Highfield Chapel, Huddersfield

[QUILLTALES]

I think I am right in saying that at that time ALL marriages had to be in Church of England churches.
Perhaps if Almondbury was near where they lived it was easier to get to than the Independent church near Huddersfield once they had more than one child.  Also the 'grandparent' who attended Highfield may have died or had less influence.

The Highfield Independent Chapel stands tall and proud as ever.  It is directly off the main New North Road adjacent to the old Huddersfield Boys College, separated from it by what was once a narrow cobbled lane that ran down from the main road to Highfields proper.  It is now converted into flats for those that can afford them.  Apologies if this has already been posted.

The congregation of Highfields was largely formed from worshippers that seceded from Huddersfield Saint Peter's Parish Church towards the end of the eighteenth century.  I'd like to know the causes of this schism, if anyone has any information.

The attached picture is the Independent Chapel that stood in High Street Huddersfield before the 'improvements' were made.

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

To simplify it the congregation grow because the areas population was growing and the chapel had some good longstanding well liked pastors.

[sstarr2008]

The reason given in "Discovering Old Huddersfield" part 4, p28  was that Henry Venn who was the vicar of St Peters, the parish church of Huddersfield, was very popular for his evangelical sermons. He was known as "T'owd Trumper" and people came from far and wide to hear him.

He gave his last sermon at St Peters on 30th March 1771 and his successor was of a different school so proved far less popular. Many of Venns supporters left the church and decided to build their own chapel and Henry Venn gave his support to this idea.

The first chapel cost £800 and was opened on 1st January 1772.

My ancestor was one of Venn's old parishioners who was interviewed by his grandson for his biography in 1824. He obviously had a great effect on his flock.

Stu

[calliek]

 the site of former Highfield Independent Chapel, taken Aug 8, 2011

I was recently in Huddersfield to do some famly history research and ended up all over the city chasing down the various churches, Most of my ancestors were married at St Peters Parish church but at some point they switched over to Highfield, and the next generation moved on to Holy Trinity.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the MI's fo Highfield are online anywhere? Or if not, if there's somewhere to write or email to obtain them? The cemetery assoicated with it is now a parkig lot and the gravemarkers are gone but I assume there must be records somewhere.

[QUILLTALES]

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.

[sandrastocks54]

Calliek - Huddersfield Local History Library has the Highfield records on film.  You can email them - huddersfield.localhistory@kirklees.gov.uk.  I don't think they have MIs but there is a list of graves which gives the names and relationships of people buried in the same grave.

I have a copy of the HDFHS transcript of the burials if you'd like me to check for somebody for you, but it only gives the name, date of burial and age

Sandra

[QUILLTALES]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the MI's fo Highfield are online anywhere? Or if not, if there's somewhere to write or email to obtain them? The cemetery assoicated with it is now a parkig lot and the gravemarkers are gone but I assume there must be records somewhere.

Most of the Huddersfield area indices are lodged in the archives at either Wakefield or Leeds.  I forget which.

[sstarr2008]

Kirklees archives definitely have a copy of the MI's which I believe were recorded when the gravestones were removed.
My ancestors gravestone recorded burials from 1791 to 1841 and not only the names and dates but even the verse was transcribed.

I haven't seen these MI's online but I expect that the archive could send you copies.

Stu

[sandrastocks54]

Quilltales - there are loads of articles in the 19th Century newspapers about the Castlegate area and it's people (some of them my family!), many from the Magistrates courts.   If you don't have access to the newspapers, PM me your email address with what kind of things you're looking for and I'll send you a sample.

Stu - I wasn't aware that the library had the Highfields MIs - looks like I'll have to make another trip there!

Sandra