50 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 2. 



that it had neither minister nor maintenance (see above), although the 

 district contained 140 families, who, deploring their episcopal destitu- 

 tion, humblj' desired the legislature to afford them a competent 

 endowment to appoint a minister and to constitute their district a 

 distinct parish. 



Canon Eaines comments upon the petition as foUows : — "It is to be 

 regretted that so discreet and reasonable petition was not granted." 

 A minister was, however, soon afterwards appointed in the person of 

 Timothy Smith. The Eev. Timothy Smith was a brave and conscien- 

 tious man, very unlike the man Ingham, who at this time was ajjplying 

 for Longridge, or pretending to do so (see below), for when he was 

 called on to " declare his unfeigned assent and consent" to the Book 

 of Common Prayer in conformity with the Act of Uniformity he refused 

 to do so, and was ejected from his charge. He, however, often preached 

 in his chapel after this, probably because, as Calamy remarks, " Long- 

 ridge was an obscure place with a small salary." 



An attempt was made in 1651 to get rid of Christopher Hindle, a 

 highly-educated man, who had been a long time Vicar of Eibchester. 

 The following plan was adopted : — "One Ingham, a higlily-gifted man 

 of that time, produced a recommendation from the parishioners in order 

 to his obtaining the curacy of Longridge, in this parish, but during 

 the conveyance had the address and honesty to alter it into a petition 

 for the vicarage itself, in consequence of which he obtained an order 

 from the committee of plundered ministers to dispossess the lawful 

 incumbent, and enter upon the benefice himself. Mr Hindle, however, 

 was a man of spirit, and would not give up the pulpit without a 

 struggle, during which Ingham intruded himself into it. Mr. Hindle, 

 then standing upon the highest step in the presence of several Parlia- 

 ment soldiers who were there to induct Ingham, made a bold and 

 pathetic appeal to the congregation. He described the wretched con- 

 fusion which prevailed both in Church and State, charged the ruin of 

 both upon the rebels, represented the then recent murder of the King 

 in the blackest colours, and concluded with a charitable prayer for the 

 conversion of all who were involved in these horrid crimes. In revenge 

 for this noble conduct he was apprehended and sent to prison, on the 



