Lovefeast 2019

Richard Towell’s last service with us and Jennifer Fox’s last Lovefeast as our circuit steward, both having been a huge support and encouragement to us over the last 10 years.

Having recently typed up accounts of previous lovefeasts from old newspaper articles,  it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to have a more recent account and so (with help) I have tried to record the Lovefeast on 7 July.  Hopefully by reading this account, people will know what to expect and will perhaps come with thoughts to share or a favourite hymn to request.

This year dawned fair, and we were able to assemble in the garden and meet old friends and newcomers before the lovefeast started.  Helen Moat and her husband Tom were the first to arrive.  She has just written an article about Alport and the Lovefeast for Derbyshire Life. (details below)  Anna arrived on her bike from Bamford and her husband Daniel was walking over from Fairholmes.  Norman and Annie, Peter and Denise and friends from Glossop were in time for a cup of tea before the service.  My sister Jo brought local historian and photographer Richard Bradley from Sheffield and my other sister Billie brought my dad. Kate from Edale chapel had stopped by to bring Susan and Meghan who were in a caravan at Castleton to be on hand but not able to drive up as Brian was unwell.   Richard and Amanda arrived and settled Amanda’s chair in the barn.  It was so brave of her to come as she was in considerable pain.  Other visitors included Richard and Jill from Heyridge farm, whose family have long supported the Lovefeast, Joanna and Peter Mackey (Joanna has helped us to preserve the music and with a group of singers sang at the exhibition last year giving us a recording of the hymns) Althea and John de Carteret from Bamford (Althea photographed the Lovefeast two years ago and her photos were exhibited at the exhibition) and Liz Marshall who facilitated the exhibition.  26 people signed the visitor’s book and there were probably between 40-50 people present, including 4 children which was a joy.

Traditionally the lovefeast begins at 1.30 when the sun is lighting the barn through the end gable window.

Richard Towell had found a reference to conducting a lovefeast in an old book he had, and he read it out to us, reminding us tongue in cheek of the responsibilities ascribed to the preacher.  He has kindly typed it up for me :

Instructions on running a Lovefeast from “Collection of Hymns for Camp Meetings, Revivals etc for the use of the Primitive Methodists” by Hugh Bourne.

(his book is inscribed to someone, with the date 1847).

‘Lovefeasts usually open with singing and prayer.* A piece is then sung by way of asking a blessing; after which the bread and water are served out, the Lovefeast collection is made, and a piece sung by way of returning thanks. The preacher makes a few remarks; the people rise in succession, and speak their own experience; and distant comers sometimes say a little about the work of God in other places. But none are allowed to run into useless exhortations, drag out to tedious lengths, or to speak unprofitably of others; and above all not to reflect upon or find fault either with individuals or societies. And it is the preacher’s painful duty to stop all who attempt to trespass. He has to preserve the Lovefeast in its clear and pure course, in order that the people may grow into faith, and that the Holy Ghost may descend.Singing and prayer are occasionally introduced; and the Lovefeast finally closes with prayer.

*It has been a custom to have preaching before a Lovefeast; but this is very generally laid aside on account of its very great inconvenience.’

Generally there is some form of welcome and introduction, finding out where people are from, perhaps why they have come.  This year there were quite a number who had not been before. 

In years past Eric Cocking used to do an introduction which explained some of the history of the lovefeast.  This is printed in the reprint of Hannah Mitchell’s booklet.  (We had photocopied a few copies for those who wished to know more.) Andrew has done the introduction in recent years and this year he broadened it to thank Richard and Jennifer for their support over the last 10 years, and we gave each of them a framed photograph of the barn (taken by Althea de Carteret).  We had also made postcards of the same picture for those who wanted to take either to remind themselves or invite a friend.  Andrew remembered Stanley Bradwell who died this year, and who had often chosen the hymn ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’ the last line of which speaks of a still small voice of calm.  Andrew wished that both Jennifer and Richard would return to the Lovefeast physically but also that the pictures might embody a place of calm to return to in the mind. 

