 143,
150, 189, 229.
Dyson's " Rural Congregational
ism," 138.
Dunning, Mr., 171.
Eardley, R., B.A., 267.
Eaton, Anne, 221.
Eaton, Bezaleel, 221.
Eaton, John, 221.
Eaton, Marler, 221.
Eaton, Robert, 218, 2SS.
Eaton, Samuel, 220.

INDEX.

295

Eccles, Mr., 112.
Ecclesiastical Styles of Architec
ture, 200.
Eckersall, Thomas, 285.
Edgworth Congregational Church,
69.
Edwards, T., 281.
Egerton Congregational Church, 64.
Elliot, T., 288.
Elliott, J. D., 35.
Elliott, G. W., 243.
Elliott, W. H., 160. note 3 ; 162, 167,
178.
Ellis, Samuel, 24, 36.
Ellison, Mr., 47.
Ellisone, H. E., 286.
Elswick Chapel, 20, 26, 34, 59, note
3; 175-
Ely, Charles, 1S7-189, 195, 255.
Ely, John, 125, 189, 198, 199, 206,
245, 247, 250, 251, 263, 265,
280.
Ely, M. A., 247.
Enfield, Dr., 124.
Entwistle, William, 160, 161.
Espinasse's " Lives of Lancashire
Worthies," 177.
Evangelical Magazine, Origin of, 22.
Evans's, Dr., "Presbyterian Chapels
and Charities," 93, no, 224,
244, 270.
Evans, Mr., 105.
Evans, Mr., 228.
Evans, Jenkin, 270.
Falding, Dr., 144, 191, 192.
Farnworth, meaning of Name, 127;
Market Street Congregational
Church, 135-143; Francis
Street Congregational Church,
139, 147-149; Queen Street
Mission, 141 ; Albert Road
Congregational Church, 143,
146 ; Dixon Green, 146.
Fenton, Ann, 261.

Fenton, John, M.P., 261, 264.
Fenton, Joseph, 261.
Fenton, Mrs., 263.
Fenton, William, 261, 267.
Fielding, Mr., 41,
Finch, Henry, 220.
Finlayson, A., 254.
Firth, J., 152.
Fisher, Henry, [.P., 58.
Fisher, Robert, 58.
Fisher, Thomas, 248.
Fishwick, Colonel, 242, note 3 ; 244,
note 1 ; 269, 270, and note 1 ;
271, 274, note 4.
"Five Mile Act, The," 3, 51, 149.
Fletcher, Mr., 149, note 1.
Fletcher, Mr., 134, notei.
Fletcher, Dr. Joseph, 23, 34, 65,
108, 189, 228, 245, 257.
Fletcher, Richard, 78, 206, 230,
234, 264, 265.
Fordyce, James, 227.
Fothergill, W. H, 268.
Four Lane Ends (near Bolton), 8.
Four Lane Ends (near Bury),
Preaching at, 165, 239.
Fox, Joseph, 23 174.
France, S. H., 69.
Frankland, Richard, 158, 160, 220,
221, 241, 270, 271.
Fraser, Dr., 144.
Fraser, William, 166.
Freeston, Joseph, 288.
French Invasion, The, 83.
Furness, Mr., 171.
Furness, Tobias, 156.
Galland, J., 251, 264.
Gardner, John, 8.
Garrett, Charles, 37.
Gaskell, Mr., 182.
Gaskell, Thomas, 142.
Gaskell, William, 95.
Gastrell, Bishop, 92, 101, 122, 224.
Germain, Mr., 171.

iq6

INDEX.

Gibson, William, 175.
Gibson, William, 275.
Gilbert, J., M. A., 65.
Gilbert, J. S., 96.
Gill, George, 267.
Gill, Joseph, 65, 67, 78, 79.
Gill, Joseph, 67.
Gillibrand, J., 158.
Glass, Norman, 283,
Glendinning, J., 198.
Goburn, John, 112.
Goodwin, Richard, M.A., 2-5, 119.
Goodwin Fold, 119.
Gordon, John, 32.
Gorton, 5.
" Grace Alley," 28.
Grant Family, 164.
Grant, Mr., 253.
Grant, Daniel, 172.
Grant, John, 172.
Grant, William, 166.
Grant, William, 166, 172.
Grant's Tower, 175.
Gray, John, 257, 263.
Great Lever Hall, 141.
Greenall, Thomas, 34.
Greenall, Thomas, 34.
Greener, John, 67.
Greenhalgh, James, 214.
Greenhalgh, John, 94.
Greenleaves, John, 187.
Greenleaves, Betty, 187.
Gregg, Robert, 119.
Griffin, James, 230.
Griffith, G., 54.
Griffiths, Henry, M.A., F.G.S., 31.
Griffiths, Mr., 160.
Griffiths, Peter, 160.
Grindrod, Mr., 160.
Grundy Family, The, 184.
Grundy, Dennis, 195, 202.
Grundy, Edmund, 195.
Grundy, John, 195.
Grundy, Mary, 202.
Guttridge, John, 267.

