Church & Chapel

CHURCH & CHAPEL KEEILL AS CABBAL Manx Museum Gallery Factfile Ballaugh New Church Religion played a large part in people’s lives in the Many, both men and women, have admirable eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Church voices; and they sing with good judgment. of England [Anglican Church] was supported by Who would have expected this in the Isle of the government, with some of its officers Man?” themselves also members of government. The (John Wesley’s Journal) Church had its own law courts which could try people for many offences which were thought to By 1805 there were so many Methodists that the be against religion and morals, as well as dealing Island became a separate “district”. By the mid with marriages and wills until 1884. Money to nineteenth century there were around ninety maintain the Church and its officers was raised chapels and a few Methodist schools. from TITHES, a percentage of the crops produced by farmers. Attempts by the Church to enforce Sometimes people would attend both church and payments of tithes on potatoes led to riots in 1825 chapel. and failed to gain any acceptance. Payments of money tithes, however, lasted until 1946. “There was always a good feeling between the chapels and the church. The number of In 1777 John Wesley, the Methodist leader and people who went to church only was very preacher, visited the Isle of Man and soon his small. A local preacher might be a warden, followers increased in numbers. and very often a person might go to church in the morning and to chapel at night, as did When Wesley preached at Peel, he was: my own parents” “...agreeably surprised. I have not heard (The Misses Brown) better singing either at Bristol or London. 1 The Church and the Manx Although Manx was no longer so common in services by the late nineteenth century, it was still Language appreciated if a clergyman could speak it. John Phillips, Bishop of Sodor and Man from “It was the rule to have a service in Manx in 1604-1633 translated the Anglican Book of the churches once a month.” Common Prayer into Manx by 1610, although it (Mr. Edward Christian, Northop, Greeba) was not printed at the time. Later Bishops like Bishop Wilson and Bishop Hildesley in the “He was a wonderful preacher and he could eighteenth century organised the translation and preach in Manx and English and he was publication of the Manx Bible and Prayer Book. explaining the scriptures to them in Manx.” Bishop Hildesley encouraged the clergy “to use (Mrs. Kermode, the Howe, Cregneash) their best endeavours to improve the use and practice of the Manks tongue.” He hoped that the Social life and societies translation work of the clergy would provide “for the instruction and comfort of such persons as do not understand English” As Methodist Religion was the influence behind much of the congregations increased, there were many social life of the nineteenth and early twentieth translations made of hymns, in addition to the centuries. existing tradition of CARVALS [carols] “In the winter the chapels held their tea parties. Tea would commence about 5 pm and continue until 8. Following that came a meeting at the chapel with singing and addresses.” (Mrs. Kermode, the Howe, Cregneash) The TEMPERANCE movement had many supporters on the Island, particularly from those who attended church and chapel. One such group were the RECHABITES who had groups [tents] in a number of areas. They were totally against the drinking of alcohol which is why they were called tee - totallers. James Teare of Kirk Andreas [1804-1868] was a founding member of the temperance movement after he left the Island to live in Preston in 1823. He travelled throughout Britain from 1832-3 “The Manx possess a literature peculiarly onwards, including a visit to the Isle of Man in their own. This literature consists of ballads 1855. on sacred subjects which are called “carvels” (carols). The carvels are preserved in uncouth looking, smoke stained volumes in low farmhouses and cottages situated in the mountains, gills, and glens." (Brown’s Guide to the Isle of Man, 1900) Oiell Voirreys were important events. "...many of the hymns and sacred songs were sung in Manx and I have heard of an old man who used to ‘sing sixteen verses with the sweat pourin’ from him.’ Very often the Manx singer used to ask the congregation to ‘sing the chorus in English while he recovered his breath’.” (Mrs. Kinvig, Ronague) 2 On his tombstone in Manchester the inscription reads: “As a pioneer of the movement, he proclaimed the principles of total abstinence in every county in England, in many parts of Wales and Scotland, in the Channel Islands and in the Isle of Man, of which he was a native.” Social events were held in support of the movement. Rechabite Centenary Medals THE FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL of the Isle of Man Auxiliary to the UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE Charitable work for the Total and Immediate Suppression of the Traffic of Intoxicating Liquors, will be held in the Every new church or chapel built had to be paid FIELD, adjoining FINCH HILL HOUSE, BUCK’S for by the people who were going to use it. They ROAD on TUESDAY, the 22nd of July had to raise their own funds by running ‘bazaars’ and other social events. A PUBLIC MEETING will be commenced at three o’clock when addresses will be delivered by SAMUEL POPE, Esq., Honorary Secretary of the “The stalls were well filled with many unique and United Kingdom Alliance, and J. J. LEES, Esq., of costly articles... a miniature bedstead in Manchester; at the conclusion of which, tea will be rosewood, valued at two guineas, a handsome served in Tents erected for the occasion. the Mona fire screen - four guineas pinafores, frocks, Tent of Rechabites will have their annual procession gentlemen’s slippers... Refreshment stall was on that day, and join in the festivities. The Stanley bounteously supplied with all the usual Bridge Band and others will be in attendance. delicacies, which were offered at reasonable (Extract from a newspaper advertisement, Mona’s prices. A total of £262 raised and half the debt on Herald, 1856.) the Chapel cleared.” (Newspaper account of a Church Bazaar to raise funds Politics, too, was an area Rechabite sash for the building of the new Athol St. Congregational where temperance Chapel.) supporters became involved. In the 1934 People who were poor, sick or elderly, or election to the House of otherwise unable to look after themselves without Keys one of the candidates help got no “social security” money from standing for Garff, Elijah government until the twentieth century and had to Oliver, was a preacher rely on charity if they hoped to stay in their own whose supporters were urged to bring homes. Some people were so concerned about along song sheets to his election meetings. the conditions in which poor people lived that they wanted to help them, either personally, or by Swept away organising or contributing to charitable societies. Like other parts of Britain, the Isle of Man suffered from outbreaks of cholera from the 1830s on, [a Verse 1 disease which killed many thousands of people], All the hungry little children will have quite the cause of which was not understood until the enough to eat, 1850s. No more shoeless little youngsters will be found upon the street, “The cholera epidemic of Castletown, 1832 - And the poor degraded drunkard will be sober ‘ terror by day and fire by night.... fires in the every day, streets, people praying and shouting for mercy When the pubs are closed for ever and the on the market place... men with carts would drink is swept away. come round in the night, calling to bring out the dead...’ Chorus "All clothes had to be burnt and there was much Swept away! Oh, swept away! poverty among those who were left, so my great When the drink is swept away, grandmother Taggart of Poyll Vaaish, a very There’ll be work for everybody godly woman, gathered others of the Chapel And we’ll get better pay together and they made garments for the poor When the pubs are closed for ever and needy. This became the first Dorcas Society And the drink is swept away. of the Isle of Man, cutting up things of their own (Elijah Oliver’s election programme, 1934.) to make the clothes.” (Mr. J. H Cooper, Castletown.) 3 Poor Relief Funds were set up for which money Sunday Schools was regularly collected and distributed to help the poor. Children attended Sunday Schools, which sometimes had to teach basic reading and writing. Poor Relief Fund “Sunday was an awful day for us, for we had Money collected in Douglas during the months of to go to the Wesleyan Chapel to Sunday February and March 1855, in account with Sam. School in the morning, again in the afternoon, a prayer meeting often half an Harris, Treasurer and Secretary:- £99. 13. 0. hour before evening service, and then Payments made [March 1855] another prayer service for another long half Labourers, bread, meat &c . .£4.6.9 hour.” Soup . .£1.9.2 (Eddie Leece, Peel.) Labourers . .£0.10.0 Donation to Coal Fund to enable further “It was usual in those days for them to be distribution . .£5.0.0 teaching the alphabet and the first steps Soup Kitchen . .£1.12.9 towards learning to read in the Sunday Sundries . .£0.0.6 School.” (Extract from “Mona’s Herald”, November 1855.) (Mrs. Lahmers, Bride) Sunday School “Anniversaries” were important local events as were the annual Sunday School outings.

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