Either Mary Bradwell or Joanna Mackey have pitched the note for us over the years and helped us to sing tunefully.  Joanna has let me have a list of the hymns chosen this year in addition to the traditional three : Jesu Lover of my Soul, Come and Let us Sweetly Join, and God be with you till we meet again.  (There are recordings of these from the exhibition opening night on our facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/videos/?ref=page_internal)

314 Old Methodist Hymn Book Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

What a friend we have in Jesus

Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

Psalm 91

Great is thy faithfulness 

Let us with a gladsome mind

Trust and obey 

Be thou my vision

And can it be

Love Divine

Joanna chose What a friend we have in Jesus in memory of Maurice Cottrill who often requested it ; I think it was his mother’s favourite.  Sallie Cottrill had just stopped attending when we moved here 30 years ago.  The Lovefeast had also just stopped being an all day event with a morning service and I believe, that it was also about the time that chapel stopped having monthly services.  Maurice asked Andrew to make a small table for the front of Chapel in memory of his mother when she died.

Joanna had noted in 2006 that Maurice had broken Fanny Waterhouse’s record.  She had attended for 73 consecutive years.  We reflected that Mary Bradwell, who can sadly no longer attend, being in her 90’s had also come since she was a child.

Richard, Maurice’s son and his wife Jill from Heyridge farm were with us this year and Richard explained to us all but particularly to the children present how things had been when he was a child.  The children used to sit up on a platform accessed by an old Jacob’s ladder and once up there he remembers the problem of needing to answer the call of nature.  For the children at the time it was also a social occasion, as outside of school they didn’t see each other. The barn was pretty much unchanged apart from the supports for the planks which he recalls struggling to position on the uneven floor as year on year they were increasingly suffering from woodworm.  (The planks are now on wooden blocks and straw bails.)

My sister Jo read psalm 91 recognising that God had been with us as a family in this difficult year.

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

….

“Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honour him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

She also chose the Hymn, Great is thy Faithfulness which has been a comfort to our family.

It was sung at the service of thanksgiving for the life of our mother and I remembered how she had visited Alport with me and been very encouraging and supportive as we were making the important decision to move here.  It was very special to have my dad and two sisters with us this Lovefeast, 30 years on from our first Lovefeast which happened very soon after moving in.  Maurice Cottrill arrived with all that was needful and set up the barn, and Eric Cocking arrived on the day to help with the smooth running. 

Daniel Wimberley told of his walk over from Fairholmes which inspired his choice of ‘Let us with a gladsome mind (words by John Milton).

I am not entirely sure who chose the remaining hymns although one of them was chosen by one of the children present. 

We pause at a certain point and sing the first verses of Come and Let us Sweetly Join before passing round the cake and water.  We then finish the hymn and other contributions are welcomed. 

We forgot to take a collection this year, but put out the chapel collecting plates at the end.  Apparently in the past, a knife drawer was used.

Last year Richard had been on sabbatical.  During this time he visited Uganda and he told us of some of his experiences especially being asked to pray for healing and seeing those prayers answered.  

As it was a good-bye to Richard and Amanda, I had baked an extra cake to share in the garden after the gathering, and many people stayed to talk afterwards.

Many thanks to all those who came and we look forward to welcoming all who would like to share with us next year.

The photograph by Althea de Carteret given to Richard Towell and Jennifer Fox

Richard Bradley took some photos this year which he shared with us and which are on our facebook page and various other people also shared photos

Lovefeast 2019

Lovefeast 2019

Photographs by Althea de Carteret from the exhibition in 2017 :   https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2362777563938135

Hannah Mitchell’s booklet : https://www.facebook.com/pg/hopewoodlands/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2362781560604402

(I don’t include many photos on the blog as it is a free site which does not allow very much data use.)

