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MOUNT
ZION BAPTIST CHAPEL
HEPTONSTALL
SLACK
by
Ken Sutcliffe |
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The
chapel in 2004 |
A
small barn originally built in or before 1617 was purchased
in 1711 by Thomas Greenwood of Slater Ing in Heptonstall.
The barn was situated at Stone Slack, very close to the
site of the existing Chapel, and was known as Robertshaw. Thomas
Greenwood had been one of the signatories to the deed, which
brought into existence the Church at Rodwell End (Rodhill
End) in Todmorden eight years earlier in 1703. He
intended his newly bought barn to become the second place
of worship for the Protestant Dissenters in the Calder Valley
and, after some extension, so it became. Both places of
worship were used by the same group and came under the umbrella
of the Rossendale Church. |
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The
Church was to close (and Rodhill End followed in 1783) due
to the competition created by the new Baptist Churches
at Wainsgate (1750) and Birchcliffe (1763), the growth of Methodism
and the Society in Heptonstall, and the opening
of the Congregational Church at Eastwood.
It
was used again for a short time by the General Baptists prior
to the opening of the Chapel at Heptonstall
Slack. In 1807 some 40 people who had attended the Birchcliffe
Chapel in Hebden Bridge withdrew to found their own place of worship,
which they opened in 1808 at a ceremony attended by seven hundred
people. More than a thousand were at the Dedication service on
the following Sunday. My ggg grandmother was baptised in
April 1808 and her husband on 10th December 1808,
"the baptism to be at Hanging Royd Mill at 2 o'clock p.m."
There
was a flourishing Sunday School, and "Experience Meetings"
were held in homes across the valley. Many of these were led by
my ggg grandfather who was a dedicated member, along with his
wife and several of his children. His infant son Matthew is the
second burial recorded there. Two others were "singers"
often loaned out to other churches... Singers were doubly important,
as there were no organs or other instruments allowed at this time. In
1823 the singers were voted £1, "for teaching
the children to sing at the Anniversary." My ggg grandfather
himself began as Church handyman and finished his life as an important
elder.
There
are extensive records of the Church in Yorkshire Archives in Wakefield
and also in Calder Archives in Halifax, which give a wonderful
picture of the vibrant life of these hilltop people in the 19th
Century. There is recorded not only their zeal and Christian Mission
but also their foibles and their failings: the singing and dancing,
which were much frowned upon, the frequent accusations of "fornication"
leading to illegitimate babies and temporary excommunication after
being forced to appear before the congregation, the money raising,
the class distinctions, and perhaps above all the drunkenness
which led to severe criticism.
The
importance of "belonging" to some community or group
is made clear. People were prepared to suffer much indignity and
criticism in order to remain within the ircle of support, which
the Chapels provided, in these hard times to say nothing
of the fear of being excluded from God's Church. |
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James
Taylor, nephew of Dan, was the first Minister and he had
the Church enlarged in 1819. By 1822 The Church at
Slack was the 5th. largest of the 130 general Baptist Churches
in the country and the General Assembly was held there.
Experience Meetings were being held in 18 different houses.
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a
drawing of the chapel after it was extended in 1819
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a
photo of the chapel taken before the 1878 re-build |
The
Minister from 1822-34 was Richard Ingham who was said to
dislike marrying people and in fact never officiated at
a marriage. The root of his problem was probably the difficulty
he saw between "professors" and "non-professors,"
but he is said to have explained that he "did not like
to make people unhappy." |
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Despite
this, there were over 500 members by the middle of the Century
but there was then something of a decline as the handloom industry
suffered and members left to work in factories away from the area.
Some, though, then established Churches in other places. e.g.
Bacup.
Rev.
Caleb Springthorpe brought about a strong recovery during his
Ministry from 1853 -1873 but by what method is debatable according
to one story:
"The
connubial happiness of a husband and wife was often over clouded
in consequence of the sulky disposition of the former. On one
of these occasions when he had been silent in the home for a fortnight,
his resourceful better half suddenly conceived an idea in the
fervent hope of curing him. Turning to her daughter, she said,
in his hearing, "go, fetch Mr. Springthorpe to pray wi'
thi' father, as he's struck dumb." Her plan succeeded,
for scarcely had the girl set off when the mother called out, "Come back, thi' father's spoken." |
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A
new schoolroom was opened on January 1st 1864 after much
time and effort and money had been spent in obtaining gas! "The spacious new room, it's brilliant sunlight,
composed of thirty gas jets, won the admiration of all".
