Forest of Rossendale. 155 



convenient Minister to serve the said Town, and to minister in the said 

 Chapel ; and that the said Minister so appointed and sent thither by the said 

 Ordinary for the time being, shall by the said Inhabitants for the time being 

 be received, taken, and used as Minister there;, and the ministration there 

 shall have and enjoy so long as he shall be of good behaviour, conversation, 

 and usage in the ministration and serving of the said Town." 



The following tradition exists concerning the original Church of 

 3rd Henry VIII. It would appear that the intention of the 

 founders was to build it on or near to the site of the old Workhouse 

 at' Mitchellfield-nook, and that the materials for the structure were 

 deposited at that place — when one morning it was discovered that 

 the whole had been transported overnight by some unseen power 

 to the hill-side on which the Church stands. 



Not to be diverted from their purpose, the inhabitants again con- 

 veyed the materials to the place which they had originally fixed 

 upon, and appointed a watch to frustrate any further attempts at 

 removal. But one night as " Dogberry " slumbered at his post — 

 an enchanted sleep, probably — the unseen hands had again been 

 busy, with similar results. 



A third time the materials were deposited on the chosen site, 

 and, on this occasion, three of the inhabitants appointed to 

 keep watch and ward. As these sat toasting their noses at a wood 

 fire they had kindled, an old lady, with kindly countenance, 

 coming past, saluted them with a pleasant " good e'en," at the same 

 time offering them each a share of some refreshment -which she 

 carried in her hand. This they had no sooner partaken of, than a 

 profound drowsiness overtook them, ending in a deep and protracted 

 sleep — from which in the morning they were aroused by the shouts 

 of the bewildered rustics, who came only to find that the pranks 

 had a third time been repeated. So, yielding to the decision of a 

 power which was not to be out-manoeuvred, the builders erected 

 the Church on its present site. {/) 



(/) A somewhat similar legend exists in connection with the old churches 

 at Rochdale and Burnley. See Roby's Traditions of Lancashire, and also 

 Harland and Wilkinson's Lancashire Folk Lore, p. 89. 