Helen’s article in the Derbyshire Life digital archive, p 42-45

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=c8cae325-a07a-4ad2-9ddb-594e565f6beb

THE WOODLANDS LOVEFEAST

(Although this is the title, the article ranges far and wide. I have highlighted a few passages that refer specifically to the Lovefeast)

THE WOODLANDS LOVEFEAST

Hayfield Man Who Was Converted at Alport

AND BECAME WESLEYAN PRESIDENT

By James Garside.

It has been said that the Woodlands Lovefeast owes its inception to the period succeeding the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, when so many dissenting congregations were formed, but no reliable data can be found in support of this assertion.  It is true that a number of dissenting congregations were formed at this time by the Rev. William Bagshaw, the Apostle of the Peak, but in the diary of his preachings no mention is made of these parts, although the place names of Hucklowe, Malcroft, Middleton, Castleton, Edale, Chapel, Charlesworth, Chelmorton, Bradwell, Hayfield, Stockport, Macclesfield, and Chinley occur again and again in his diary.

( In the book William Bagshaw The Apostle of the Peak by John Brentnall, 1970, on p44, it says ‘ The meeting house on Charlesworth Hill, which remained in Presbyterian hands after the Great Ejection under the enlightened patronage of the Howard family, also became under Bagshawe a well-known centre of Dissent, as did the famous barn attached to Alport Castles Farm, beneath the wild slopes of Bleaklow.)

The Rev. William Bagshaw was for ten and a half years vicar of Glossop, and when the Act of Uniformity was passed in 1662 Mr. Bagshaw was one of the 39 ministers of Derbyshire who resigned their homes and their livings.  Higginbottom, the minister of Hayfield, was at heart one of them, but in the face of difficulties, conformed.  Bagshaw did not give up his work for the Gospel, but continued to preach throughout the Peak among the poorest and most neglected in the wildest parts of the district.  No fewer than eight distinct congregations were formed by him, some of which still remain, and 150 years after his death the Vicar of Bakewell (the late Rev. H. Cornish) told Lord George Cavendish that whatever religion existed in the High Peak was due to Mr. Bagshaw.  He undoubtedly prepared the way for the 18^th century Methodists.

But while the Woodlands Lovefeast may not be the direct result of the labours of the Rev. W. Bagshaw, yet in a way it is linked with the dissenting congregations formed in the seventeenth century for among the worshippers who assembled at Kinder during the ministry of the Apostle of the Peak, were the Bradburys of Coldwell Clough, who afterwards joined the congregation worshipping at the Chinley Independent Chapel (where Grace Bennett, whom Wesley would have liked to have married, lies buried).  From that time to this the Bredburys have remained members of this church.

But the most singular man perchance of a singular race ‘saysJohn Tilley (author of ‘the Old Halls of Derbyshire’)’ was Thomas the Nonconformist.’

SERMON ON QUEEN.

Thomas Bradbury in Queen Anne’s reign occupied the pulpit and the chapel known then as the New-street Conventicle.  It lay secretly in a high-walled court behind Fetter-lane, London.  Its foundations and the east wall of the chapel belong to an earlier building of James I time, which succeeded a wooden building that was erected as a meeting-house for a small protestant sect, which in the days of Mary’s persecutions met in a saw pit there.  Bishop Burnett, who was a friend of Bradbury, promised to send him the first news of the death of Queen Anne, and it was agreed that the messenger would inform the preacher of her death, by dropping a handkerchief over the gallery.  The expected event happened and Bradbury preached, so it said, from the text ‘Go, see now this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.

The chapel in Fetterlane came into the possession of the Moravians.  In 1738 John Wesley attached himself to the Moravian community in Fetter-lane.  He met with them daily in their conferences for reading the scriptures and prayers.  At length the hour of what he always regarded as the great crisis of life was at hand.  At a meeting to which he went unwillingly some one read Luther’s preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.  All at once, as he supposed, the scales fell from his eyes, and he rose a ‘converted’ man.  His ‘conversion,’ the primal fact in the history of Methodism took place, according to his own reckoning, about a quarter before nine on the evening of the 24^th of May 1738.

