Burnley Express
Saturday 19 January 1895
The Baptist Chapel, Haggate From The "History of Briercliffe and Extwistle." [By Tattersall Wilkinson]
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or busy housewife ply her evening care; No children run to lisp their sire's return, Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.
Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor.
The founder of this primitive church was William Smith, shalloon weaver, of the "Hill," in the township of Briercliffe. He was a man possessed of some property, and was allied to the old yeoman family of the Smiths, of Pig-hole, whose ancestors are known in the history of the township during many centuries. William Smith was a manufacturer on a small scale, letting out his work among his neighbours, in the days when the sound of the shuttle was heard in every cottage and farm-house. In those days the cotton manufacture was unknown, shalloons, bombazines, huckabacks were composed of various designs and manufactured entirely of wool. The principal market for these goods was held at Halifax, across the Pennine range, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The goods were generally carried over Widdup Head by pack horses, the only possible method of communication across these desolate wilds. 'Tis said that when Halifax market was glutted with goods William Smith proceeded to Glasgow for the purpose of opening up a new market for his trade. During his visits to Scotland he frequently met and conversed with members of the Baptist faith , which ultimately resulted in his conversation. On returning he began to open out his theological views among his workmen and neighbours, among whom he made a few converts. Some time about the year 1763 about a half a score began to worship in a small room over a cart shed at Burwains. This humble temple still exists. The old cart shed with the room above remains intact as it was in the days of yore. As time wore on this humble community prospered so well that the old chamber became too small, upon which the elders began to look out for more commodious premises. A plot of land was procured at Haggate more convenient and central to the rising congregation. The original title deeds are still in existence, though superseded by more modern documents. The following names are found in the indenture of the original trust deed - Indenture between William Smith, the elder, of the Hill, in Briercliffe, yeoman, and William Smith, the younger, shalloon weaver, of the first part. The names of the original trustees are as follows:- William Smith, the younger, of Hill, shalloon weaver; Amoros Walton, piecemaker, Whately Lane, of the second part. James Hoyle, of Hill, shalloon weaver; John Hargreaves, of Colne, weaver; John Heap, Marsden, farmer; John Burrows, Marsden, weaver; Hartley Emmett, Hackgate, weaver; John Stuttard, Southfield, weaver; Jonathan Hey, Briercliffe, cordwainer, of the third part. The following extracts are from the title deeds:- "Ightenhill, 27th October, 1768, William Smith, the younger, shalloon weaver, &c......All that newly erected chapel and yard, as it is walled about, and three yards of land on the outside thereof, &c.......for Church Protestant dissenters called Baptists." A number of the flock that joined these primitive founders of the Baptists originally belonged to the Inghamites, who, believing that baptismal immersion was the only true scriptural baptism, they left their old faith and joined the new sect, thus laying the foundation of the large and thriving community of Baptists which for nearly a century and a half has exercised such a powerful influence on the civilisation of the district. The townships of Briercliffe and Extwistle stand unique in the annals of crime, and may compare favourably with any portion of Her Majesty's dominions. After making searching inquiries I may be justified in stating that during the last half century of their history, scarcely a single case of felony committed by a native has taken place in the entire district. An application for license to preach in the chapel at Haggate was made at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held at Preston on Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1767, of which the following is a copy:- "This is to certify that at the General Quarter Sessions of the peace held by adjournment, on and for the County Palatine of Lancaster on Thursday, the 30th day of April, in the seventh year of King George the Third's reign, the newly erected Baptist Chapel at a place called Haggate, in the parish of Burnley, in the said county, was recorded as a meeting-house for protestants dissenting from the Church of England to exercise their religious worship. As witness my hand - Bradley, Deputy Clerk of the Peace in and for the said County." The following are the names of the first five elders or ministers of the chapel together with their dates of office. William Smith, 1768, who died before 19th October, 1809; Abraham Nowell, 1790, 1828; John Berry, 1824, 1849; John Hudson, 1830, 1871; and Peter Holgate, 1838, 1867. The school in connection with the chapel was founded in the year 1821. The first birth recorded is August, 1762, the second is of the same date, and the third is December 17th, 1768. After this the entries are numerous. The first burial is thus recorded:- "Sallie Berry, of the parish of Colne in the County of Lancaster, aged seventeen months, was buried in the Protestant burial ground at Haggate on the 23rd day of February, 1786. Registered the 25th day of May, 1786, by me, Protestant dissenting minister, Wm. Smith. Abraham Nowell, of Holt Hill, whose ministry commenced in 1790, was a fine old patriarch of the humble house of prayer at Haggate. In reference to his early life he says:-"My birth and parentage were of the most humble description. The place of my nativity was a small room over a stable at Southfield in Great Marsden on the 9th day of September, 1760. Such was the burden of the children of my parents that my temporal benefactor said (in familiar style) they had more sheep than the pasture would keep. In his kindness, with the consent of his partner in life, I was translated out of the bosom of my own family into that of my mother's brother, who resided at Holt Hill in Briercliffe when I was little more than 12 months old. I have always thought that the best and choicest of earthly situations have nothing to boast of on the whole. Something of this was verified in my case. I had a good home, but my work was hard, my prevailing inclination was for the acquisition of knowledge, so that the slender means I possessed in money and time were laid out in that way. An intense application to books, together with my laborious work day by day prived too much for my weakly constitution, so that at one time it seemed to be the opinion of the doctors that I was far advanced in consumption. Here it is proper that I should again bring to view the merciful and kind distributions of Divine Providence towards me in affording me means that were conductive to my restoration to health, and which had, indeed, a salutary effect, though at the time of writing (1828)this I am far from being free from the consequences of over much exertion of body and mind." This truly good and faithful shepherd sleeps in the "God's Acre" of the church he loved so well, May he rest in peace. Calm on the bosom of thy God, Fair spirit! rest thee now! Ev'n wile with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on the brow.
Dust to its narrow house beneath, Sent to its place on high! They that have seen thy boon in death, No more may fear to die. In the year 1824 a number of the worshippers at Haggate seceded from the mother church and commenced to worship at Marsden Height; a similar secession also took place in 1838, when the seceders removed to Hill Lane, where they still exist. Mr. A. Brodie, a venerable old man, now 75 years of age, was for a long time an elder at Haggate, where he was held in great veneration and respect. He emigrated several years ago to British Columbia as a missionary among the Chinese settlers, and there he still resides. (To be continued.
_________________ Mel
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