CHAPTER III. 



" God's lowly temple ! place of many prayers ! 



The sight of thee brings gladness to my heart; 



And while beneath thy humble roof I stand, 



I seem to grasp an old familiar hand, 

 And hear a voice that bids my spirit start." 



— Robert Nicoll.— " The Village Church." 



A N interval of 246 years elapsed between the foundation of All 

 ■^-^ Saint's Church, Goodshaw, (a.d. 1542) and that of St. John's, 

 Bacup, which was the next Episcopal Chapel built within the Forest of 

 Rossendale. Previous to the erection of the latter, the Inhabitants 

 of Bacup who were so disposed, attended St. Nicholas's Church, at 

 the Village of Newchurch, and a footpath, still in existence, which 

 crosses the hills from Heald, passing Doals and Hayslacks, through 

 the Broadclough estates, by Tewitt Hall, Winder Gate, and Acre 

 Hill, through Edgeside and Bridleway, yet bears the name of " Th' 

 Kirk Gate," as being the path usually travelled by pedestrians 

 going to the New Church. .Another " old gate " led from Sharney- 

 ford, past Heap Farm and Th' Owd \\"hoam, down by Flowers 

 and Laneside, Greensnook, Lane-Head Lane, through the river 

 opposite the old school in Bacup-fold, along Newgate, up Bankside 

 Lane, right on past Th' Hile and thence by way of Boothfold to the 

 Church. 



The distance being considerable, and much inconvenience 

 resulting from conveying the dead so far over irregular and 

 exposed tracks ; and, ' moreover, the population continuing 

 greatly to increase, the principal inhabitants of Bacup and 