John Wesley, John Hutchins and George Whitefield were present at a wonderful Watchnight and Lovefeast at Fetter-lane, London, on January 1, 1739.

‘About three in the morning as we were continuing instant (intent?) in prayer,’ says Mr. Wesley, speaking of that meeting when there were about sixty others present, ‘the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.  As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice, ‘We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.’

‘It was a Pentecostal season indeed,’ says Whitefield, and adds, respecting these ‘society meetings,’ that ‘sometimes whole nights were spent in prayer.’

Thus began the year which was to prove such a crisis in their lives, and in the history of Methodism.

The Lovefeasts which had been instituted by the Moravians in invitation (imitation?) of the Agapae or lovefeasts held in the early Christian Church, in some places as late as the fourth century, was adopted by the new Methodist societies.  In the early Church these feasts had sometimes been spoiled by selfishness and gluttony.  In their revived form this was impossible.  A little plain cake and water, the elements of a simple meal, were distributed to all present and taken by them as members of one family united by love to Christ.  This was followed by testimonies concerning His love to them and theirs to Him interspersed with songs of praise. And one reading early Methodist literature will find frequent mention of these lovefeasts which were held quarterly in most circuits.  Thus in the Memoir of William Bramwell, who was stationed in the Sheffield Circuit in 1795-1797, and again in 1810-1811, there are references to the lovefeast at Mansfield, at Garden-street, Chapel, Sheffield, and at Rotherham.  Sheffield circuit comprised in those days what are now the Doncaster, Worksop, Redford, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Bakewell, Bradwell, Barnsley and Rotherham Circuits.  So it was impossible for the travelling preacher to conduct all the lovefeasts in the circuit, and in Bramwell’s memoir there is a letter requesting a Miss Barret to go to a lovefeast at Mansfield in his place.

At the Woodlands, Henry Longden, of Sheffield, for over twenty years was the leader at the lovefeast.

The conference of 1798 appointed Mr. Bramwell to Nottingham.  A great number of members had left the old Methodist Connexion, and joined the Methodist New Connexion.  The trustees of the large Methodist Chapel had given it up for the use of the Methodist New Connexion.  Consequently, the old members who remained true to the old body were without a place of worship.  In their extremity they appealed to Mr. Henry Longden, who was the means of them securing a plot of ground from Mr. John Fellows to build a chapel thereon.  For nine months they had tried to secure a plot of ground, but every application had been turned down.  Mr. Longden died in 1811, and his funeral service was conducted by Mr. Bramwell.

LOVEFEAST MUGS.

I may mention that at many of these lovefeasts fair sized pieces of fancy seed loaf were handed round and large mugs with a handle at each side were carried round out of which everyone was expected to take a drink of water.  There are still in use at Walk Mill, schoolroom, Hayfield, a few of these old mugs.

Hutchinson, who visited the Woodlands in 1809, says of Alport, where the lovefeast is held : ‘It consists of two farm houses by the side of a rivulet, and at the foot of some high craggy rocks called Alport Castle.  The Methodist preachers regularly attend this place every Sunday, where they collect a small congregation from the scattered houses in the Woodlands ; in fact the whole of the inhabitants in this neighbourhood are of that persuasion.  I was willing to give my tribute of applause to the zeal and labour with which these sectarians have endeavoured to propagate the Gospel and recommend the worship of God.  Religion never appears more unaffected or more lovely than when she addresses the great Creator of the universe in these solitary places –‘tis here she is clothed in her simple and unassuming garb.  No artificial grandeur strikes the eye or captivates the senses – ‘tis the pure breath of adoration that offers its incense to the Divinity.  The summits of the lofty hills seem to point to the Creator ; the great volume of nature lies open on every side, all around is the awful grandeur and majesty of God.  Who is He that will not read, that will not adore?  The stubborn atheist himself must stand appalled, and tremble for his tottering theory.’