Gwyther, J., 31, 199.
Hackin, Thomas, 255, 256.
Hacking, Mr., 142.
Hacking, Mr., 163.
Hacking, William, 33, 65, 197.
Hackney College, 114, 268.
Haddock, Daniel, 41.
Haddock, James, 41.
Hadfield, George, M.P., 228.
Hadfield, Margaret, 214.
Hadfield, Robert, 212, 214.
Hadfield, T., MA., 77.
Hainsworth, James, 211,
Hall i' th' Wood, 39.
Hall, R., 252.
Hall, Thomas, 161.
Halley, Dr., 69, 79, 173, 213, 248:
his " Lancashire Puritanism
and Nonconformity," 154, 180,
186, 218, note 2; 240, note 3;
269, 272, 274, 288.
Hallfold, 269, 278.
Halliday, Mr., 160.
Halshaw Moor, 138, 141.
Hamer, Abram, 166.
Hamer, D. J., 34, 37.
Hamer, Edward, 159.
Hamer, Edward, 159.
Hamer, J., 207.
Hamer, John, 253.
Hamer, T., 204.
Hamer, Thomas, 153.
Hamilton, R. W., 245.
Hampson's " History of Horwich,"
101, no.
Hampton, T., 74, 208, 239.
Hannay, Dr., 149, 231.
Hanson, Colonel, 226.
Hardaker, Mark, 114,230.
Hardman, James, 159.
Hardman, J., 280.
Hardman, Robert, 159.
Hardy, John, 104.
Hardy, Thomas, 94, 104.

INDEX.

?97

Hargreaves, George, 70.
Harker, B. J., 27.
" Harmonious Consent, The," 2, 87,
88.
Harper, John, 2, 286, 287.
Harris, G., 14.
Harris, G., 188, 197.
Harris, Robert, 114.
Harris, Dr. Wm., 188.
Harrison, Edward, 196.
Harrison, John, 45, 285.
Harrison, J., 265.
Harrison, John, 199, 265.
Harrison, J. C, 37.
Harrison, Joseph, 112, 195, 196, 200.
Harrison, Peter, 285.
Harrison, William, 221, 271.
Hartley, Mr., 34.
Harwood, Alice, 72.
Harwood, Catherine, 72.
Harwood, Ralph, 72.
Haslingden, 20.
Hassall, William, 242.
Hatton, Lady, 6.
Hatton, Richard, 100.
Hawkes, James, 125.
Hawkes, William, 13.
Haworth, P., 281.
Haworth, Mr., 69.
Heap, John, 157, note 1.
Heaviside, G., 243.
Heckmondwike Academy, 2D, 22,
107, 187.
Helme, John, 59, 64, 162.
Henry, Matthew, 8, 12, 121, 156,220.
Herford, R. T„ B.A., 223.
Hesketh, Robert, 58, 93.
Hesketh, Robert, 58.
Heward, Mr., 172.
Hewgill, William, M.A., 32, 139,
147, 192, 236.
Hewitt, David, 206, 246.
Heywood Congregational Church,
176, 254, 263-268.
Heywood, James, 137.
3— 19*

Heywood, John, 54.
Heywood, Joseph, 221.
Heywood, Oliver, 3, 4, 45, 47, 50,
58, 87, 118, 119, 120, 121, 129,
130, 132, 133, 137, 149, and
note 1 ; 241.
Heywood, Robert, 172.
Hibbert, Mr., 118.
Hibbert, Nathaniel, 95, 113.
Highbury College, 246.
Hill, John, 159.
Hill, Joshua, 45.
Hinde, George, 252.
Hindle, Ann, 214.
Hindle, Thomas, 214.
Hindley Chapel, 7.
Himmers, Joseph, 141.
Himmers, William, 141.
Hirst, John, 112, 161, note 1.
Hirst, J. C, 288.
Hob Lane School, 72.
Hodgkinson, G. N., 267.
Hodgson, Doctor, 236.
Hoghton Tower, 95.
Holcombe Brook, Preaching at, 164,
165, 239.
Holcombe Chapel, 154.
Holcombe Hill, 154,211.
Holden Chapel, 23.
Holden, Lawrence, 272.
Holden, R. M., 35.
Holding, Fanny, 214.
Holhous Sunday ochool, 213.
Holland, Adam, 287.
Holland, John, 12.
Holland, John, 13.
Holland, Henry, 12.
Holland, Philip, 12.
Holland, Roger, 137.
Holland, Thomas, 12.
Holland, Thomas, 133, 287.
Holland, Mr., 271.
Holloweil, J. H., 249.
Holmes, Benjamin, 160, 162, 167,
254, 263.

