A Sense of Belonging

THE UNIVERSITY OF HULL A Sense of Belonging: Religion and Identity in Yorkshire and Humber Fishing Communities, c.1815-1914. Being a thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the University of Hull Stephen Frederick Friend, MPhil, MA, PGCE, BA May 2010 Abstract A Sense of Belonging: Religion and Identity in Yorkshire and Humber Fishing Communities, c.1815-1914. This thesis is concerned with the relationship between religion and identity in fishing communities with special emphasis being given to the three communities of Scarborough and Filey on the Yorkshire coast, and Grimsby on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber coast. The study examines the development of these communities, provides a brief overview of their development and outlines the nature of the relationships within these communities between institutionalised and popular religion. The thesis is also concerned to demonstrate that religion acts as an important narrative in a complex matrix of meaning that has had a significant influence on the construction and maintenance of identity in fishing communities. Chapters four to seven therefore explore religion as a range of discourses or narratives that provide us with a way of viewing this matrix of meaning. Chapters five and six in particular offer a contribution to the debate about the role of religion in society. Further analysis of religion (in both its institutionalised and popular forms) acknowledges the close link to social change, and Chapter seven explores some of the implications here by making use of Durkheim’s concept of mechanical and organic solidarities to demonstrate the nature of the changes that took place during the nineteenth century. Chapters four, six and seven also examine the role of ritual and performance, both of which have been shown to play an important part in the daily ii lives of community members, not least in helping to provide and reinforce a sense of security and stability. While the study is mainly concerned with the period c.1815 - 1914 more recent material has also been drawn upon from an oral history study, which has concentrated on interviewing women in these communities. This extra dimension provides the opportunity to demonstrate that similar attitudes, beliefs and practices have continued to influence the communities up to the present day. The thesis has made use of a wide range of primary and secondary sources, and the comparative study, especially of the three mentioned fishing communities, provides a basis for comparison and contrast of such communities in future research. Copyright permission has been given for publication by the following: Appendix 10d (part of the tapestry at Eyemouth Museum: photograph by S. Friend), with permission of Eyemouth Museum; Appendix 10e (Photograph, Photography by S. Friend of carving made from a broom handle), with permission of Alec Gill; Appendix 10f (photograph of nineteenth century fishermen), with permission of Wick Archives; Appendix 10g (photograph of a painting by L. T. Crawshaw), with permission of Pannett Art Gallery, Whitby; Appendix 10h (photograph of ‘Raising the Herring’ tradition in Flamborough), with permission of George H. Traves. iii A Sense of Belonging: Religion and Identity in Yorkshire and Humber Fishing Communities, c.1815-1914. Page Number Abstract ii Acknowledgements vi List of Tables viii Abbreviations ix Appendices x Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Review of the Literature 2.1 Introduction 17 2.2 Research in Fishing Communities 20 2.3 Religion in Fishing Communities 30 2.3.1 Revivals 32 2.3.2 Maritime Missions 36 2.3.3 Popular Religion 38 2.4 Culture, Community and Identity 44 2.4.1 Culture and Community 44 2.4.2 Identity 48 2.5 Conclusion 55 Chapter 3 The Nature of Fishing Communities 3.1 The Nature of Communities 56 3.1.1 The Nature of Fishing Communities 60 3.1.2 Research in Fishing Communities 63 3.2 Filey 3.2.1 The Growth of the Town 67 3.2.2 The Filey Fishery 68 3.3 Scarborough 3.3.1 The Growth of the Town 73 3.3.2 The Scarborough Fishery 73 3.4 Grimsby 3.4.1 The Growth of the Town 76 3.4.2 The Grimsby Fishery 78 3.4.3 Changes in Grimsby’s Social Structure 84 Chapter 4 Institutional Christianity in Fishing Communities along the Yorkshire and Humber Coasts 4.1 Introduction 89 4.2 Religion in Filey 90 4.3 Religion in Scarborough 96 4.4 Religion in Grimsby 102 4.5 Maritime Missions 115 iv Chapter 5 The People and the Churches 5.1 Introduction 124 5.2 The Influence of Revivalism 125 5.3 Factors Influencing Revivals 127 5.4 The Filey Revival of 1823 134 5.5 Baptismal Records 141 5.6 Conclusion 142 Chapter 6 Popular Religion in Fishing Communities 6.1 Introduction 148 6.2 Theoretical Perspectives 151 6.3 Popular Religion in Fishing Communities 162 6.3.1 Religion and the Community 162 6.3.2 Ritual in the Daily Life of Yorkshire and Humber fishing communities 168 6.3.2.1 Rites of passage 168 - Marriage 172 - Birth, Churching, Baptism and Naming 175 - Death 181 6.3.2.2 Rituals, Customs and Festivals 187 6.4 Material Culture 192 6.5 Religion, Magic, Folklore and Superstition 199 6.4.1 Religion, Magic & Folk-lore 199 6.4.2. Superstition 204 6.6 Conclusion 215 Chapter 7 The Construction and Maintenance of Identity in Fishing Communities 7.1. Introduction 217 7.2 The Construction and Maintenance of Identity in Fishing Communities 220 7.2.1 Community, Change and Identity 220 7.2.2 Culture and Identity 235 7.2.3 Religion and Identity 241 Chapter 8 Conclusion 248 Appendices 256 Bibliography 319 v Acknowledgements I am grateful for the support of my tutors, especially Dr Rodney Ambler whose kindness and patience with my questions and ideas was very much appreciated. Sadly, Dr Ambler retired before this thesis was completed although Dr David Bagchi kindly offered to step into his shoes, and he, along with Dr David J. Starkey, have helped to see my thesis through to its completion. Also thanks are due to my examiners, Professor Hugh McLeod of Birmingham, and Dr Douglas Reid of Hull for their suggestions and recommendations. Any remaining errors or infelicities are my own responsibility. Staff at a range of institutions have also been very helpful. These include staff at the libraries of Hull University, York St John University, York University and Leeds University. Also to the staff in a range of public libraries, especially York, Hull, Grimsby, Filey, Scarborough, Dr William’s Library in London and the British Library at Boston Spa and London. Staff at all these institutions have been very helpful with their advice and patient in obtaining out-of-print books and a number of thesis. I am also grateful to the staff at a number of archives who have been helpful, especially the Lincoln Archives, Northallerton Archives, Hull Archives, Beverley Archives, North East Lincolnshire Archives and the National Archives at Kew. I would also like to thank staff and colleagues at York St John University and Hull University who have listened to my seminar presentations and provided helpful and insightful observations. I am especially grateful to Professor Sebastian Kim and Dr Pauline Kollontai both of whom read the thesis and offered helpful comments. And also to my students at York St John University who have shown an interest in my research and offered constructive suggestions. vi There have been innumerable individuals who have responded to my enquiries in person, by letter and email and while these are too numerous to mention I do hope they will simply accept my thanks. Thanks to, to my Research Assistants on the Women’ Voices Project: Angela Bryan, Suzanne Parkes and Dr Julie Hirst. Thank you for your support, patience and kindness over the past few years. My special thanks must go to my children Christopher for his patience in helping with computing, and to Ruth for her help in correcting errors. And finally a grateful thank-you to York St John University for the financial support provided, which enabled me to undertake work towards this thesis. vii List of Tables Page Numbers Table 1 Filey population, apprentices and fishermen 70 Table 2 Scarborough population, fishermen and fishing Apprentices 75 Table 3 Grimsby population, fishermen and apprentices 80 Table 4 Grimsby fishing apprentices 82 Table 5 Filey results of the 1851 census of religion 96 Table 6 Scarborough results of the 1851 census of religion 101 Table 7 Attendance at Religious Worship in Grimsby & District, 1851 106 Table 8 Membership of Methodist Circuits, 1790-1797 133 Table 9 Fishermen at home in Grimsby, Scarborough and Filey, on census night (1815-1901). 227 Table 10 Fishermen at home in Cleethorpes on census night (1815-1901) 230 viii Abbreviations BFBS British and Foreign Bible Society BPP British Parliamentary Papers CELAM Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano (Latin American Episcopal Conference, that is, This was the conference of Latin American Roman Catholic bishops). CELAM organised the 1968 Conference at Medelin, Columbia, which officially supported the concept of ‘base ecclesiastic communities’. CTS Catholic Truth Society FVOA Fishing Vessel Owners Association GFWA Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association IASMM International Association for the Study of Maritime Mission MS & LR Manchester and Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway PM Primitive Methodist PMM Primitive Methodist Magazine RNMDSF (MDSF) Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen SAWCM St Andrew’s Waterside Church Mission TCM Thames Church Mission WM Wesleyan Methodist SPCK Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ix Appendices Page Numbers 1. Map of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire coast 256 2. Maps of Grimsby, Scarborough and Filey 2a Grimsby 257 2b Scarborough 258 2c Filey 259 3.

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