The third of these lovefeasts is thus described in ‘The Rommany Stone’ by J. H. Yoxall, M.P., published in 1902 : –

‘Encaustie with daisy and buttercup was the meadow grass that flooded the nave and chancel of the natural fane ; topaz-hued the stream that wound for font and aspersorium through the encircled valley.  Grey hills around were wall and buttress, and hillocks rose for pillar and pier ; the trees were screens and tapestry, the tors the clerestory, and the mass of Kinder Scout was the high cathedral tower ; for vaulted roof and groining the magnificence of the firmament hung over all… A rocky mould (mound) was the pulpit, and upon it Lawrence Yewdall stood, his whitening hair blown round his ugly visage, and yet was as the face of saint, or angel, suffused and sublimated by the radiance of the soul.

A THOUSAND LISTENERS.

‘A thousand listeners hung upon his words.  From Edale, Castleton, Tideswell, Buxton, they had come, and some from Glossop, some from Stockport, Manchester, Sheffield, many a moory mile.  Pursy shopkeepers, puny websters, and miners, sturdy farm dwellers, Quakerish women and quiet children, they stood or sat within the crescent of covered wagons and spring carts which had brought them, the lines of drab and grey, with here and there the sheen of silk and broadcloth, and the flash of a golden watch chain.  These Methodists of Peakland and its towny borders gathered to the third of the annual lovefeasts that have lasted to this day.  How they wept, prayed, rejoiced, lamented with their eyes closed, and lifted their voices every now and then in the stanza of a hymn.  A cornet player led the singing, his loud, clear blasts pitched the note, started the time, marked the rhythm, lifted the chorus to the true tone when the trebles flattened and swelled triumphant in the lingering refrains.  The congregation shouted, to inflame the preacher and redouble their own fervours with sobs and beseeching they called upon the unconverted, the children, and the careless who had come to stare or scoff, to flee from the wrath to come.’

This district has produced many notable local preachers, among whom may be noted Joseph Dakin, a native of Castleton.  After serving the circuit as a local preacher, he entered upon the work of a travelling preacher, and for six years he served the Connexion in this capacity.  His last appointment was to the Barnard Castle Circuit in 1816.  He died at Thirsk, January 8^th, 1818, aged 31 years.  The Dakin family have attended the Lovefeast for many generations. 

Another notable local preacher was John Longden, of Lady Clough House (Snake Inn).  When the bridge called the Old Oak Bridge which spanned the Derwent broke down and killed several poor fellows, they were taken to the farm house which was then on the Wesleyan plan as a preaching station, and as the bodies lay in the dwelling – a moving sermon in themselves – Mr. Longden preached a special discourse from Christ’s words in reference to the tower of Siloam.  ‘Think ye that these men were sinners above all men,’ and its powerful effect was marked by converting power in the crowded company gathered beneath the roof under such solemn circumstances. 

In 1815 Anthony Lingard was executed at Derby for the murder of a toll bar woman at Wardlow Miers.  After his execution his body was brought back to Wardlow Miers and was hung in chains on the 1^st of April 1815.  The gibbet was erected on a hill side in a field opposite the house where the dreadful deed was done.  Hundreds of people from the surrounding villages flocked to witness the ghostly scene of the gibbet.  John Longden, who was planned to preach on the following Sunday at Tideswell, finding that almost all his congregation had gone to view the gibbet followed and from beneath the gibbetpost delivered stirring and impressive words of exhortation to the multitude. 

Among the Methodists attending the old preaching station was the family of Greaves.  Mr. Greaves, of Row Lee, Woodlands, was a class leader and a man of piety.

A HAYFIELD PRESIDENT.