INDEX.

Hoole, Wm., 80, note 1.
Holroyd, John, 281.
Holt, George, 244.
Holt, James, 159.
Holt, Ralph, 255.
Holt, Thomas, 186, note 2.
Holt, Thomas, 186, 192.
Homerton College, 36, 96.
Hopkins, John, 234.
Hopkins, Thomas, 242.
Hornby, J., 80.
Horrocks, J., 55, 57, 287.
Horrox, Thomas, 162, 288.
Horrox, Mr., 195.
Horwich Episcopal Chapel, 98.
Horwich Lee Chapel, 110-115.
Horwich New Chapel, 98-110.
Hotham, John, 9.
Houghton, John, 156, note 3.
Houlgate, W. J., 115.
Howard, Mark, 283.
Howard, Lady, 264.
Howorth, Franklin, 182, 208, 243.
Howorth, Sarah, 184.
Hoxton Academy, 20, 188, 222, 228,
245, 250, 256.
Hoyle, John, 248.
Hubbard, C. B., 96.
Hughes, Bridget, 181.
Hughes, John, 13, 184.
Hughes, Mary, 181.
Hulton, George, 133.
Hulton, Margaret, 133.
Hulton, William, 133.
Idle Academy, 23, 24, 187, 188,
198, 289.
Innes, William, 163.
Irwell River, 128, 158, 164, 282.
Irwell Bank Sunday School, 142.
Jack, Dr., 166.
Jackson, James, 97.
Jackson, James, 259.
Jackson, John, 131.

Jackson, Thomas, 137, 138, 198,
254, 257, 260, 263, 264.
Jackson, Thomas, 259.
Jackson, William, 144
Jacobite Controversy, The, 242.
James, Mr , 19.
James, H. W., 231, 236.
James, J. A., 139, 172, 198.
Jeffreys, Judge', 52.
Jenkins, John, A.M., 96.
Johnson, Joseph, 34.
Johnson, Thomas, 94.
Johnston, James, 34.
Johnstone's "LReligious History of
Bolton," 28, 84, note -1.
Jollie, John, 218.
Jollie, Thomas, 120 ; his Church
Book, 50.
Jones, Mr., 189.
Jones, Mr., 209.
Jones, Mr., 220.
Jones, J. R., 25, 36.
Jones, John, 114.
Jones, John, 253.
Jones, Morgan, 69.
Jones, Noah, 14, 61.
Jones, T. Slade, 266.
Jones, Thomas, 60.
Jones, William, 23, 33, 35, 39, 65,
79, 138, 204, 206, 228, 257.
Jones, W. F. L., 41.
Kay, Adam, 233.
Kay, Alice, 267.
Kay, Ann, 177.
Kay, James, 159.
Kay, James, 159.
Kay, John, 177
Kay, John, 159.
Kay, Richard, 227.
Kay, Richard, 159.
Kay, Richard, 177.
Kay, Robert, 177.
Kay, Robert, 159.
Kay, Robert, 254, 255, 258.

INDEX.

299

Kay, Thomas, 261.
Kay-Shuttleworth, Sir James, 261,
262, and note 1.
Kay-Shuttleworth, Sir Ughtred,
261.
Kearshaw, Richard, 94, 286.
Kelsall, Robert, 248.
Kendal Academy, 11, 59, 95, 104,
272.
Kennedy, James, 172, 173, 190, 198,
199, 203, 206.
Kent, J. S., 152.
Kenworthy, James, 107, 114, 189.
Kersley, Meaning of, 127; Congre
gationalism at, 141, 142.
Key, Thomas, 50.
Kidd, G. B., 173.
Kilpatrick, George, 137.
King, Mr., 125.
Kirkpatrick, John, M.A., 272.
Knight, Henry, 186, 187.
Knight, Thomas, 187, note 1, 192.
Knight, Mr., 33.
Knox, William, 143.
Knowles, Ellen, 214.
Knowles, Joshua, 213.
Knowles, Samuel, 212, 214.
Lamb, Mr., 74.
Lambert, Richard, 43.
Lancashire College, 25, 26, 67, 69,
109, 146, 149, 152, 153, 200,
215, 236, 238, 248, 253, 254,
260, 265, 267, 278.
" Lancashire Congregational Cal
endar," 41, 195, 201, 203, 210,
211, 213, 253, 269, 281.
Lancashire Congregational Union,
254.
Lancashire, Climate of, 180.
" Lancashire's Valley of Achor,"
133-
Lancashire, James, 195.
Lancashire Presbytery, 276.
Lance, William, 283.

