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| Mrs Jenny Burt - 22nd April 1985 |
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J Burt - Thesis - Appendix F
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This study was undertaken at Bedford College of Higher Education
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| The Relationship between the growth of the Boot and Shoe Industry and Non-conformity in Rushden, 1881-1901. | ||||||||||
Appendix D Independent Wesleyan Mission Hall - The Origins of a chapel The Old Baptist Chapel opened a Sunday School in the newly built Moor Road Board School in 1889 but having difficulty in keeping it running they wrote to the Independent Wesleyan Church in the High Street in 1893 asking them to take over. The Methodists accepted and re-opened the school in December 1893 with 26 scholars, the Superintendent being Mr. J. Clark (shoe manufacturer, Messrs Jacques and Clark). The school grew so rapidly that it was decided to hold Children's Services on Sunday evenings which were equally well attended. By 1895, growth was still continuing and it was decided to purchase a plot of land from the Fitzwilliam Estate in Station Road, next to the factory of Messrs. Jacques and Clark. Consequently an iron building was purchased which had formerly belonged to the Wellingborough Roman Catholics who had since built a new church, and brought to Rushden in sections by horse and cart loaned by Mr. Clark. The total costs were approximately £500 and the building was opened in 1895 as the Independent Wesleyan Mission Hall, affectionately known as "The Tin Tabernacle” holding divine services morning and evening. The Salvation Army Band used to parade the town and visit the Clubs in Rushden at Christmas collecting monetary contributions 'the Christmas Waits' collections. A gratuity was given to the Corps Officer, the remaining funds being spent on band expenses, etc. and probably about 20p. to each of the bandsmen. At Christmas 1897 the local Corps Officer insisted on all the collection being given over to himself which the bandsmen resented. Subsequently they were ordered to relinquish their bandsmen’s commissions and forfeit their equipment. As a free 'Church Missioner was visiting the town at the time preaching in different pulpits, the bandsmen as a group followed him round the services. It was reported to the Independent Wesleyan Church in February, 1898 that several of the ex-Salvation Army bandsmen wished to join the church and form a Band. The Methodists decided to invite them to join the chapel and to set up a new Band. The chapel or the individual bandsmen purchased new instruments and rules and a constitution were drawn up, the Band using the 'Tin Tabernacle' as their headquarters and calling themselves the Mission Band. With this new addition of members and their families, the Mission Hall rapidly became too small and plans were made to purchase land in Wellingborough Road and erect a new chapel. The cost was £2,500 and the building opened in 1901 seating 500 for public worship and 600 scholars. The Rev. Greenhaugh (President of the National Free Church Council) was the preacher at the opening service and the addresses included one given by the Old Baptist Minister. The two chapels and their Sunday Schools, the Independent Wesleyans and the Mission, were jointly administered until 1903 when the societies separated and the schools separated in 1905 although they still retain Joint Trustees. The Mission Band of Hope Pledge Book commenced in 1896 and contains the names of 267 persons, mostly children, up to 1901, the addresses given being mainly from the new industrial streets to the north west of the village. The Report to the Grubb Institute (see Bibliography) states that 'At least one of the churches in the town owes its origin to a shoe manufacturer who started a Sunday School for the children of his employees in one of the factory buildings'. Presumably the author is referring to the Mission, but the church records reveal this to be incorrect as stated above. The misunderstanding arises because the old Mission Hall was next to the Jacques and Clark factory. Mr. Clark was the first Superintendent of the Sunday School and a generous Trustee of the Mission and the evacuated site was sold to the factory and became a storage building.
