154 ENGLISH RURAL LIFE 



important sects, the Congregationalists, the Baptists 

 and Methodists, were as a rule in the country towns 

 or the big villages, and had the support of a section 

 of the shopkeepers, a few of the more broad-minded 

 farmers, and some of the village artisans and more intel- 

 ligent labourers. Amongst these people the minister 

 moved, definitely cut off by his religious views from the 

 houses of the gentry, the clergy and the orthodox farmers. 

 Such of the labourers as took an independent line in 

 religion tended, if the opportunity offered, to attach 

 themselves to the Primitive Methodists the Ranters as 

 they were often called. This offshoot of Methodism, 

 founded early in the XlXth century, was, from its 

 beginning, a movement led by rough, uneducated men, 

 who made their appeal to the poor. Its preachers, like 

 the mediaeval friars, were to be found tramping through 

 the country districts preaching, in the face of much per- 

 secution, a gospel of simple Christianity. Many labourers 

 became * Primitives/ and their little chapels, built in the 

 last century, are still common in some counties, especially 

 in the East of England, where they had a strong fol- 

 lowing. The ' Primitives ' have always shown sympathy 

 with the labouring population. In 1830 they took an 

 active part in the risings of that time, and in common 

 with other Nonconformists did much to help the Trade 

 Union movement in the 'seventies. Many of the leaders 

 of the latter movement had, indeed, obtained their power 

 of speaking through the practice they had obtained as 

 local preachers. 



All through the century the growth of business and 

 trade and of social intercourse amongst the people 

 continued. This growth served, in the early years of 

 the century, to crowd the roads with waggons and with 