Latham, Dr., 16, 221.
Latham, T. G., 43.
Laud, Archbishop, 240.
Law, James, 281.
Lawrence, Mr., 220.
Lawtcn, Mr., 47.
Lawson, Mr., 189.
Lawson, George, 166.
Lawson, H., 55.
Lawson, H. A., M.A., 208.
Lawson, T., 283.
Laycock, Samuel, 187.
Leaf Square Academy at Salford,
138, 189.
Lee, Henry, 235, 253.
Leigh, R. G, 58, 67, 74, 146.
Leland, Doctor John, 8.
Leslie, Mr., 276.
Lever, John, 5, 120.
Lewis, Jenkin, 138, 189.
Lewis, John, 187.
Licenses of 1672, 99, 12 o, 122, 218.
Lings, Henry, 173.
Little Lever Congregational Church
149-153-
Littler, R., 189,
Littleborough Congr egational
Church, 250, 252.
Littlewood, Mr., 256.
Livesey, James, 49, 156, 287.
Livesey, Joseph, 171.
Loosemore, W. C, M.A., 193.
Lumsden, R. C, 174.
Macdonald, Dr. George, 36.
Macdonald, S. F., 244.
Macfayden, Dr., 69, 74, 210, 235.
Macgregor, G. D., 138.
Mackennal, Dr., 231, 237.
Magee, J., 253.
Main, Mr., 160, 162.
Maine, William, 162.
Makinson, Hugh, n 1.
Manchester Classis, Minutes of,
121, and note 3, 285.

3°°

INDEX.

Manchester Guardian, The, 60, 226.
Manchester Home Missionary
Board, 61, 62, 96, 127, 223.
Manchester New College, 15, 60,
95, 96, 124, 125, 183, 222, 223,
243, 244-
" Manchester Socinian Contro
versy, The," 216.
Marsh, George, 88, and note 3 ;
129.
Marshall, William, 243.
Martin, Mrs., 105, 107.
Martin, Samuel, 31, 32, 248.
Martin, Peter, J. P., 105.
Mason, Mary, 108.
Massie, J. W., 173.
Mather, Richard, 130.
Mathews, J. H., 61.
Maurice, William, 22.
Maxwell, Mr., 76, 174, 193, 201.
May, Mr., 188.
May, Thomas, 222.
Mayall, John, 147.
Mayall, Mrs., 147.
Mayer, John, 93.
McAll, Dr., 198, 258, 264.
McCappin, J. C, 235, 246.
McDougall, J., 192.
McKerrow, Dr., 276.
McKittrick, D., 41.
McLean, Dr., 166.
McMichael, J. C, 138, 141, 230.
McMillan, J., 210.
McQuhae, James, 20, x8S, 227.
Meanley, Mr., 179.
Melling Rectory, 4g.
Mellor, Dr., 31, 69, no, 267.
Methodism in 1751, 11.
Methodists, 59, 96.
Miers, A., 281.
Mile End Academy, 20.
Mills, Elizabeth, 124
Millson, J. E., 259.
Milne, James, 52, 54, 57.
Milne, John, 57.

Milne, Robert, 57.
Milnrow Congregational Church,
253-
Moffat, Dr., 67.
Moravian Academy, 182.
Morgan, D., 253.
Morgan, Mr., 171.
Morris, E. L., 239.
Mosley, Oswald, 132.
Mosley, Margaret, 132.
Mottershead, J., 10.
Munro, J. F., 149.
Murray, J. G., 278, note 1.
Napoleon, 83.
Nelson, Thomas, 166.
Nesbitt, J. C, 26.
New Bury School, near Farn
worth, 143.
Newcome, Henry, M.A., 4, 47,
120, 121.
New College, London, 149, 152,
252, 266, 268.
Newnes, Mr., 190.
Newport Pagnell Academy, 246.
Newton, Samuel, 86, 286, 2S7.
Nicholl, William, 166.
Nicholls, Richard, 115, 283.
Nicholls, William, 210, and note
1.
Nichols, S., 78.
Nicholson, Wm., 146.
Nightingale, Benjamin, 146.
Nightingale, Benjamin, 170.
Nightingale, Rachel, 108.
Nightingale, Richard, 171.
Nightingale, W. H., 149.
Nimmo, David, 36.
Noble, R. H., 41.
Norbury, John, 120.
Norden Congregational Church,
262.
Northampton Academy, 12.
Northowram Academy, 22, 187.
Norris, J., 252.

