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Calliek:  Thank you for posting the photograph of Highfield Independent Chapel.

I have discovered that the 'Highfields Schism' took place in 1771 when the Reverend Henry Venn, minister of St Peter's parish church retired and another vicar whose preaching style lacked the fervour and enthusiasm of Venn's took over.  It is this change that dissatisfied some attendees, so fifteen of them, encouraged by Henry Venn, started to look to build their own independent house of worship.  My Great-Great-Grandfather James Bray was among the founder members.

On January 1 1772 the first service was held at the new chapel, built at a cost of GBP800.00. 

I may have mentioned in previous correspondence that Grandfather James was booted out [excommunicated] because he would not stop his daughters from dancing.  As far as I can tell, they are still dancing.

I am grateful for all contributors that have helped and inspired me to rummage out and piece together some of the history of Highfields Chapel and my illustrious ancestor.

I believe the proper name for the chapel is Highfields, plural, since it sits on the upper slopes of what once were a series of high fields running up from the low-lying Saint John's Road and connected with the Edgerton District, that the New North Road [that runs roughly south west!] cut through to sever it from its loftier neighbours in upscale Edgerton.


OFF TOPIC:
I am writing a book about the Huddersfield Luddite uprising of 1812, "Luddite Spring" hopefully in time for the two-hundredth anniversary.  If anyone has any snippets of information that might be useful I will be pleased to receive them.

The attached picture if of Castlegate Slums in Huddersfield.  Any information about this area and its people in any age is most welcome.

I appreciate this is slightly off topic but I have a couple who married at Brunswick Street UMFC in Huddersfield in 1875 and quite a few couples marrying at Buxton Road Wesleyan Chapel in Huddersfield.

I have no idea where these paces are and it would seem a great effort to travel so far to marry in the 1800s, by rail I presume.

I attended Brunswick Street Methodist Church in Huddersfield from about 1939 to 1949 when I was expelled by an angry Sunday School teacher, Mr Porritt, for asking questions.

Sadly the building no longer exists, and that's a pit because it was a beautiful and well cared for example of Methodist Church architecture with a grand organ.

Due to falling rolls the Methodist Church closed won in - 602? - and the congregation joined with Edgerton Congregationalist Churlish going under the generic umbrella of 'Reformed.'  That too hit the dust some years later and was converted into flats.

When the ring road was built Brunswick St Chapel fell victim to the motorised vehicles and fell to make way for a short circular feeder road.

Buxton Road Wesleyan Chapel was an early victim of Huddersfield's re-development, but was at the end of town at Chapel Hill, the beginning of the old wild and windy road to Buxton in Derbyshire.

Brunswick St and Buxton Rd were withing easy walking distance of town centre.  The former being less that a quarter mile from the railway station, and the latte within half a mile.


If your folks were located at Holme Moss they could have taken a pony and trap into town, or rode horses, or even - perish the thought - walked.  However it must be borne in mind that going to the proper church or chapel was very important to folks in those days and distance, while it might not have lent enchantment to the view, certainly was not the object it is these legless days.

Some years ago a little volume came into my possession.  "A Journey From Aleppo to Jerusalem," by Henry Maundrell, MA.  Printed by Rivington, London in 1823.

The front pages and end papers have entries in pen and ink concerning family events of a family called Garforth.

The earliest event recorded is 1809 and the latest 1899 - a period of 90 years.

Other surnames include Estley [or Esley?], Waddington, Kershaw, Greenwoiod, Fowler, usually joined by marriage.

The places cited as event venues include Elland, Yks; Hull, Yks; Manchester, Lancs; Wyke; Aldborough; Halifax, Yks.

The penultimate entry records the death of Thomas Richard Kershaw, ate 33, described as 'Maltster of Elland, of Stafford House, Halifax.

Stafford House [that stood on land behind the yet existing Stafford Arms Public House] was purchased by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and converted internally into a meeting house and schoolrooms.  Around 20 years ago - could be more - Stafford House was demolished and a regular Mormon Chapel/Meetinghouse now stands in its stead.


I will be pleased to deliver this book with its family history entries to any descendant of the Garforth family with definite connections to the family.  It is time the family history was put into their hands.


QUILLTALES