SOWERBY:
Transcribed from
HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE CHURCH AT SOWERBY III
The following extracts are from a book found in Halifax library.
It is an exercise book with the following newspaper cuttings pasted
in and reading the text it sounds to have been written about 1879.
By Graptolite
Nathaniel Rathband, M A, who was known to have been a Presbyterian,
was succeeded in 1645, by Henry Root, and the latter formed the first
Congregational Church in Yorkshire, and that was at Sowerby Church.
Roote was previously lecturer at the Halifax Parish Church. Brearcliffe's MS
has the following:-
"Henry Root came to Halifax, to be our minister, and went from us into
Sowerby to dwell, 28th March, 1645. He is their minister unto this day."
The period of Mr Root's appointment to the ministry at Sowerby was one of
the most turbulent in the annals of the country, the kingdom being almost
overwhelmed by civil and religious strife. It was only about nine months
before his appointment when the Royalists sustained a terrible defeat at
Marston Moor. Halifax itself was occupied by some of the Parliamentary
forces, and Heptonstall by the Royalists about this time. At the beginning of
the year (1645), a portion of the Scotch army were besieging Pontefract. A
religious warfare was also being waged all over the country. On the 26th of
the previous November, a new form of public worship, terms "The Directory"
had been established by Parliament. This Directory for Public Religious
Service, and for the Sacraments, allowed all the latitude in respect of
ceremonies, gestures, and vestments, which the Puritans claimed. The
Presbyterians denounced the Episcopalians, and threatened to extirpate
Congregationalism.
It seems that Mr Root was born about 1590, and educated in Magdalene
College, Oxford. In 1632, there was a design of placing him in the chapel of
Denton in the parish of Manchester, where, however, Mr Angier was
chosen, and Root was appointed to Gorton. In 1634, he baptised the
daughter of Mr Angier, who afterwards became the wife of Oliver Haywood,
the minister at Coley. Miall's "Congregationalism in Yorkshire," speaking of
Sowerby, says "Congregationalism was established here in 1645 by Henry
Root. This minister, who had travelled much in his younger years, had been
for a time settled at Gorton, which place he left to become assistant minister
at Halifax Parish Church. He afterwards removed to Sowerby. A
controversy respecting Independency subsequently arose at Manchester.
Samuel Eaton, just arrived from New England had learned there the
principles of Independency, and became active in disseminating them at
Duckinfield, his then residence. Root published, in 1646, "A Just Apologie
for the Church at Duckinfield, which appears to have been intended to rebut
some attacks made on Independency in Edwards" 'Gangraena Roots'
'gathered church' was formed whilst he was holding the (now Episcopal)
incumbency at Sowerby. It represented not a building, but a spiritual
society. The formation of this society was, however, extremely distasteful to
the Presbyterians. They not only remonstrated against Root's view of
church order and discipline, but when his society advanced to the election
of deacons, they instigated some of the inhabitants to close the church
doors on Sunday, that the proceedings might not take place. And, when, on
the following Lord's Day, the pastor exhorted the people to stand by each
other in defence of their rights, as Abraham did by Lot, and Moses by the
Hebrew captives, they tortured his meaning into an argument for armed
resistance."
Amongst other important and influential members of Mr Root's Church, were
Joshua Horton, Esq. J. P. of Sowerby Hall; Mr Josiah Stansfield, Mr Richard
Bentley, father of the Rev. Eli Bentley, minister at the Halifax Parish Church;
Mr Robert Tillotson, father of Archbishop Tillotson, and others.
Turning to the registers for this period the following occur, amongst others:-
| 1650 | Jany 27 | | Sarah Tilson buryed at Hallifax |
| 1651 | Jan 3 | | Wife of Mark Stansfield |
| 1652 | Oct 26 | | Elizabeth daughter of Mr Henry Root, Minister |
| Oct 27 | | John Farrar buried |
| 1654 | July 15 | | Richard Tillitson buried |
| July 20 | | Abraham Rawson the older |
| 1656? | June 25 | | John the son of John Mitchell of Fieldhouse |
Sowerby seems to have been not at all unfavourable to the labours of the
Nonconforming ministers in the churchh, at this time, for we are told that
Oliver Heywood, who was a great friend of Mr Root, held a lecture every
Thursday, for several years, at the house of one Samuel Hopkinson, at the
Stubbing, in Sowerby, for which he had a consideration. At a later portion
of his life, Heywood wrote to Mrs Hannah Stansfeld, in Sowerby. "I have
now been above fifty years labouring in the Lord's vineyard, studying,
praying, and preaching, at home and abroad, travelling where Providence
hath called, and have arrived well towards two years beyond the age of
man; now, at last, I am incapacitated for travel, not only with age, but a very
shortness of breathing called the asthma, so that I am confined much to
mine own house, only can study, preach in my chapel, and exercise myself
in writing books and sermons for those that desire them."
In 1649, Mr John Tillotson (who subsequently became Archbishop of
Canterbury) wrote from his college at Cambridge, to Mr Root, as follows:-
"For his much respected friend, Mr Roote, att Sorbey, are these.
