A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



It is with Dukinfield rather than with Fairfield that the evangelistic 

 work of the Moravians is associated. The preaching tours which were 

 organized from this centre covered Bolton, Shackerley (1752), Manchester 

 (1755), Ashton, and Cheadle. None of these efforts took a permanent form, 

 for the cause at Shackerley, after a languishing existence, was given 

 up in 1800; and the cause at Manchester, which possessed a chapel in 

 Newton Lane in 1773, replaced in 1777 by one in Fetter Lane, near the 

 Infirmary, was given up in the same year (1800). But the preaching work 

 at Greenacres, near Oldham (1776), and at Lees (1784—6, also near Old- 

 ham), resulted in the establishment of the Salem church, still existing at 

 Lees. The church at Westwood in Middleton Road, Oldham, originated in 

 1865 as a mission from Salem. 



The decay of Moravianism as an influence in English life is probably 

 due externally to the competition of the more aggressive forms of Methodism, 

 and internally to its own pietistic spirit, to the fact that it was throughout 

 ruled in great measure from German head quarters at Herrnhut, and to the 

 hesitancy of the leaders of the movement in declining to cut themselves 

 loose from the Episcopal Church of England. Looking upon themselves as 

 an episcopal church in union with the Church of England they refused to 

 turn their preaching places into congregations, but adopted the idea of united 

 flocks, which resorted once a quarter to the Church of England for Com- 

 munion. When at last, in 1856, this system was thrown over, and the body 

 declared itself a Church, its opportunity, as far as England is concerned, had 

 gone for ever. 



Methodism — The Wesleyans 



It may be asserted without fear that it was Methodism which saved, nay 

 even created, popular religion in Lancashire in modern times. When it arose 

 the clergy of the Established Church in general had reached the lowest depth 

 of degradation as a spiritual force, and those in this county seem to have been 

 no exception ; it was after the Methodist revival that the wonderful change 

 took place in them which is visible to-day. The old Nonconformity had 

 mostly become Unitarian, and useless for evangelizing the people, and it too 

 was quickened. But this quickening was partly by antagonism, for while 

 Methodism was Arminian, the other Evangelicals, whether Anglican or Non- 

 conformist, were strongly Calvinist, and so remained till the middle of last 

 century. 



1°^^" ^IfX'Ji!'' /'''' '° Lancashire in March, 1738, when he 

 preached in Salford Church and St. Anne's Church, Manchester, was a mere 

 incident and without organic connexion with the systematic evangelization of 

 the county which he commenced nine years later. When he again entered the 

 county in May, 1744 it was in the company of John Bennet, at whose 

 request he returned in April, 1745, to preach in several places in Lancashire. 

 In later years he had reason to regret the connexion bitterly, for Bennet not 

 only headed a revolt against him and by a secession almost broke up the early 

 Methodist Society in Bolton, but also married Grace Murray, the woZ 

 whom Wesley had desired to make his wife. In mere matter of date Bennet 

 the convert of David Taylor and the friend of John Nelson, had pfeceded 

 Wesley in the work of preaching in Lancashire, but after his secession in 



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