At one Hope Fair he engaged as his servant John Barber of Kinder Head, Hayfield.  John Barber was induced to attend the services at Alport, and coming under religious conviction he became a local preacher.  Afterwards he entered the itinerancy, and became one of the most distinguished ministers that ever graced the Connexion, and was twice President of the Conference.  He was one of the chief leaders among the Dissenters who secured the total repeal of the Conventicle and other oppressive Acts in 1812, which had been in force since the restoration of Charles the Second in 1660.

For his work in this connection John Barber received the thanks of the London West Circuit.  The following is a copy of the resolution : –

‘London West Circuit Methodist Quarterly Meeting, 7^th October, 1814, Rev. Mr. Entwistle in the chair.  Resolved unanimously that the cordial and affectionate thanks of this meeting be presented to the Rev. John Barber, the late Superintendent of this Circuit for his diligent and judicious attention to its concerns , for his firm, manly and prudent conduct throughout the very important transactions with His Majesty’s Government respecting religious toleration during his residence in London; for his unwearied zeal, affection and wisdom, uniformly manifested in the cause of God; for his liberality and public spirit, fand for his Christian kindness to the poor, and the individual members of the Society. – Extracted from the minutes. – Jos. Butterworth.

So even if it cannot be said that the love feast was established as a direct result of the passing of the Conventicle Acts and the Five Mile Act at least it can be said that it had something to do with one of the prime movers in the abolition of these Acts in 1812.

Mr. Barber died in Bristol, April 28^th, 1816.  Another local preacher who served this district was James Ridal of Edale, who afterwards entered the itinerancys.

In the list of appointments for 1818 appear the following : 224 Bradwell, Thomas Gill, Joseph Brougham, James Ridal, supernumerary.

There is a reference to James Ridal in Everett’s ‘Wesleyan Methodism i Sheffield.’ He says in reference to David Taylor, the first Methodist to mission the Peak : ‘In addition to his being benighted on the moors near Bradford, when alone, he met with a similar fate, in company with another person, on the mountains of Edale, near Castleton, in  Derbyshire.

A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.

 It was in the depth of winter, and while the snow was falling very thick around them after experiencing considerable fatigue and anxiety, they reached a house, knocked at the door, obtained admission, and began to shake the snow off their clothes.  The man of the house expecting a neighbour, was both surprised and alarmed on seeing two strangers enter with some degree of freedom; and immediately took down his sword. which hung over the fire-place, among other armour, which had been employed by him as  a train-band soldier, in the battle of Preston Pans in 1745.  With this weapon he proposed to defend himself and his family from men of whom he was apprehensive as being influenced by evil intentions.  His fears were soon silenced by David stepping up to him and saluting him with – ‘Peace be to this house.’  He found no need of his martial spirit; and being a man that feared God, he laid aside the soldier and took up the Christian; shook David heartily by the hand, and bid him welcome.  His name was Joseph Hadfield.  This is noticed as connected with the introduction of Methodism into Edale; for the Methodist preachers succeeded David, who often acted as a pioneer, and there has been preaching in the place either less or more ever since.  While it may please some to know it can give offence to no one to observe that in this very house Mr. James Ridal, an old travelling preacher was afterwards born and brought up.’

Another Edale local preacher who joined the itinerancy was Daniel Eyre. 

The Hadfields of Edale and the Eyres have for many generations been attenders of the Annual Woodlands Lovefeast.

Ramblers owe a debt of gratitude to the Hayfield worshippers at the Lovefeast for their testimonies collected by the late William Kirk, of Hayfield, helped to win the right of way to the Woodlands by way of William Clough and Ashop Clough in 1897.

An account of this Lovefeast has been given in which it is stated that the late Rev. W. Fiddian Moulton. M.A., of Hathersage, was the preacher and the probable date is given as 1898, this cannot be correct for the Rev. W.F. Moulton was not stationed in the North Derbyshire Mission until 1910.