At this time an organ was introduced and house meetings
were revived. |
The
interior about 1901, with the
organ
very prominent |
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1878
saw the complete rebuilding to the Church that exists
today, though it was completely closed between 1956 and
the mid 1970's. The photograph on the right shows the chapel
in 1901. |
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The
chapel now largely functions as a Community Centre and hostel
for visiting groups but there is still a regular, if small, congregation
for Sunday Services. |
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Over
the last 200 years the Church had a vigorous and evangelical influence
on the district and further afield. There were daughter Chapels
established at Broadstone, Nazebottom and Blakedean There were
Mutual Improvement Societies, Band of Hope with huge membership,
Sunday School with library and dedicated teachers. Eleven members
entered the full time Ministry and twenty others became lay preachers.
The Educational role of the Church and its school cannot be over
estimated.
An
entry in the Minutes of October 30th. 1856 refers to my ggg grandfather
just shortly before his death,
"Our
aged brother, John Sutcliffe of Heptonstall, delivered an earnest
and affectionate address to the members inciting them to increased
prayer and effort for the prosperity of all".
Not the worst of sentiments on which to be ending a life.
Burial
Ground
The
old Rectory, or Manse, was sold off and the graves around it were
lost to become the garden of the now private house. The first
burial in the new Cemetery, a short distance from the Chapel and
overlooking the hillsides, was in 1867. |
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The
burial ground in front of the chapel is planted with colourful
shrubs and reasonably maintained. The main Baptist graveyard
is a few minutes' walk along the lane. This is an extensive
burial ground, some of which is overgrown, although great
efforts are made to retain order. A few of the graves are
featured below: |
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Chapel
Burial Ground |
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In
Memory of Jane wife of Abraham CROSSLEY
who departed this
life Sept 11th 1858 aged 19 years.
Also Hannah the daughter
of Abraham and Mary CROSSLEY
who departed this life Aug
20th 1845 aged 10 months.
Also John William the son of Abraham
and Mary CROSSLEY
who died March 6th 1865 aged 5 months.
Also
the above named Abraham CROSSLEY
who died at Todmorden Aug.
11th 1896 aged 76 years.
Also
Mary relict of the above named Abraham CROSSLEY
who died
May 24th 1901 aged 77 years.
At
Rest . |
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Burial Ground |
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In
Remembrance of Henry
son of
Thomas and Betty SUNDERLAND
of Dobroyd Todmorden
who died October 5th 1861 aged 3 years
Also
of the above named Thomas SUNDERLAND
who died July 25th 1875 aged 61 years.
Also
of Betty relict of the above Thomas SUNDERLAND
who
died Aug 23 1879 aged 60 years. |
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In
Memory of Susy SUTCLIFFE wife of John SUTCLIFFE
of Knowlwood
Todmorden
Who
died September 15th 1870 aged 55 years
Also
of William Edmund their son
who died Ocober 5th 1871 aged
1yr |
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In
Loving Memory of Thomas PICKLES
of Dobroyd
Todmorden
Who
died April 6 th 1900 in his 65th year
Also
2 infants
Also
of Sally wife of the above
who died January 14th 1917 aged
79
"Peace
Perfect Peace" |
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Inside
the chapel is a tablet in memory of the men of the chapel
who served in the war 1914-18.
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click on photo to enlarge |
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This
Tablet is erected in honour of the young men of this Church
and Sunday School who served during the Great War 1914-1919 |
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Arnold
Ackroyd
Harold
Clay
Fred
Collinge
Abraham
Gibson
A?
Gill
Albert
Greenwood
Arthur
Greenwood
Arthur
Greenwood
Dearden
Greenwood
Harold
Greenwood
Harold
Greenwood
Harry
Greenwood |
Herbert
Greenwood
Herbert
Greenwood
Milton
Greenwood
Smith
Greenwood
Thomas
Greenwood
Virgil
Greenwood
William
Greenwood
Clarence
Helliwell
John
W Marney
Fred
Mitchell
Robert
Mitchell
Harold
Pickles |
Herbert
Pickles
Ellis
Redman
Eli
Shackleton
James
A Shackleton
William
Shackleton
Evelyn
Smith
Ben
A Speak
Ira
Speak
Richard
Sutcliffe
Edward
G Thomas
Willie
S Thomas
Willie
Tucker
Alec
Walton |
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In
Memoriam
Charles
Black
Francis
I Greenwood
James
Greenwood
John
W Greenwood
Percy
S Greenwood
John
H Pickles
John
T Shackleton |
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