Chap. 2.] KC^C^LESIASTICAL HISTORY. 55 



Mayor of Preston, was apijointed Hon. Secretary of tlie Committee, 

 from whoso minutes I am now about to briefly quote. No less a sum 

 than £2,500 was promised at this meeting by five gentlemen. 



On August 19th, 1873, the Vicar resigned his position on the Com- 

 mittee, but assigned no reason foi the stej). Mr. J. Openshaw was 

 elected Chairman ; and on his withdrawal, some time after, Mr. Robert 

 Smith was appointed. On the 2nd September, 1873, a statement was 

 left with the Bishop of Manchester (Dr. Eraser), from which I gather 

 the following information ; and having independently sifted the various 

 statements, I believe it to be absolutel}- correct : — 



" Increase of church accommodation by other Sects from 1822-73 : — 



Berry Lane Independent Chapel 400 



Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 200 



Alston Catholic Ch.ipel .. 250 



Pitt Street Catholic Chapel 450 



making a total increase of 1,300 seats. The increase was mostly from 

 Church families, and from want of Church accommodation." An in- 

 terview was held with the Vicar bj' a deputation from the Building 

 Committee on September 18th, 1873, and after fully discussing the 

 matter the deputation withdrew, having ascertained that upon " certain 

 conditions " of the Vicar being carried out he would give them, as his 

 assistance, " his passive consent." These conditions were declined by 

 the Committee. In November, 1873, a further report was presented 

 to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in which it is stated that the Vicar 

 has estimated the proportion of Church-people as two-thirds of the 

 entire population, which, in 1871, was 3,170.' It is also stated that it 

 is proposed to erect a Church at the cost of £5,000, to seat 500 persons 

 — towards which £3,500 had already been promised; and that the 

 promoters are prepared to provide the necessary endowment. Objec- 

 tion, finally, is taken to the Vicar's counter proposals to restore the old 

 Chui'ch first. 



The Vicar replied, in March, 1875, with a counter statement, sent to 

 Hulme's Trustees, the Patrons of the living, in which he reiterated his 

 total objection to the projiosed Chiu'ch on a new site. 



'This estimate was much too high — 

 one half would be nearer the mark. 