INDEX.

Nottingham Institute, 41, 42, 43,
239< 253, 268, 283.
Nugent, James, igg.
Nuttall, Rauffe, 86, 286.
Oddy, Joseph, 278.
Okey, Colonel, 119.
Okey, John, 119.
Ordination, Early, 218, note 2.
Ordish, G. S., 152.
Orgar, Wm., 206, 264.
" Orion,1' Wreck of, 247.
Orton, Job, 10, 13, 105, 106, in,
179, 181.
Ouston, J. H., 191.
Outwood, Meaning of, 129.
Owen, Charles, Dr., 8, 242.
Owen, John, 242.
Owen, Josiah, 10, 242.
Owen, J. J., 25.
Owens College, 96, 223.
Pagan, J. T., 248.
Park, Robert, 4.
Park Chapel, Ramsbottom, 162,
165, 167-178.
Parker, Dr. Joseph, 31, 267.
Parker, T., 252.
Parkinson, H. W., 25, 69, 248, 288.
Parkinson, W., 248.
Parsons, Edward, 23, 197.
Parsons, J. T., 256, 263.
Partington, George, 170, 189.
Partington, Paul, 138.
Payne, G, A.M., 189.
Peacock, Hannah, 113.
Pearce, A. E., 66.
Peel, Sir Robert, 185.
Peel's " Nonconformity in Spen
Valley," 19, note 2.
Peel Park Art Gallery, 95.
Pendlebury, Henry, M.A., 99, 154,
156, and note 2; 176, 241, 287.
Pendlebury, Jeremiah, 112.
Pendlebury, Widow, 157.

Pendlebury, William, M.A., 156,
note 2.
Pendlebury, William, M.A., 156,
note 2.
Pendlebury, William, 5^.
Penrose, Thomas, 199.
Persecution of Nonconformists, 36,
47. 52, 88, 109, 132, 251.
Pettigrew, Mr., 143.
Philips, Robert, 224, 226.
Philips, R. N., 223, 224.
Phillips, J. R., 41, 253.
Philp, G. W., 243.
Philpott, Betty, 70.
Philpott, John, 70.
Pickering Academy, 74.
Pickford, Elijah, 152.
Pickstone, William, 231.
"Pike Fold," 48.
Pilkington, Bishop, 84.
Pilkington, John, 158.
Pilkington, Margaret, 95.
Pilkington, Richard, 108.
Pillars, James, 244.
Pilling, S. W., 77,
Pitts, Thomas, 156.
Piatt, Mr., 78.
Pool, J. J„ 281.
Poore, J. L., 234, 248.
Porter, S. T., 234.
Porritt, Ann, 172.
Porritt, James, 238.
Porritt, Joseph, 172, 173, 176.
Porritt, Samuel, 238, 261
Porritt, Thomas, 254.
Potter, Edward, 280.
Potter, Mr , 65.
Potts, Mr., 211.
Poulton Rectory, 49.
Poulton, W. F , 266.
" Presbyterian " and " Congrega
tional" used interchangeably,
51, note 1.
Prestolee, Meaning of, 129 ;
preaching at, 141.

302

INDEX.

Prestwich Church, 5.
Piidie, J., 251, 280.
Priestley, Mr., 112.
Priestley, Joseph, 251, 252, and
note 1.
Probert, William, 61.
Proudfoot, William, 166.
Pyke, Thomas, 47, 48, 216, 287.
Quaint Epitaphs, 62.
Rae, James, B.A,, 230.
Radcliffe Congregational Church,
230, 231, 233-237.
Raffles, Dr., 25, no, 139, 144, 152,
189, 248, 250, 280.
Raines, Canon, 118.
Ramsay, Peter, 163, 239.
Ramsay, Mr., 263.
Ramsbottom, St. Andrews Epis
copal Church, 166; St. And-
rew's Presbyterian Church,
167, 239.
Rathband, Michael, 118.
Rathband William, 118.
Rathband, William, MA., 11S.
Rathmell Academy, 158, 160, 220,
221, 241, 270.
Rawlins, John, 95.
Rawlins, Thomas. 95.
Reaney, G. S., 210, 237.
Redmayne, Joseph, 114.
Redmayne, Leonard, 34, 112, 197,
227.
Redmayne's Mill in Tockholes,
114.
Reed, Dr. A., 206.
Reed, Thomas, 195.
Rees, W. G, 281.
Reyner, Nehemiah, 221.
Reynolds, H. R., B.A, 266.
Reynolds, Walter, B.A, 127.
Rhodes, Samuel, 289.
Richmond College, 115.
Riding, W., 254.

