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| Alice Wilson |
We found ourselves back in Todmorden today, as Anne wanted to follow up her family history research. What should have been a quick visit to Todmorden library ended up with us unearthing several books about Alice Wilson - Anne's 3rd Great Grandmother - who was very instrumental in setting up and supporting early Methodism and her husband Lawrence a local mill owner.
Following our "finds" Anne wanted to revisit other places that her family had connections with, including Gibson Mill now owned by the National Trust, a former cotton mill and Edwardian entertainment emporium once leased by Anne's third great grandfather.
We moved on to village of Heptonstall, which was once on the main pack horse route to Clitharoe. during the 18th century its population was about 4,000 compared today's 900.
The society in Heptonstall was started in 1742 by a freelance Sottish
evangelist called William Darney. In 1747, Charles Wesley visited the area, and the Darney societies were offered to the Methodist movement - Darney wanted to move on and evangelise elsewhere. Heptonstall was placed in the pastoral care of Rev William Grimshaw of Haworth, a friend of Darney and the Wesleys. John's first visit to Heptonstall was on May 21st, 1747, when he was invited to 'examine' the Darney Societies by Darney with a view of taking them on so leadership passed to the Wesleys. (Subsequent visits include 1753 when it was extremely hot, 1755 when it was extremely wet, and 1757 when there was an earthquake...) He was always received by large crowds, and eventually it was decided to build a chapel.
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| Heptonstall Octagon Chapel |
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| Heptonstall Chapel |
John Wesley laid the foundation stone and the octagonal shape was approved by John Wesley to be different from the Parish Church - designed as a preaching house to supplement the Parish Church (St Thomas a Becket), Wesley preached at the Parish Church on 5 occasions but was not impressed in 1786 he wrote: "I preached at ten in Heptonstall Church, the ugliest I know" The Parish Church suffered extensive storm damage in 1847 and a new church was built. today both churches stand side by side.
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| Hepptonstall Parish Churches |
The roof of the Methodist Chapel was transported by pack horse over the moor, accompanied by hundreds of hymn-singing worshipers! John Wesley first preached in the unfinished shell and outlined then his unpublished verse:
Ye mountains and vales, in praise abound,
Ye hills and ye dales, continue the sound,
Break forth into singing, ye trees of the wood,
for Jesus is bringing lost sinners to God.
In 1795 the Sunday School was started one of the first in the country and in 1802 the Chapel was extended northwards, preserving the octagonal shape. Today the Chapel has about 20 members, but boasts being the oldest Methodist Church that has been in continuous use.
We also visited Lumbutts Chapel and Mankinholes Chapels where some of Anne's relatives attended.
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| Mankinholes Sunday School |
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| Lumbutts Chapel |
In Mankinhole dissention over thye organ grew stronger and in September 1836 the people withdrew from the Methodist Society at Mankinholes rather than submit to the internal politics they could no longer endure. A new chapel was planned further down the lane at Lumbutts including the provision of an organ! The first meeting in connection with the building of the chapel was held at the home of Mr. W. Bayes in September 1836. The chapel was opened July 9th 1837 and was originally named the Wesleyan Association Chapel. It became the first United Methodist Free Church in the area.
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| Lumbutts Organ |
Unfortunately the Mankinholes Chapel suffered dry rot and the last service took place on 1st. July 1979, after which, the chapel was demolished, with the stained glass being moved to the rival chapel at Lumbutts. All that remains today is the Sunday School building - now a private house and the graveyard. An application to turn the Lumbutts Chapel into a community centre has been posted on the gate to the church.
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