78 



A HISTOKY OF LONGRIDGE. 



[Chap. 2. 



THE INDEPENDEIS^TS. 



About the year 1860, the Eev. G. Scott, of Knowle Green, began to 

 bold cottage meetings in Longridge, and as the attendance rapidly 

 increased a room was secured, which came to be termed "The Taber- 

 nacle." In 1865 the corner stone of the present chapel was laid by 

 Sir James Watts, of Manchester, and was opened for public worship 

 in August of the same year. The cost of the building may be said to 

 have been about £3,000, although the actual money spent was under 

 £2,000 — a large amount of free materials and free labour being given 

 by members of the congregation. Mr. John Harrison, of Manchester, 

 was also a very great friend to the church. The chapel is a neat stone 

 building, with central gable, collateral turrets, and a large window in 

 front. "Inside its appearance," says Mr. Hewitson, " is particularly 

 clean and minutely spruce. The seats are strong, and no difficulty is 

 experienced in sitting in them. The pulpit is massive, of tasteful 

 design, and is approached on each side by a flight of steps. The 

 members of the choir sing well. Their voices are good — good for 

 Longridge." The chapel will seat between four and five hundred 

 people.^ In connection with the chapel there is a good school," which 

 had in 1888 an average attendance of 88. 



The Eev. W. Booth was the first minister of the chapel, being 

 appointedinl866. He is thus described by "Atticus," from whose very 

 readable work I have so often quoted : — 



He is a young man, about thirty-eight, sharp, thinly-whiskered, wliite featured, 

 slender, aspirates his initial letters well, combs his hair accurately, wears his hat to- 

 wards his back, is a keen observer, very energetic, full of courage, enterprising, believes 

 in starting new movements, is tenacious, works hard, never gets into a real passion when 

 preachiDg, but often touches the edge of one, speaks with regularity and earnestness, is 



'Mr. and Mrs. John Crossley, the first 

 couple married at the church, were pre- 

 sented with a handsome bible on the 

 occasion of their marriage, a custom 

 universally prevailing, I understand, in 

 the Independent body on such a rare 

 occasion. 



^At the opening of the school on Oct. 

 23rd, 1S67, the Kev. W. Booth referred 

 to the kind friends who had so materially 

 assisted them. "And I feel," he said, 

 " that not a little is due —and I am sure 



you wUl agree with me — to our friends 

 who have helped us with the building, 

 and more particularly to Mr. Jas. TuUis. 

 I am sure — although I do not flatter— that 

 from the beginning to the end our con- 

 nection with Mr. TuUia in relation to 

 this building has been one of unmitigated 

 satisfaction, and I do not know that we 

 could have been served with greater 

 kindness, courtesy, liberality, and effi- 

 ciency." 



