SOWERBY:
Transcribed from
HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE CHURCH AT SOWERBY VIII
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
With regard to the proposal to enlarge Sowerby Church, in the middle of
last century, it was thought that if the roof were taken off and the walls
raised considerably higher, galleries might be erected, which would provide
the additional accommodation required. It was not until considerable steps
had been taken in this direction that it was found impracticable and then it
was decided to adopt the bolder scheme, and erect a new church. From the
extensive memoranda, made at the time by George Stansfeld, Esq., of Field
house, to which reference was made last week, I find that a meeting was
held on the 23rd of February, 1759, when a plan of the old building was
produced by Mr Stansfeld, It was then decided that the plan should be re-
drawn, with several proposed amendments, and laid before the next
meeting. The following resolutions were also passed;-
"Resolved that John Law is a proper person to get the moor stones for the
front of the steeple, the front and the east end of the chapel, and all the
columns; and that he be allowed and paid one penny per foot to be
measured when walled and according to admeasurement of the mason, on
the following conditions;-
To get the said stones in such place as the subscribers order, and in the
manner and within the time they direct at their meetings.
To lead them into the carts ordered to carry them away.
To find all tools and utensils, except a trestle to hoist up the said stones.
And to receive only such sums of money on account from time to time as the
subscribers shall direct at their meetings."
Stone merchants at the present day would think a penny per foot a curious
price to receive for stone of sufficiently good quality for the walls of a church
but even at this price the measurement was to be taken after the stones had
been dressed and walled.
A meeting was held at the King's Head Inn, Sowerby on the 20th of April,
1759, when it was ordered "That Messrs Israel Wilde, Richard Thomas,
John Butterworth, John Welsh, Joseph Wells, William Barker, William
Starkey, Luke Greenwood, and George Stansfeld, or any of them lay in a
quantity of timber not exceeding the value of £200, and about 500 of slate.
The quarry where it was decided to obtain the stone was on the moor at the
top of Sowerby. At that time there was no proper cart road to it, and at a
meeting held on the 4th of May, 1759, it was arranged that "any two of the
said gentlemen do set out and make a carriage road from the Slack to the
Long Causey." John Wilson was employed to do the dressing, walling, and
finishing of the front, the east end, and west end, till he came to the steeple
and he was to be paid as follow:-
"For the windows, the achlors between the windows, and the dados, 7d. per
foot.
For the shafts of the pilasters and columns, within and without, 9d. per foot
For the moulded work, 11d. per foot
For the banisters, 5s. per banister, and for his care over and keeping an
account of the labourers and others employed about the chapel, ten
guineas, or twenty guineas, if he looses upon the whole."
At a meeting held 1st June, 1759, it was ordered that such persons as
undertake the carrying of stones from the Slack upon Blackwood Moor be
paid the following prices:-
For a man, horse and cart, bringing 48 square pounds, 10d. per gate (or
journey). For a man two horses, and cart, bringing 72 square pounds, 1s.
3d. per gate; and one shilling per horse per day for any additional number
of horses.
At a meeting of the subscribers on the 15th of June 1759, there were present
Messrs, John welsh, George Stansfeld Israel Wile, David Waterhouse,
Elkanah Holroyde, John Butterwoth, Wm. Moore, Wm. Starkey, John
Sutcliffe, John Tillotson, and John Garnett. It was ordered that 2s. 6d. in
the pound upon the subscriptions to be paid on Sunday, the 1st of July, after
evening service, at the communion table!
A plan of the front of the building was laid before the subscribers, on the
13th of July, by John Wilson, the mason; and on the 27th of the same month
he was ordered to prepare and lay before the next meeting a ground plan of
a new church, to be the same length as the old one, but one yard wider; for
it was thought that the old foundations would not bear the extra strain put
upon them by raising the walls considerably higher. Whilst the plans for the
new church were being matured, Geo Stansfeld, Esq., occupied no small
portion of his time in obtaining additional subscriptions. The story is told of
an old farmer living on his farm near Mytholmroyd who, when he saw Mr
Stansfeld coming down the fields, guessed his object, and tried to hide
himself. His fireplace was one of the old fashioned stamp, having an
immense opening at the bottom. Into this opening the farmer got, but he
was not sufficiently quick to get into the chimney out of sight. Mr Stansfeld
caught him, and told him he wanted a subscription of a certain sum for the
new church. Placing his sooty fingers on Mr Stansfeld's shoulder, on whose
coat he left his mark, the farmer said, "Nay Meister Stansfeld, aw connot
doo't; aw connot doo't." Whether at last he managed to do it, the story says
not.
