Forest of Rossendale. 187 



friend the Rev. James Hargreaves, Author of the " Life of John 

 Hirst," in.an interesting autobiography which he has left behind 

 him in MS. 



It appears that " complaints were lodged with the vicar of 

 Halifax, who had the gift of Sowerby, that Mr. Ogden was too 

 Methodistical, on which grounds he had orders to quit. A very 

 large proportion of the inhabitants were greatly grieved, and 

 obtained from Mr. Ogden a promise that whenever they could 

 succeed in making way for his return, he would come amongst 

 them again. The vicar died, another succeeded, and the applica- 

 tion was made. The new vicar having another living, namely 

 Ripponden, vacant, appointed Mr. Webster of Sowerby to that, 

 and made way for Mr. Ogden's return, who, considering the 

 inviolability of his promise, left all the dear connexions he had 

 formed at Bacup. He spent the remainder of his life at Sowerby." 



The following estimate of his character and abilities is given by 

 the same writer : — 



" Mr. Ogden came to Bacup when under thirty years of age. 

 He was a man of slender talents as a preacher. His voice was 

 rather feminine, and his delivery uninviting ; and when in great 

 earnest and vehement, which was very frequently, his voice rather 

 approached towards a scream. He was very timid, and often on 

 the Lord's-day morning, or at noon, would conceive that the 

 subject he had prepared was improper, and he would then take 

 another text, and throw himself upon the mercy of the moment. 

 It cannot, therefore, be any matter of wonder if his sermons were 

 often crude and incoherent ; but his piety, his devotion, and his 

 evident desire to do good, more than compensated for these 

 defects." 



After Mr. Ogden's removal an interval of about 18 months 

 occurred, during which period there was no settled minister, the 

 service being conducted by strangers. 



The Rev. William Porter, who was from Cumberland, and 

 became the resident Clergyman in 1796, officiated several times as 

 a supply, and the congregation at that time having the power of 