Riley, William, 283.
Ringley Chapel, 5, 127-135.
Ringley Fold, 131.
Risley, 58, 59, 104, 160, 222, 243.
Rixon, Silas, 268.
Rivington Chapel, 7, 14, 81-9S.
Rivington Church, 84, 286.
Rivington Grammar School, 84.
Rivington Hall, 57, 84.
Rivington Pike, 81, and note 1 ; 88>
96, in ; Druidical Worship
at, 83.
Roaf, William, no, 143.
Robb, John, 166.
Robberds, C. W., 96.
Robberds, John G , 96.
Robertson, William, 26.
Robins, Thomas, 107.
Robinson, Edwin, 172, 199, 265.
Robinson, John, 174.
Robinson, Kate Taylor, 96.
Robinson, Richard, 277.
Robinson, Thomas, 275, 277.
Roby, John, 125, 247; his "Tradi
tions in Lancashire,'' 125, 247,
note 1.
Roby's Academy, 163.
Roby, William, 23, 65, 66, 72, 137,
138, 163, 168, 188, 189, 228,
245, 256, 257.
Rochdale : Blackwater Street
Chapel, 182, 240-244 ; "Amen
Corner, "241, andnotei; Clover
Street Chapel, 244, 288 ; Pro
vidence Chapel, 244-247, 288 ;
Milton Congregational Church,
248-249.
Rogers, John, 130.
Rogers, J. G, B.A., 31, 74, 281.
Roseman, William, 74, 173, 174,
192, 199, 200, 205, 230, 234,
265, 267.
Rotheram, Doctor, 9, n, 59, 95,
104, and note 2, 272.
Rotherham College, 65, 66, 138,

INDEX.

144, 18S, 191, 197, 199, 204,
229, 252, 259, 265, 266, 281.
" Rothesay Castle," Wreck of, 194,
Rothwell, Edward, 54, 158, 159,
167, 176, 178, 181, 184.
Rothwell, James, 159.
Rothwell, J., 100.
Rothwell, John, 172.
Rothwell, Mary, 184.
Rothwell, Peter, 184.
Rothwell, Richard, 159.
Rossendale Forest, 282.
Rowlinson. W., 96.
Rupert, Prince, 1.
Sagar, Chailes, 51.
Sagar, John, 51.
Schofield, Jonathan, 156, 2S7.
Scholefield, Radcliffe, 271.
Scholefield, Radcliffe, 271.
Scholefield, Richard, 271.
Scholes, Mr., 143.
Scholes, J. C, 35.
Scoles, Mr., 220.
Scotch Rebellion of 1715, 93.
Scott, Andrew, 166.
Scott, Captain, 227.
Scott, Dr., 77, 109, 200, 248, 267,
Scott, James, 20, 22, 187.
Scott, Walter, 277.
Scottish Covenanter's Bible, 25.
Scrimgeour, James, 149.
Scullard, H. H., 42, 109.
Scullard, H. H, M.A., 42.
Seeker, Archbishop, 272.
Seddon, Alice, 135.
Seddon, John, 123.
Seddon, John, M.A., 124.
Seddon, Peter, 123.
Seddon, P., 120.
Seddon, Peter, 129.
Seddon, Ralph, 133,
Seddon, R., 252.
Seddon, Robert, M.A., 5-7, 123,
135, *57-

Seddon, William, 129.
Seed, Richard, 207.
Sermon, A Remarkable, 273.
Shaw Chapel, 99.
Shaw, George, 86, 286.
Shaw, John, 86.
Shaw, Lawrence, S6.
Shaw, William, 253.
Shaw, W. A., M.A., 285.
Sheephey, Preaching at, 227.
Shepley, Mr., 273.
Sherman, James, 171.
Shrewsbury Proverb, 1S0.
Shuker, John, 215.
Shuttleworth, Robert, 261.
Simcock, J., Macrae, 193.
Simpson, David, 160, 161.
Simpson, Dr., 20, 33, 34.
Simpson, E. H, 254.
Skinner, Dr., 276.
Skyrme, T., 208.
Slate, Richard, 25, 66, 67, 13S, 150,
156, 158, 189, 228, 229, and
note 1 ; 230, 232, 2SS.
Slatterie, J., 245.
Smallbridge Congregational
Church, 250, 251, 289.
Smalley, Richard, 124.
Smethurst, John, 241.
Smith, Mr., 1S9.
Smith, James, 48.
Smith, Dr. J. Pye, 36.
Smith, T., A.M., 197, 199.
Smith, Thomas, 222.
Smith, T.H., 244.
Smith, William, 243, 244, note 1.
Smithells Hall Chapel, 88, note 3.
Snashall, G, B.A., 246.
Snelgar, Jacob, 20.
Southworth, Thomas, 248.
Sowden, Benjamin, 23.
Sowden, Joseph, 22, 33.
Sowler, R. S., Q.C., 134.
Spanish Armada, The, 81.
Speakman, Joseph, 78.