On the 11th of January, 1760, another call of 2s. 6d. in the pound upon the
subscriptions was made, being made payable on the 27th of that month.
At a meeting on the 30th of May, 1760, as some disputes had arisen with
John Law, the stone getter, concerning the bargain made with him, it was
resolved that the said disputes be referred to Mr William Cockroft, Mr
Stephen Atkinson and Mr William Whitworth, and that the determination be
final. These arbitrators decided that the subscribers should take all the
stones got by John Law, in consideration of £35 14s. already paid to him,
and that all bargains and agreements betwixt the subscribers and John Law
should henceforth cease and be of none effect. At a meeting of subscribers
on the 12th of June it was ordered that John Wilson undertake the getting of
the rest of the stones according to the late agreement made with John Law
On the 11th December, 1760, it was resolved, "that notice be given for the
owners of seats in the chapel to appear on Sunday, the 21st of December
inst. and the succeeding Sundays in the chapel, after evening service to
make good their claims, in order to prevent disputes hereafter."
The following is a notice published in the chapel yard, on Sunday, the 22nd
of March:-
"Notice is hereby given, that the foundation of the new chapel will be begun
tomorrow, and it being holyday (holiday) time, if any young or well inclined
persons are willing to give assistance, it will be taken very kindly."
"Pursuant to this notice, great numbers came on the Monday and Tuesday
in Easter week 1760, and almost dug the foundation, so that wages began
to be paid to labourers only on the Wednesday in Easter week." Thus the
work of digging for the foundations of the present Church at Sowerby
commenced on Easter Monday, March 23rd, 1760.
On the 30th of April, 1761, another call of 2s. 6d. in the pound was ordered
to be made.
The following is a copy or a petition sent to his Grace the Archbishop of
York, May 8th, 1761:-
To the most Reverend Father in God, John, by divine Providence Lord
Archbishop of York , Primate of England, and Metropolitan.
The humble petition of the curate churchwardens, principal inhabitants, and
landowners of and within the township of Sowerby, in the Parish of Halifax,
in the County of York, and within your Grace's diocese of York, whose
names are hereunto subscribed on behalf of themselves and others, the
inhabitants of and within the said township.
Sheweth that there is within the said township of Sowerby an ancient but
small chapel of ease, which by length of time is much decayed in the roof
and other parts thereof. That by reason of the inhabitants within the said
township, the said chapel is not capable of containing above two thirds of
the inhabitants, who are desirous to attend divine worship therein, and for
want of room many repair to Conventicles and Dissenters Meeting houses,
that would otherwise attend divine worship in the said chapel, who have, in
order thereto, contributed very considerable sums of money towards
enlarging the same. Your petitioners therefore had intended to have raised
the walls of the said ancient chapel so much higher, that they might have
erected new galleries around the same sufficient to have contained all the
inhabitants within the said township, but were advised to the contrary,
because the said chapel stands on a steep declivity, very inconvenient of
access to the said inhabitants, and difficult to be secured in its foundation.
That the chapel yard or burying ground is so small that many of the dead
are buried in the isles and under the seats within the said chapel, and the
corpses of persons lately buried in the chapel yard are frequently mangled
in digging to make room for others, to the great detriment and nuisance of
the living.
That your petitioners being moved with a deep concern by these great
inconveniences and frequent indecencies, and in order to remedy the same,
as far as in them lies, and with a pious zeal and regard for the true religion
of their country, have raised by a voluntary contribution among ourselves,
the sum of one thousand two hundred pounds or thereabouts, and thereout
have purchased and obtained a piece of ground adjoining the said chapel
yard, containing 1,500 yards or thereabouts and in case your Grace be
pleased to approve of their good designs, intend to build at their own
expense, in and upon the said purchased piece of ground, an entire new
chapel, sufficient to contain all the inhabitants within the said township, and
to have the same, when built, consecrated to the honour and glory of God
and for Divine uses; and they hope by entirely taking down and removing
the old chapel, and thereby adding to the present chapel yard, sufficient
room would be given for the burial of the dead therein. Therefore your
petitioners most humbly pray your Grace's approbation of their designs, and
that your Grace would vouchsafe to grant a license to take down and
remove the old chapel, and to erect and build a new one on the said new
purchased piece of ground, at the distance of 30 yards towards the south,
from the said ancient chapel, together with seats and pews and lofts and
galleries therein, for the use of the inhabitants of the said township, or give
such orders and directions, in the premises as to our Grace shall seem
most proper and convenient, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall
ever pray for your Graces' welfare and prosperity.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
Data transcribed from:
A book in the Halifax library.
by Graptolite
Sue Johnson ©2001
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