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ST.
CHADS PARISH CHURCH
ROCHDALE
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Chads is the Mother Church of the Parish of Rochdale.
It is an ancient and handsome gothic building with a
square tower. The oldest part was built in the year
1100 on land given by Adam de Spotland in order to buy
his way into God's good books. A list of past incumbents
inside the church tells us that Geoffrey, Dean of Whalley,
was the vicar in the year 1194. |
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The
following is an extract from "Rochdale Past &
Present, a History and Guide" by William Robertson
1876.
"The
mother church of the parish is of great antiquity,
and stands on a commanding eminence, the ascent to
which is by a flight of 124 steps. The church was
erected in the 12th century, and has undergone various
changes, alterations, and renovations. The local legend
is, that the site of the church was, in point of fact,
the place chosen by spirits and fairies for the purpose.
On several occasions, as the story relates, the materials
brought together for the erection of the church, on
an entirely different site, were removed from the
place originally selected to the hill or eminence
on which St. Chad's stands. That this removal was
the work of superhuman agency, was the firm belief
of our forefathers in those far-distant days; and
we should be sorry to do or say anything which could
in the remotest manner interfere with this time-hallowed
belief, which has been handed down to us, and which,
with vast numbers among us, is received with the greatest
deference and respect.
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The
site ultimately adopted, under such supernatural pressure,
led, of course, to the formation of the celebrated church
steps; to ascend which is always considered a necessary
piece of work to be performed by all visitors to our
good old town. To come to Rochdale and not mount the
steps is considered a breach of good manners, as well
as a serious deprivation of a very agreeable exercise.
The steps, in fact, are among our most cherished possessions;
and they form a most important thoroughfare, with which
it would be very unwise to intermeddle to the great
prejudice of the inhabitants." |
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later Vicar, Samuel Dunster, built what is now the old
Vicarage, in 1726.It is now the home of the Rochdale
Business Bureau. |
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A
new cemetery was added to the old burial ground in 1813
during the incumbency of the Revd. Thomas Drake. The
new cemetery was planted with elms and intersected by
gravel pathways, and as a tribute to Thomas Drake the
parishioners erected an elegant monument as a tribute
to their beloved vicar who died 19th September 1819
after 29 years as minister.
At
the end of the Napoleonic War many men returned to their
homes to find their jobs had been taken over by machinery.
All over the country the working men were hungry and
restless and were beginning to form groups in order
to voice their objections to the Government. One such
meeting took place in Manchester and William Hay, senior
magistrate of the Salford Hundred, sent in the Cavelry
to quell a difficult situation. This was later known
as the Peterloo Massacre. The said William Hay was then
appointed the Vicar of St. Chads after the death of
Thomas Drake in 1819.
The
whole parish was divided into 4 sections, one of which
was Hundersfield. This section comprised the 5 townships
of Wuerdle & Wardle, Whitworth & Brandwood,
Todmorden & Walsden, Blatchinworth & Calderbrook
and Wardleworth. From a Parliamentary inquisition in
1650 it appears that Hundersfield had two chapels, one
at Littleborough and one at Todmorden. The commissioners
recommended these should be made into parish churches.
The tithes at Hundersfield were then worth £100
a year out of which Mr. Thomas Bradshaw, the minister
of Littleborough, had his maintenance, and Mr. Francis
Core, minister of Todmorden, "a well qualified
minister, but of scandalous life and conversation",
had £20 a year and a house worth 6s.8d a
year.
Most
of Todmorden and all of Walsden fell within the Parish
of Rochdale and its Mother church of St. Chad. The chapel
of St. Marys in Todmorden did not become a Parish Church
in its own right until 1866, and until that time it
remained a Chapel of Ease to St. Chads. This meant that
the folk of Todmorden and Walsden had a choice of venue
for baptisms, marriages and burials. Whilst it would
have been ridiculous to carry a baby or a coffin the
many miles to St. Chads in Rochdale, it was a wonderful
excuse to hold their weddings there. They
could visit another locality where most had never been
and turn the day into something extra special. Several
people would make the journey together and it was quite
a common sight to see wedding parties set off with maybe
2 or 3 couples to be married together. The Wedding Party
had to set off early on the Sunday morning, as they
had to be in time to be married before the morning service
commenced. They would be walking or maybe hitching a
lift on a cart. After the ceremony the party would adjourn
to a public house for a rest and refreshment before
attempting the long journey back. The return journey
would be broken by a stop at "Old Tom's" under
Blackstone Edge for dinner and then be home by evening.