3°4

INDEX.

Spear, Robert, 168.
Spedding, T. P., 241, note 1 ; 244,
288.
Spencer, William, 246.
Spodden River, 278.
Spring Hill College, 25, 32, 144.
Spurgeon, William, 26.
Squier, W. C, 223.
St. Bartholomew's Day, So.
Stand Hall, 215.
Stand Independent Church, 222,
226-233.
Stand School, 224.
Stand Unitarian Chapel, 215-226.
Stansfield, Abraham, 270, note 1.
Steill, Alexander, 23.
Steinthal, AlEred, 184.
Stephens, R., 280, 281.
Stepney Chapel, Warrington, 22.
Stewart, Dr., 166.
Stones, E., 199.
Stoughton, Dr., 25.
Stowell, Dr., 25, 230, 232, 265.
Stranger, H. W., 26.
Stratten, Thomas, 248.
Stubbins Congregational Church,
173,238.
Sugden, S., 250, 252.
Summerseat, Preaching at, 165.
Summit Congregational Church,
251, 253-
Sunderland, J., 172, 198, 201, 206,
251, 264.
Sutcliffe, J., ig8, 250, 251, 264.
Tagg, Samuel, 187.
Taylor, Ann, 214.
Taylor, Henry, 160, 161, and note 1.
Taylor, James, 214.
Taylor, James, g5, g6.
Taylor, John, 226.
Taylor, John, 275.
Taylor, John, 5g.
Taylor, Dr. John, 9, 11, 94.
Taylor, Mr., 60.

Taylor, Mr., 119.
Taylor, Robert, 233.
Taylor, Thomas, 107.
Taylor, Zachariah, 240, 288.
Taylor's, Zachariah, " Lancashire
Levite," 240.
Tetlaw, Renald, 54.
Thomas, David, B.A., 267.
Thomas, J. D., 42.
Thomas, Robert, 147.
Thomson, Dr., 200, 236.
Thomson, J. R., M.A , 266.
Thompson, J., 235.
Thompson, Samuel, 96.
Thorburn, W. R., M.A., 152, 157,
185, 195, 196, 199-202, 230,
234, 276.
Thornton, Edward, 159.
Thorpe, C, 230.
Tbrelkeld, Thomas, 243.
Tildesley, John, 99, 156.
Times, The 144.
Tockholes, 70, 78, 108, 112, 114,
138, 174, 275.
Todmorden Congregational Church,
279-281.
Tong, Mr., 156.
Tong, William, 156.
Toothill, Mr., 188.
Topp, Alfred, J. P., 137, note 1.
Topp, Robert, 137, and note 1.
Topp, Robert, 137, note 1 ; 146.
Tottington Congregational Church,
211, 239.
Tottington St. Ann's Church, 212.
Towers, George, 275, and note 1.
Towers, James, 275.
Toxteth Park Chapel, 50, 130.
Travis, Mrs., 218.
Trevecca College, 22.
Tunley Chapel, 7, 95, 15S, 159, 276.
Turland, Ephraim, 122, 127.
Turner, A., 39.
Turner, H. W., B.A., 32, 3g.
Turner, J. H., 58.

INDEX.

3°5

Turner, John, 93, and note 2 ; 103.
Turner, Mr., 160.
Turner, Prof. Lyon, 237.
Turner, William, 197.
Turner, William, 13, 104.
Turton Chapel, 48, 156.
Turton Heights, 44.
Tyldesley Congregational Church,
3i-
Uniformity Act, The, 3, 139, 149,
240.
Unitarianism, 64, 97, 105, 106, and
note 3 ; in, 127, 181, 1S4, 222,
226, 244, 279.
Unsworth, Mr., 71.
United Independent College, Brad
ford, 191, 193, 252.
Valentine, John, g4.
Valentine, Joseph, 160.
Valentine, Peter, 104.
Valentine, Thomas, 160.
Vaughan, Doctor, 25, 31, no.
Vause, Thomas, 10S.
Veitch, Robert, M.A., 246.
" Velvet Walks," 28.
Vint, William, 23, 187.
Wacton Hall, 96.
Wadsworth's, Joseph, " Voice of
Truth," 34.
Waite, William, 282.
Walkden Congregational Church,
147.
Walkden, Peter, 160, His Diary,
93, and note 3.
Walker, Alexander, 92, note 1.
Walker, Benjamin, 92, note 1.
Walker, Edward, 146.
Walker, John, 88, 92, and note 1 ; 93,
286.
Wal ker, John, 54, 92, 103, 104, note 1 .
Walker, Margaret, 226, 94, 100,
Walker, Peter,. 227.

