Forest of Rossendale. 217 



even fainteth for the courts of the Lord ; my heart and my flesh 

 crieth out for the Hving God.' Having been a principal instrument 

 in building a house for the Lord, our brother gratefully enjoyed the 

 privilege of hearing the doctrines of Salvation explained, enforced, 

 and defended ; and of worshipping the Lord Jehovah in spirit and 

 in truth. 



The building which was raised as a Chapel, as above described, 

 still stands in Lane Head Lane ; but it has undergone alterations 

 since the days of its erection. Not very long ago it was occupied 

 as a school. A portion of it is now converted into cottages, and in 

 the other portion were recently heard the sound of the saw and the 

 plane, where once the voice of John Wesley resounded. With 

 reference to his visit to Bacup on this occasion, the following entry 

 occurs in Mr. Wesley's Journal : — 



"Tuesday, July 14th, 1761. About noon I preached at Bacup, 

 a village in Rossendale. The new preaching house is large, but 

 not large enough to contain the congregation." (c) 



Like all great movements which have set their seal upon men, 

 the early history of Methodism presents a picture of anxious and 

 unceasing struggling against the prejudices and ignorance of man- 



(f) The following extracts, from the Rev. John Wesley's Journal, have 

 reference to other visits which he paid to Rossendale, besides the one 

 mentioned above : — 



"Thursday, May 7, 1747. We left the mountains (around Todmorden) 

 and came down to the fruitful valley of Rossendale. Here I preached to a large 

 congregation of wild men ; but it pleased God to hold them in chains. So 

 that even svhen I had done, none offered any rudeness, but all went quietly 

 away." 



"Wednesday, August 30th, 1766. I rode (from Padlham) to Rossendale, 

 which, notwithstanding its name, is little else than a chain of mountains. The 

 rain in the evening obliged me to preach in the new house, near a village 

 called New Church. As many as could crowded in, and many more stood 

 at the door. But many were constrained to go away." 



"Thursday, 31. I preached at Bacup, and then rode on to Heptonstall.'' 



"Tuesday, April 13, 1779. I preached at nine to a crowded audience in 

 the new house at Bacup." 