I append the list of ministers of the Bradwell and North Derbyshire Mission Circuit from 1851: –

1851-1852 John Bonser, Henry Cattle.

1853          John Bonser, Samuel T. Greathead.

1854          Thomas Brown, Samuel T. Greathead.

1855-1856 Thomas Brown.

1857          William Exton.

1858-1859 Thomas Burrows.

1860-1861 Richard Smailes.

1862          George H. Chambers.

1863-1865 John Archer.

1866-1867 John E. Doubleday.

1868-1869 Henry M. Ratcliffe.

1870-1871 Jonathan Barrowclough.

1872-1874 Edward Russell.

1875-1876 Joseph Hirst.

1877-1879 Cornelius Wood.

1880-1882 George S. Meek

1883-1885 William R. Dalby.

1886-1888 James Clegg.

1889-1891 William Henry Hill.

1892-1894 W. Dawson Watson.

1895-1898 William Wandless.

1899-1901 Samuel Goodyer.

1902-1904 James Foster.

NORTH DERBYSHIRE MISSION

(Bradwell and Bakewell Circuits Combined).

1905          George Makin, Marmaduke Riggall, Arthur Adlington.

1906-1907 Marmaduke Riggall, William Res, Arthur Adlington.

1908          Marmaduke Riggall, William Rex,  Walter Standley.

1909          D. Ledger Pawson, W. Fiddian Moulton, M.A., J. Chesworth Jackson.

1912                    W. Fiddian Moulton, M.A., Frederick Senior, Sydney Brown.

James Garside

The previous post was an article from the Reporter of 1930 and was found in a collection of articles as a pdf online.  I wanted to find out more about them and online it credits the scrapbooks to Luke, James and Sam Garside.  It would appear that there are 12 scrapbooks of articles which have been scanned. (paid for by a member of New Mills Local History Society who wishes to remain anonymous)

The article that I am currently typing up is by James Garside but there was no date and no paper mentioned, so I had a look online to see if I could find out more about him. It would appear that he died in 1952 and there was this tribute online : http://www.stevelewis.me.uk/page46.php

He seems to have been an extraordinary man, a great walker, friend of GHB Ward, and local historian who helped with access and himself walked to the Lovefeast from Hayfield at the age of 75.

‘He was a great walker and for many years he went regularly over Kinder Scout to attend the famous Woodlands Love Feast. At the age of 75 he did this walk last year. For a long period Mr. Garside also walked to Eyam to attend the Plague Service.’

WOODLAND’S LOVEFEAST or the ‘Peakland Pentecost’

Click to access sbook3_002.pdf

Click to access sbook3_003.pdf

This article is split between the last page of the first collection and the first page of the second.  The articles are pasted onto sheets and copied and the last section has words missing as they are off the page.  Sometimes I have been able to finish a word or it is obvious what is missing.  Otherwise I have just put dots to show missing words or parts of words.

There are differences and anomalies in the various accounts, but I have typed things up as they were originally printed.

The Reporter July 12 1930

WOODLAND’S LOVEFEAST or the ‘Peakland Pentecost’

How long the famous Woodlands Lovefeast has been held in the Peak no one knows.  Some people say it goes back to the passing of the Act of Conformity in 1662, and others that it belongs to the days of the Covenanters.  But it is definitely known that the Wesleyans have held the Lovefeast for more than 150 years.

This year’s feast was held on Sunday.  There was a gathering of the clans but regular frequenters say the attendance was not so large as usual.  Some familiar faces were missing, but that is bound to happen in the course of nature every year.  Mr. G. H. Eyre was there from Castleton and he recalls being there as long ago as 1870.  Mr Elijah Wragg, who hails from beyond Sheffield, is a popular figure who always ‘testifies’, and has a sense of humour even in his Christianity.  He has been coming to the gathering for 60 years.  People from Hayfield, New Mills, Chapel, Chinley and even Ashton, were noticed in the service.  One who testified came from far away Wensley Dale.