Walker, Roger, 224.
Walker, Samuel, 22, 187.
Walker, William, 224.
Walker, William, 226.
Walker, W. M., 259.
Walmsley Old Chapel, 44.
Walmsley Unitarian Chapel, 14,
49, 54-64-
Walmsley, Douglas, B.A., 183,
Walmsley, William, 194.
Walton, James, gg.
Walworth, Ellis, 129,
Walworth, Nathan, 129.
Warburton, iS, 168.
Warburton, Maria, 214.
Warburton, Peter, 214.
Wardlaw, Dr., igi.
Wardrop, Robert, 277.
Waring, Robert, I5g.
Waring, Samuel, 159.
Warrington Academy, 13, 95, 123,
124, 162, 272.
Waterhouse, Mr., 58.
Waterhouse, Nicholas, 58.
Waterhouse, Samuel, 58.
Watkins, Isaac, 115.
Watson, George, 106.
Watson, William, 106.
Watt, D. G., M.A., 144.
Watts's Hymns, 214.
Watts, Sir James, 37, 74.
Wayman, James, 77.
Webb, Henry, ig2.
Webster, Mr., 208.
Wellesbi, Thomas, 99, in, 287.
Wells, G. H., M.A., 96.
Wesley, John, 16, 18, 19, 274.
Western College, 35, 265, 283.
Wharton Chapel, 95, 104, 129, 137.
White, E., 256, 259.
Whitehead, James, 125.
Whitehead, J. T., 125.
Whitefield, George, 16, 18, 19, 28.
Whiteley, Thomas, 18S.
Whitfcrd, John, 19.

306

INDEX.

Whittle's " History of Bolton,"
128.
Whittlestonehead Sunday School,
73-
Whitton, J., 253.
Whitworth, Abraham, 270.
Whitworth, Abraham, B.A , 270.
Whitworth, A., 272.
Whitworth, C, 173.
Whitworth, Joseph, 122, 270.
Whitworth, Joseph, 269, 270, and
note 1.
Whitworth Chapel, 200, 269-279.
Whitworth's Manchester Advertiser.
10.
Wild, John, 159.
Wild, Mr., 172.
Wilkins, Mr., 78.
Wilkinson, Thomas, J.P., 41, 42.
Willans, T. B , 267.
Williams, David, 41, 115.
Williams, G , no.
Williams, J. J., 109, and note 2.
Williams, John, 170, 250.
Williams, Mr., 272.
Williams, R. G., no, 246.
Williams, W., 262.
Willis, Thomas, 147.
WiUoughby, Lord, 91, 92, 93, 99,
100.
Wilsden, William, 108.
Wilson, C. C, 171.
Wilson, John, 239, 254.
Wilson, Joseph, 57.
Wilson, J. P., 260.
Wilson, Mr., 189.
Wilson, W., 171.
Winder, Colonel, 77.
Winder, Dr., 9.

Winder, James, 73.
Winder, John, 70, 78, 165, 173,
185, 254, 255, 263.
Winder, John, M.A., 70.
Winder, Robert, 70.
Winder, T., 70.
Winstanley, Ellen, 130.
Winstanley, Peter, 119.
Winter Hill, 109.
Withington, Peter, 8, 9.
Wolstenholme, J., 199.
Wolstenholme, J. R., M.A., 31, 32.
Wolstenholme, R , 32.
Wood, Alfred, 41.
Wood, James, 54, 93, 103, 104, and
note 2.
Wood, John, 104.
Wood, Richard, 41.
Wood, Jonathan, 65.
Woodcock, Mr., 71, 185.
Woodcock, S., 195, 199.
Woodhouse, Mr., 211.
Worsley, James, 94.
Worthington, Jeffrey, B.A., 15.
Wraith, James, 19, 112, and note 1,
285.
Wraith, S. H., 285.
Wray, Henry, M.A., 37.
Wright, John, B A., 183.
Wright, Lawrence, 80, note 1.
Wright, Peter, 243.
Wroe, Warden, 100, 123, and
note 1.
Wymondhouses Chapel, 57, 170.
Wymondley Academy, 14, 61, 125
Yearnsdale Holmes, 52.
Yonge, John, 266.
1 Young, David, B.A., 268.

John Heywood, Excelsior Printing and Bookbinding Works, Manchester.

Lancashire Nonconformity.

BY THE REV. B. NIGHTINGALE.

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HISTORY OF THE OLD INDEPENDENT CHAPEL,
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BY THE REV. B. NIGHTINGALE.

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D D