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List
of incumbents |
In
a Police Commission report of the time evidence was
given to the Commission on behalf of magistrates in
Lancashire, which told, of "ferocious highway
robberies" around the neighbourhood of Bury,
Preston and Rochdale, while he never used Blackstone
Edge and Todmorden Vale roads because "people
there are barbarous to an unusual degree".
Wedding parties may have been lucky to arrive home in
one piece. |
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The
church was extensively repaired in 1856. The columns
and arches resemble those of Canterbury Cathedral. The
interior contains several monuments in honour of the
various incumbents and the more distinguished parishioners,
amongst whom are the Chadwicks, the Hopwoods, the Holts,
the Walmesleys and the Smiths.
On
December 1st. 1994 the 800 year anniversary was marked
by a visit from Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh.
The
registers have been filmed and transcribed. Fiche sets
can be purchased from the Lancashire Parish Register
Society at
www.mlfhs.org.uk/Bookshop/lprs.htm
Baptisms,
marriages and burials 1582-1700
Marriages
1701-1801
Also from the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry
Society at
http://www.lancashire-fhhs.org.uk
Baptisms November 1894-Dec 1899
The
graveyard has all the stones laid flat with just a few
vaults scattered around. It is well kept and most of
the gravestones are easy to read. A collection of inscriptions
with photographs can be seen below.
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Here
resteth the body of James CLEGG of Shawfield Clothier
who was buried the 3rd day of September 1691.
Here
resteth the body of Ann the wife of James CLEGG of Shawfield
Clothier
who departed this life the 7th day of September
1730 aged 78.
Also
the body of ye said James CLEGG
who died ye 15 of August 1737 in ye 82 year of his age.
Also
John CLEGG of Shawfield Clothier who departed this life
April 21st |
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Here
resteth the body of Elizabeth the wife of James OLDHAM
who
departed this life April 11th 1755 in ye 24th year of
her age.
Also
James his son died March 16th 1755 in ye 2nd year of
his age.
Also
James OLDHAM of Yorkshire Street Hatmaker
who
departed this life the 11th of June 1765 in the 37th
year of his age.
Also
of Benjamin OLDHAM of Church Lane Hatter
who
departed this life Feby 17th 1834 aged 41 years.
Also
of Jane his daughter
who
departed this life Septr 17th 1834 aged 19years.
O
may I stand before the Lamb when Earth and Seas are
fled,
And
hear the judge pronounce my name with Blessings on my
head
Also
of Samuel OLDHAM of Church Lane Druggist (his son)
who
died June 14th 1843 AE 26years. |
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Here
resteth the body of Robert HARDMAN Gunsmith
who
departed this life March ye 26th 1748
also John HARDMAN his son
who
departed this life August 19th 1747. |
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Here
resteth the body of Jonathan WOOLFENDEN Hatter
who died Oct 6th 1813 in the 47th year of his age.
Samuel
son of Jonathan WOOLFENDEN died March 28th 1799 aged
9 mths.
Also
Henry WOOLFENDEN Hatter
who
died Jany 9th 1813 in the 79th year of his age.
Also Henry the son of Joseph and Mary WOOLFNDEN Painter
who died Decr 23rd 1836 in his 2nd year. |
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In
memory of James FLETCHER of Pinfold
who
departed this life May 18th 1834 aged 72 years.
Also of Betty his wife
who
departed this life the 11th day of May 1837 AE 75 yrs. |
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Here
resteth the body of Grace the wife of James WRIGLEY
of Heights Butcher who died the 23rd of November 1673.
Also
James WHITWORTH Hardwareman late of Heights
who
departed this life July 24th 1759 aged 43.
Also
James HOWARD of Blackwater
who
departed this life the 21st of July 1788 in the 38th
year of his age.
Also Ellen his daughter died aged 8 months. |
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Here
lieth the body of Charles ROYDS Jun.
Who
departed this life the Twenty fourth day of November
1788
aged 9 years 4 Months & 15 Days. |
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