Hr. In Yorkshire.
To excuse the slownes and infrequency of writeing, is growne a thing soe
complementall and common in the frontispeece of every letter, that I have
made choice rather to put myselfe upon your candor to frame an excuse for
mee then goe about my selfe to doe it. I cannot but thankefully
acknowledge my engagements to you for your kindness showne to mee,
both when I was in the country, and at other times; I shall not here let my
pen run out into complementall lines, gratitude (and that as much as may
bee) being all that I desire to expresse. As for University affayres, things as
they was before I came into the country, only wee have lesse hopes of
procuring Mr. Tho. Goodwin for our Master then wee then had. Wee are in
expectation of the Visitors every day, but what will beedone at their
comming wee cannot guesse. The Engagement is either comming downe
hither, or (as I heare) already come, to which how soone wee shall bee
called upon to subscribe, wee knowe not; as for myselfe, I do not (for
present) at all scruple the taking of it, yet, because I dare not confide too
much to my owne judgement or apprehension of things, and because
matters of such serious consequence require no little caution and
consideration, therefore I shall desire you (as soone as with convenience
you can) to returne mee your opinion of it in two or three limes. Mr Rich.
Holbrooke desired me to present his respects to you and your wife, to whom
also I desire you to present my best respects, as also to your son Joh.
Hopkinson, and his wife, Noe more, but your prayers for him who remaines,
Yours whilst
JOH. TILLOTSON
Clare Hall, dec. 6, 1649.
What was the answer given by Mr Root is not known, but as Mr Root was
one of the Puritans, it is probable that he would not dissuade Mr Tillotson
from complying with that Engagement, which was an act substituted in the
room of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and was ordered to be
taken by every one who held either office or benifice.
The Act of Uniformity came in 1662, but Henry root continued to preach for
half a year after St. Bartholomew's Day, when he was dragged out of his
chapel and sent to York Castle, where he continued for three months.
Mr Root's son, Timothy Root, was the minister at Sowerby Bridge. He, too,
was ejected from Sowerby Bridge. It is said "he was dragged out of the
chapel, taken to York, kept close prisoner, put into the low gaol with twelve
thieves, and had double irons on him four days and nights. He was twice a
prisoner, and the whole of his confinement was near twelve months." But
the "chapel" here mentioned was not Sowerby Bridge Church, for in Oliver
Heywood's diary, under date August 28th, 1678, it is stated that "the younger
Mr Root preached at Shadwell, when Lord Savile, Mr Copley, Mr Hammond,
and forty of Lord Freschvile's troopers from York came, took Mr Root,
carried him to York, and put him in the Castle. Timothy Root continued a
Nonconformist for many years, partaking largely of the hardships of the
times, but in 1685, he conformed and had the rectory of Howden. He died
June 24, 1688, of dropsy, along with a wasting away, being some time not
able to preach.
Mr Henry Root continued to preach, itinerating with his friends Heywood
and Dawson. In 1663, what was called the Farnley Wood Plot, took place.
Miall, in the work previously referred to, says that "Joshua Horton, of
Sowerby, a man of no small influence in the parish of Halifax, was
suspected, as was old Elkanah Wales. Henry Root, Dr Maud and others in
the parish of Halifax were, with Captain Hodgson arrested, and carried to
York, where, after an imprisonment of some duration, they were released
without trial." The Rev. B. Dale, of Halifax, in a work called "Jubilee
Memorial of Sion Chapel," speaking of Henry Root, says :- "At the
Restoration he was marked out by the Royal party as a special object of
suspicion and animosity. In this he was associated with Joshua Horton, J.
P. of Sowerby, Captain Hodgson, Captain Pickeringe, John Greenwood of
Redbrinke, John Lume of Westrcroft, Josias Stansfeld and Mr Marshall (of
Whitkirk) Mr Smallwood (of Idle) Mr Jolly, Mr Marsden, Mr Briscoe, and Mr
Eaton, "all phanatique ministers," of whom the Government received
information that "it was very much to be feared that they have designed to
make a sudden insurrection if some speedy course be not taken to prevent
it." * The only danger from these good men, however, lay in the imagination
of the informers. After enduring much, Henry Root died in 1669; and the
members of his church united for a time in the celebration of the Lord's
Supper, with the Church at Northowram. In 1673 license was taken out 'for
a Presbyterian meeting in a new built meeting house of Joshua Horton's at
Quarry hill, in Sowerby; and the Congregation which assembled there has
continued to be present time."
*Original Document in State Paper Office.
Oliver Heywood speaks of "being at the good old man's" (Henry Root's)
funeral. The following brief entry in the register book at Sowerby records
Mr Root's death in 1669:-
October 28th, Mr Henry Root.
There is a lead pencil entry underneath, stating that Mr Root was the
perpetual curate. He was interred at Sowerby. Mrs Root, his widow,
afterwards joined Mr Heywood's society at Northowram.
Data transcribed from:
A book in the Halifax library.
by Graptolite
Sue Johnson ©2001
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