DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of all those faithful members and ministers who have served their Lord and this Church over the years; to those who are with us today, serving faithfully and belonging to the Church family; and to those countless others who will follow on. To God be the Glory! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to place on record my indebtedness to Ruth Abbott, who has devoted so much of her time to painstakingly type out this manuscript, for creating order out of the chaos I gave her, and for making the entire thing both presentable and readable. Thank you Ruth for your patience! And to my good friend Michael Lucas for his proof reading. To the Rochdale Local Studies Library for the loan of several photographs (and patience with my unending questions!). To several church members for the loan of their personal photographs. And to my old and valued friend Derek Eaton, for his expertise and advice regarding the printing of this book. CONTENTS Foreward Chapter 1 Story of Bamford Chapel Chapter 2 A Major Ministry Chapter 3 Growth and Tragedy Chapter 4 Hard Times Chapter 5 The Days of McIntosh Arthur Chapter 6 The New Century Chapter 7 War and Peace Chapter 8 The Thirties and Forties Chapter 9 After the War Chapter 10 The Sixties Chapter 11 The Seventies Chapter 12 The Eighties Chapter 13 The Nineties Chapter 14 The Year 2000 The Fentons The Kays The Ashworths The Shepherds The Porritts ‘A Memory of Bamford Chapel Sunday School’ by John Ashworth ‘Twelve Years Later’ by John Ashworth ‘Recollections of Bamford Chapel and its People’ by Sir James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth From the Diary of Rachel Jackson Memories of William Wood Memories of Bamford by Beth Stott th Prayers of Re-dedication at Bamford Chapel 17 December 2000 FOREWORD “What is a church? Our honest sexton tells- “’Tis a tall building, with a tower and bells!” So said the author George Crabbe in the early part of the 18th century. But I would strongly disagree with him, and I hope that by the time you have read what follows this Foreword, you will disagree with him too! Because a church, this church or any church, has very little to do with towers or bells and everything to do with people! And I speak with the authority and experience of someone who has the privilege of being the minister of a church where people matter. ‘Twas ever so at Bamford Chapel. As you read this amazing story of the birth, growth, and development of Christ’s body here in Bamford, you can only, as I have been in writing it, be amazed at the faith and the fortitude, the courage and the convictions of so many saints. Because “saints”, they most surely have been. From those days in the late 18th century, when a few people gathered in Ralph Holt’s home, through times of typhoid and cholera, and the Industrial Revolution and the heyday of the Sunday School, to the 20th century with its world wars and the consequent cynicism and doubting of so many, Bamford Chapel has stood here at the centre of the local community. Indeed to rephrase another author: “Before Bamford began, the Chapel already was!” On at least two modern maps that I have seen, there is no sign of the Chapel! But Bamford Chapel has made its mark on many more things than local street maps. Many thousands of people have had cause to thank God for the influence this church has had on so many lives, both young and old. Here, within this sanctuary, generations have worshipped, many individuals have heard God’s call to them, and people have been served and helped, healed and restored, strengthened and comforted, blessed and inspired. My wife, my children, and I have so much to be thankful for as regards Bamford Chapel. And we have only been members of this local Church for just over four years! How much more some of you, who have worshipped and witnessed here for much longer, should have cause to thank God for what you have known and experienced. Margaret and I still find Bamford Chapel hard to take in. Because it really is so different from the average church. And we have spent all of our lives and ministry in those average churches, where members struggle each week to keep the doors open, where there are few if any children, where the church at present is but a shadow of what it used to be, and where the future seems very dark, and at times almost non-existent. So please share in this story of Bamford Chapel. Because you are part of it. It has, with the influence of the Holy Spirit, changed thousands of lives, including yours. And ours! To God be the glory! Rev