Appendix E
Independent Wesleyan Society Meeting Minutes. Extracts of Obituary Notices of Members 20th November. 1898 Brother Harris Brother Harris was born at Shefford in Bedfordshire. His parents were of humble circumstances so that he moved in the humble walks of life. He was brought up under the influence of a pious home his lather being a Member at the Baptist Chapel of which our Brother Harris also became a Member very early in life. As he grew older he became a teacher in the Sabbath school; he also took a very active part in the singing connected with this place. The love for music and the zeal for Christ’s Service led him at this time to Mission the Streets of the village and after due course he resigned his Membership with the Baptists and joined the Salvation Army to which he became a very useful and active worker. He married our Sister Harris who was a local officer in the Army. Our Brother left this place for Rushden for the convenience of work and He joined our Church with the Mission Band at Station Road and worked with the land as long as health permitted him in Spirit. His health gave way in 1898. And our Brother soon realized his time was short, He maintained a very steadfast hope in Christ all through his affliction his faith was not shaken. On November 12 1898 he passed away to receive his reward for the faithful service he had rendered to Christ and the Church. Leaving a Widow and four sons who attend the Mission and the eldest of these gave his heart to God when Brother Whitehouse was holding Mission Services in October, 1898. He also joined the Mission Band but his health gave way and it was seen that the seeds of the malady Consumption, was doing his work in the Human form. He also passed away in September this year. But he assured the friends who visited him that he was going to enter upon a better life which had been purchased for him by the death of Christ who loved hin and gave himself for him. ‘I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find He’. Brother John Jaques Brother John Jaques entered into rest on October 16, 1901. We place on record our affectionate respect for his memory as an earnest and consistent Christian man, And our grateful remembrance of the valuable service which he so long and cheerfully rendered to this Church and to the several institutions connected with it. For over forty years our beloved Brother was an active member of the Church and during that period worthily filled many of its responsible offices. He was formerly a Class Leader and several times Society Steward which office he held at the time of his decease. Constant in his attendance at the Means of Grace and very cordial in welcoming others, he was a living example of the Christians' duty of 'Not forsaking the Assembly of ourselves together’. His ample resources in Council made his presence not less welcome in the business meetings than his sincere piety made that presence desirable in the devotional services of the church. Thus eminently useful within, the Church he did not confine his service even to that important sphere but constantly visited the people in their homes, touched with a divine compassion towards the suffering and needy he went to their abodes and with his genial words and sympathy inspired thorn to look up by our brother in words spoken of his Divine Master it might be said he went about doing good. In our brother strength and tenderness were balanced and combined and the strong pillars of his character were entwined and embellished with the lilywork of a constant and pervading amiability, none could be long with him without discovering that religion was to him an unfailing source of Joy and Cheerfulness. This gave him a remarkable faculty for dealing with the young whom he loved and to the promotion of whose interests he never ceased to labour. He was one of the first scholars of our Sunday School with which ha was connected over fifty years. Here about fifty years ago he began to teach and continued to do so during the rest of this earthly life. The School is vastly richer for his services and his place will be hard to fill. Our Brother was also a successful Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this capacity he served the Circuit with untiring seal for many years. His style in a piece with the Character of the man was original and bright. He was a Workman that needed not to be ashamed rightly dividing the 'Word of Truth’. His success laid in his recognition that it was a Service for Christ. Although the growing infirmitie of later years curtailed his appointments he had the Joy and Satisfaction of knowing that his labours had been signally blessed in the Salvation of Souls and in the building up of believers in their most holy faith. He was a Total Abstainer the greater part of his life and a zealous worker in the Temperance Cause. Next to the Church and its several institutions he served the town with all the ardour and liability of his nature. He was a Vice President of the Free Church Council whose manifold claims received his practical attention. It is with mingled feeling of Pride and regret and resignation to the Almighty Will that we add him name to the roll of those who in this Church have faithfully striven to serve their generation and do the Will of God and now rest from their labours. Mrs. Charlotte Lawson With affectionate appreciation of the Christian Character of Mrs. Charlotte Lawson we add her name to the roll of those, who, after striving to serve their generation and do the will of God, have fallen asleep. Our deceased sister was the widow of the late Thomas Lawson whose valuable services to our Church and Circuit as a Leader and a Preacher have still a place in the loving remembrance of his brethren. Her good example and testimony will live in our hearts and the memory of them is dear and blessed. In connection with the preparations for teas and Social Gatherings her services were invaluable and they were always freely rendered because she had at heart the prosperity of Zion. As a Christian mother she let the light of her religion shine in the home as well as in the Church and in consequence her children have risen up to call her blessed, though for some time there were signs of failing health but a very brief illness proceeded her departure, On June 27th 1902 surrounded by her family she passed, at the age of 61 years from the home on earth to the home in heaven, from our earthly fellowship to join the blood washed throng which is before the throne. God grant that when we too are called from this world of love and beauty, of joy and sorrow, we may be ready of heart to meet her and all our forerunners who have passed within the veil.
Appendix F Some Rushden shoemakers and an indication of their influence in the Village Ebenezer Claridge 1874 listed as a 'clicker' William Claridge 1874 listed as a shoe manufacturer William Claridge Jun. Trustee Old Baptist Church and on the New Building Bund Committee John Claridge, J.P. A principal of Wm. Claridge factory George Denton Father was Benjamin Denton, the only teacher at the commencement of the Independent Wesleyan Sunday School in 1848
William Colson 1871 employed 6 men, 12 boys John Cave 1871 employed 6 men, 4 boys
John Sargent Old Baptist Church Ebenezer Knight 1881 Census Shoe Finisher ‘Relinquishing his trade, he devoted himself to carrying on an elementary school in the old tumbledown building where the vestry hall now stands ..... many Rushden lads now grown up, owe Mr. Knight a deep debt of gratitude for his self denying efforts on their behalf. When this labour of love became no longer necessary, he returned to his calling and like a worthy follower of St. Crispin, "stuck to his last"’. Parson said at his funeral service, "Though born in a lowly position and moved in humble circumstances, yet the influence he exerted was very powerful and very widespread. For miles around Rushden he was not only well known but much respected for his high Christian character and for the work he had done”.
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