14 NOTES ON OLD BELPER AND OLD EELPER BOOKS. 



It had been substantially endowed by members of the chief 

 family of the neighbourhood, and many of the principal 

 inhabitants worshipped there. It is probable tliat Noncon- 

 formity was introduced from the Peak after the passing of the 

 Act of Uniformity in 1662. In North Derbyshire, the Rev. 

 William Bagshawe, dissenting from the Act, laboured for fifty 

 years, attracting large congregations. It is recorded that he 

 visited Wirksworth,* which at this period was frequented by 

 Belper people for marketing purposes. Until the year 1716, 

 there was no chapel or other place of dissenting worship in 

 Belper, but in the year 1709, George Webster, and in 17 14, 

 Joseph Statham, had their dwelling houses licensed for worship. 

 In cases where the form of worship was other than Presbyterian 

 or Quaker, the term "Protestant Dissenters" was invariably 

 used. A conjecture may be made that Joseph Statham, licensed 

 in 1 7 14, was an Independent, as on the same date a similar 

 license was granted to William Statham, of Shottle, who is 

 known to have been of that form of religion. 



The first market was held in Belper on October loth, 1739, 

 previously to which the market place was a complete waste 

 and overgrown with rank grass. Under the shade of one of the 

 largest trees, John Wesley preached to about 2,000 people, in the 

 year 1762. In his journal, Mr. Wesley states that "the people 

 were well-behaved, and heard the word with attention." Mr. 

 Wesley preached in Belper several times, and his ministrations 

 resulted in the establishment of the first Methodist chapel in the 

 neighbourhood. The increase of membership of this body must 

 have been very rapid, for in 1826 Belper circuit had no less than 

 1,048 members, 30 local preachers, and 13 chapels. t This 

 increase was greatly due to the efforts of the Rev. Eliot Jones, 

 who resided in Belper from 1814 to 1818. Mr Jones miraculously, 

 and he believed under inspiration, saved the life of a young bed- 

 ridden girl whom he afterwards married. She died at Belper, in 

 the year 1 8 r 5 . J The earliest record of resident Wesleyan ministers 



* " A Memoir of the Apostle of the Peak," p. 15, W. H. Greaves Bagshawe. 



t " Chronicles of Wesleyan Metliodism, 1826." 



X " Memoirs of the Rev. Eliot Tones." 



