U A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 2. 



In 1841 tlie present tower was added, the date on a stone com- 

 memorating the event. 



From 1822 to the present time (1888) no extension (to speak of) of 

 the accommodation provided for Church of England worshippers has 

 taken place, although during that time the population has increased 

 from 1,917 in 1822, to 4,000 in the present year (1888). 



The Church accommodation at that time (1822) was 650, but the 

 pews were (and are now) so narrow that it was impossible for the 

 worshipj)ers to kneel during service. So we see that the Church 

 accommodation is precisely (or nearly so) the same to-day as it was 66 

 years ago, although during that period the population has increased 

 over 100 per cent. 



But it has not been for want of energy and determination on the 

 part of the Church-people generally that such a deplorable state of 

 affairs has been permitted to exist. 



In 1868 Eobert Smith, Esq., made an offer of £1,000 to 

 the then Vicar (Eev. W. C. Bache,) towards the erection of a new 

 church, to be centrally situated. The offer was declined by the Vicar, 

 who thought it premature. 



But in 1873 a vigorous and determined effort was made to com- 

 pletely remove such a state of things, which was declared by the 

 Church-people to be alike discreditable to their liberality and injm-ious 

 to their highest interests. 



Accordingly, at a large and influential meeting held in the Boys' 

 School on July 20th, 1873, the Vicar in the chair, it was unanimously 

 decided, after a protracted and somewhat warm discussion, " That it 

 is desirable that there should be two separate churches, the first one 

 to remain in the present position, and the new one to be erected in 

 Berry Lane or Crumpax." A committee was formed, composed of 

 Eev. W. C. Bache (vicar), Messrs. J. Opens'?aw, Thomas Whittaker, 

 Eobert Smith, Wm. Smith, J. P. Whittle, D. Irviu, J.P., F. Deacon, 

 E. Owtram, T. Pearce, and E. H. Lightfoot. Among these gentlemen 

 were the leading land owners and aU the large employers of labour in 

 the district. Mr. Benjamin Walmsloy, now Alderman Walmsley, ex- 