David Wiseman January 2001 1. STORY OF BAMFORD CHAPEL It really all began with a wedding. Two leading families in this part of Lancashire in the late 18th century were the Kays and the Fentons. The Kays were a major force in the Independent Chapels in Lancashire, particularly around Ramsbottom and Bury, whilst the Fentons had been landowners in Bamford for well over 200 years. And in 1789, Joseph Fenton, aged 24, of Crimble Farm married Ann Kay, then of Limefield House in Bury. Until this time, the Fentons had worshipped at St Luke’s Church in Heywood, and many of the family were baptised, married and buried there. The Kays, who had made their fame and fortune out of cotton, had been instrumental in founding the Park Congregational Church in Ramsbottom in 1798, and with the encouragement of Robert Kay (Ann’s brother), the Rev Benjamin Holmes of Ramsbottom began preaching at Ashworth in 1796. Two years later, Robert Kay encouraged John Windsor of Bury to preach in and around Heywood. No doubt, these areas were very familiar to Mr Kay, as he came to visit his sister, Ann Fenton, now living at Crimble. In November 1799, John Windsor requested that Thomas Hackin, an itinerant preacher from Ossett in Yorkshire should join him at Heywood, and for some time, Mr Hackin preached twice every Sunday. The new group of Independent worshippers tried to erect a chapel, but because of local opposition in Heywood, their meeting room was taken away, and the number of hearers diminished. As no other room could be obtained in Heywood, Robert Kay proposed that the worshippers in Ashworth and Heywood be united in one congregation, and Bamford was chosen as a central spot. A house was obtained in Bamford by Mr Kay to be used both as a Sunday School and a temporary preaching place. During this time, Mr Hackin continued to visit the area, often linking his visit to Bamford with one to the nearby village of Spotland. During 1800, Mr Hackin gained permission from Ralph Holt of Bamford, to preach in his barn, and later in his house, so that soon, services were being held twice during the week and up to four times every Sunday. Mr Holmes continued with his work at Ashworth, and by October 1800, it was deemed more necessary than ever to erect some local place of worship. And so it was, that in January 1801, a subscription fund was started, to raise money for the building. Mr and Mrs Joseph Fenton, who by now had moved to Bamford Hall, gave a portion of their land at Butterworth Fold, and building began almost immediately. 1801 George III was in his 41st year as King, William Pitt resigned after 17 years as Prime Minister. Lord Nelson sank the Danish fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen. Rochdale numbered 11,000 inhabitants. Heywood numbered 4,283. We need to pause and recall what local living conditions were like in 1801. There were very few people living in Bamford, roads as we know them were unknown, and people existed without benefit of gas or water supplies. The road from Rochdale to Bury was by way of Broadhalgh, Arthur Pitts, Diggles’, Dixon Fold, Hollin Lane, behind Bamford Hall to Simpson Clough, then by way of Grizlehurst through Birtle. There was no post, no newspapers, no radio or telephone, and very few means of communication. The stagecoach between Rochdale and Manchester had only begun in 1790. The journey by coach to London took five days. Highwaymen were a common threat. Extreme poverty was the norm, very few people could read or write, and the majority of the local population earned their living by working on the land or spinning wool or cotton at home. The small cottages where people lived were barely furnished, and conditions that we take for granted two centuries later, like health, education and holidays, books, schools and shops were unknown. Illness and disease were rife, and life was hard. The “Evangelical Magazine” for 1801 gave the following account: “On Wednesday, September 30th, a small, neat chapel was erected and was opened at Bamford, near Rochdale, in Lancashire. Mr Ely of Bury introduced the service by prayer and reading the Scriptures. Mr Littlewood of Rochdale gave thanks unto God for the erection of this house for His service, and prayed for the successful dispensation of the Gospel therein. Mr Roby of Manchester, preached from Psalm 26.8, and Mr Blackburn of Delph from 1 Corinthians 1.23. Mr Coles of Stand concluded. The erection of this chapel was occasioned principally by the successful itinerant labours of Mr Hackin. The expense is defrayed by the liberal subscriptions of a few individuals.