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Church Life 1870
In 1870 there were five Anglican churches in this area. A survey of them showed condition which
did untold harm to the Christian cause.
Denby was a parish of l,700 people - it included a large part of Denby Dale. The new church could hold 300, but the average congregation was 40, and there were no communicants. The pews in church were rented out and the services were depressingly dull. Dissent was rising. and at a meeting to elect new trustees for the management of the church school, all those elected were in favour of secularising education.
Scissett was not very different. The church built in 1839 seated 250. The population of Scissett parish was 3,000 for it then included much of Skelmanthorpe. Pews were rented at 6/- per sitting'
and the centre of the, church was reserved for children of the school. There were no free seats and it was a common sight to see one: person rent a whole pew so that poor persons would not sit near to
them. The Vicar claimed that the greatest enemy to his work in the parish was the private pew system. In 18 years in Scissett he had no word to say for the retention of private pews.
Emley is an ancient parish with the richest living in the district. In 1870, it had a poor congregation and a dreary services. The church served a population of 1,600 and the pews were attached to, small residences. Lord Savile was closing down small farms, and it was common for one family to appropriate several pews—such families were extremely jealous of their rights. The mining industry was growing, and mining families were moving in. They could not afford to pay pew rents, and went to Chapel if they went anywhere. It was regarded as indecent for a man to enter another person's pew without leave. There were 4 chapels.
Bretton was a pretty parish of 600 people in 1870. The neat little church was close to the mill and the squire was an M.P. The squire's pew was carefully screened from the gaze of the congregation. The people of Bretton had pews allotted to them based on the size of their farms. The service was dull, and the congregation poor so the two dissenting Chapels were in great favour.
High Hoyland is
a church whose foundation goes back to the Norman Conquest. In 1870, the population of the parish was 1,600, but only 150 lived within two miles of the church. The parish had 6 chapels, 5 of them
built during the time of the rector Christopher Bird (1807-1867). He died possessed of immense wealth. The new rector, Fitzgerald Wintour, gave to the parish a good Catholic service and started to build a
new church (All Saints, Clayton West). His congregation had increased four times over but he found his work hindered by squabbling over pews. It was no unusual sight to see seven square pews capable of
holding 50 with two or three occupants, while the poor were crowded together in the long pews at the back.
Cawthorne in l870 found its squire a keen churchman. Private pew were abolished and all seats made free. The service was Catholic with frequent services of Holy Communion. The squire sat with his tenants. The church was crowded at all, services and many dissenters had returned to the. Church The squire and also an M.P. taught in 'Sunday School'.
The present writer asks --for full credit to be given to those determined to make church worship as
beautiful as possible. In the last 100 years, the habits and practice of worship have advanced beyond all recognition. The ending of pew rents and private seat has, thank God, been abolished in this area
for ever.
Dr John Addy
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