Forest of Rossendale. 215 



mind of Mr. Maden, and he shortly afterwards united himself to a 

 small band of persons (ten in number) at Todmorden, zealous 

 followers of their great leader, John Wesley. The new convert 

 was earnest and enthusiastic in the faith he had espoused, and 

 accordingly we find him, in fair weather and in foul, on week-days 

 as well as on the Sabbath, at his place in the meeting-house, though 

 the latter was five or six miles distant from his home. 



Mr. Maden soon became desirous that a society should be 

 formed in Rossendale, and with this object in view he invited Mr. 

 Darney over, who, in response to the invitation, came, and in the 

 year 1744 preached for the first time in this part of the country at 

 Heap Barn, situated in the fields, a little to the north-west of 

 Sharneyford, on the Todmorden Road. He afterwards preached 

 at Miller Barn, in Wolfenden Booth, where a society was formed, 

 the first of the kind in Rossendale, of which Mr. Maden was 

 constituted the leader. The office of leader was no easy or 

 enviable one in those days of single-handed effort, but Mr. Maden 

 was possessed of an earnest indomitable spirit, not easily to be 

 subdued or turned aside, and the work he undertook to accomplish 

 greatly prospered in his hands. Kindred societies were soon 

 afterwards formed by his efforts, aided by others who had espoused 

 the tenets of the new sect, and for many years they were known 

 by the name of '• William Darney Societies," in honour of their 

 founder in Rossendale. 



Mr. Maden now married, and his wife held views similar to his 

 own, but she lived only three years after their union. At this time 

 he took a farm in the neighbourhood, and opened his house for 

 divine service, having made a pulpit for the use of the preachers. 

 It is highly probable that Messrs. Darney, Maskew, Colbeck, and 

 others, celebrated in the early days of Methodism, officiated in this 

 pulpit. 



The congregation increasing, another house was taken, which in 

 turn very soon proved too small to contain those that came to 

 worship. The use of the Baptist meeting-house, or "the old 

 school," as it was called, was then obtained for a short time, and 