The service is held at Alport Farm, in the hamlet of Alport, in the Woodlands.  The hamlet used to consist of three houses.  Now there are only two, as two houses have been knocked into one.

SERVICE HELD IN BARN

The scenery is magnificent.  The farm is about a mile from the main road of the Snake Pass but one or two hardy motorists had braved the stony road to Alport.  For the most part the people walked from the main road, some of them getting wet for rain began to fall in the early afternoon.  From the farm is a splendid view of ‘Alport Castle,’ a series of rocks, so called because of their fortress like appearance.  Beyond the farm the road does not go, and there is some of the wildest scenery in the High Peak.  The hills are glorious, and not a few who were in the neighbourhood would like to penetrate the fastnesses. (as original)

The Lovefeast must surely be one of the most remarkable services held in the Christian world.  The barn of the farm is used for the purpose.  The floor is strewn with straw and the seats are ‘forms’ without back rests.  The hayloft forms a gallery in which people sit, and they get a fine view of the proceedings below.  Behind the barn is a shippon, and it is possible to see into the barn through the wooden racks from which the cattle take the hay.  Two large ‘picking holes’ are open to the sky, and the glimpses through them of the lowering hills are really wonderful, But on Sunday afternoon they also made it possible for the rain to come through.

PLUM CAKE AND WATER.

The procedure is equally quaint.  As soon as people arrive they are offered a piece of cake by men standing there with old fashioned wicker baskets full of plum cake.  The ‘wine’ is the natural one of water and is offered from a pint jug filled from a large enamel ewer.  That is the feast of love and it corresponds to the more elaborate Holy Communion in the Church of England or the Lord’s Supper in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.  Having partaken of the cake and water, people pass into the barn for the service. 

In the morning there was an ordinary Wesleyan Methodist service conducted by Rev. W.  Standley, superintendent of the North Derbyshire Mission.  His pulpit was a small platform.  There was no musical instrument of any kind.

THE LOVEFEAST.

The Lovefeast was held in the afternoon.  This also was conducted by Rev. W. Standley.  It was a service of fervour in which anybody present could take part individually.  It opened with a hymn and prayer in the usual way and Mr. Standley gave a short address.  Then others began to testify what had happened to them.  If no one cared to speak at the moment, then someone would start a hymn.  Most of the hymns thus started were of the old revivalist character.  One always sung is :

‘ We sing of the realms of the blest,

That country so bright and so fair,

And oft are its glories confest,

But what must it be to be there?’

It was sung with much fervour on Sunday afternoon.  Much feeling was also expressed in the hymn, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus,’ and a chorus was added, which is not usually the case.  And so the service went on for several hours, in testimony and song.  Many old Methodist hymns were sung to the old rousing tunes.  Occasionally there would be an impressive pause. More than once it was broken by a bird coming into the barn through the ‘picking hole’ and twittering amongst the beams.

Woodlands Lovefeast has been described as the ‘Peakland Pentecost’ and to old frequenters it is.  Some of those used to impart fire and fervour are gone on their long journey and the modern… are much more restrained in their … ions.  But it is yet a wonderful service in its simplicity, its freedom from al l..tion, its homeliness and in its fervent expression by the simple country … of the marvellous faith that is theirs.  There is no organ but the singing is wonderful at times.  Some bass singers were there on Sunday afternoon, whose notes … clear and resonant as those of any ….

It is one of the places as yet un… by the great hurry of the outer world.  All is peace and quiet in Alport and it has an air of rest about it that soothes the nerves jagged and torn by the fretting and worrying of the workaday life.  A few …s have discovered it.  Some were .. at the service.  But they were the ramblers, those who love the countryside not the people who live on it.  Alport is the ideal place in which to hold a religious service and it is good to know there are places in which today, despite the hustle and bustle and the mechanical … of mankind, the peace and quiet of nature reign supreme.