Members of New Mills Independent Church
(Providence Church) 1831 – 1858
D177/5 in the New Mills Local History Society archives is a photocopy of a
manuscript notebook containing an account of the early years of Providence
Church, New Mills, probably compiled about 1858. The author is unknown. The
account includes a list of members of the Church admitted between 1831 and
1858. I thought that this would be of interest to family and local
historians and so I have transcribed the contents of the notebook. Much
fuller histories of the Church were written by the Rev. W. D. Edmondson in
1923 (a photocopy is available in NMLHS archives, D177/8) and by
Mr J. P. Bowden in 1969 (published by NMLHS as New Mills History Notes
no. 12), but these do not contain the complete list of names.
The notebook and some other historical documents were kindly lent by the
Church to New Mills Local History Society in 1986 so that photocopies could
be made before the original documents were returned to the Church. In my
transcript there are a few points of uncertainty because of lack of clarity
in the original document and imperfections in the photocopy.
Roger Bryant, September 2013
The Independent Interest at New Mills in the County of
Derby & parish of Glossop.
This Interest had its origin with a person of the name of Steele, who was
a member of the Independent Church meeting at Grosvenor Street Manchester
under the pastoral care of the late Venerable William Roby & the said
Mr. Steele was a superintendent of the Sabbath School connected with the
above place of Worship, & was much respected. Having taken a Cotton
Mill in the Torrs at New Mills he and his family removed thither. The Lord
having crowned his labours at Manchester in conveying instruction to young
with great success, he felt it his incumbent duty not to be idle at New
Mills he therefore offered his humble assistance to the committee
of the Wesleyan Sunday School, but they would not accept it. Being
requested by a many persons to establish a Sabbath School himself, he
accordingly took the upper story of the premises belonging to Mr. John
Bridge about they year 1816. His heart was encouraged by the cooperation
of a goodly number of pious Teachers and such an attendance of children &
young persons as to make the place too small. Having to contend with many
difficulties in his benevolent efforts especially when the anniversary
sermons were preached, the friends of the Institution being obliged
to assemble in barns & often in the open fields, at the mercy of the
weather both preacher & hearers being drenched with rain the
consequence was that many of leading & liberal tradesmen in the
village & neighbourhood, came forward offering
to subscribe handsomely towards building a Sunday School & place of
Worship of the Independent denomination & were seconded in the
undertaking by handsome subscriptions from Manchester & the neighbouring
Churches. Accordingly the present place of Worship was erected in the year
1823. Mr. Steele having been unfortunate in business, was obliged to
return to Manchester in 1827 & soon after died. The Interest gradually
declined & for a while the place was closed. But towards the close of
the year 1829 the Derbyshire Union took the place under their patronage &
for a time the place was supplied by the neighbouring Ministers. In the
year 1830 the Rev. S. Simon Independent Minister at Bullocksmithy near
Stockport was invited by the friends and patronized by the Derbyshire
Union. He commenced his stated Ministry the first Sunday in May 1830.
The interest gradually improved until the 24th of July 1831 when a
Christian Church was formed. The Rev. John Adamson of Charlesworth
described the nature of a church of Christ, & then a church Covenant
was read by the Rev. S. Simon when the following individuals
united themselves together to form a Christian Church, then the Rev. Joseph
Batley of Marple Bridge preached & presided at the administration of
the Lord’s Supper.
The persons who formed the Church are the following viz.
All present at the formation of the church.
John Yates
1831. July
Sarah Yates
July 24. 1831
Mary Yates
'' '' ''
Deceased
Henry Taylor
'' '' ''
Removed
David Bradburn
'' '' ''
Transferred
Mary Hunt
'' '' ''
Transferred
Anne Bower
'' '' ''
Removed
John Sumner
'' '' ''
Deceased
Randl[e] Milne
'' '' ''
'' '' ''
The following members have been admitted since then.
Names
How admitted
Remarks
Year
Month Day
Mary Simon
Hazel Grove Transferred
1831
July 24
Sarah Bower
Glossop '' '' ''
Removed
''
'' ''
Mary Barnes
1831
'' ''
Hannah Luke
Transferred
Withdrawn
1833
January
Joseph Goddard
Vote of Church
''
''
Francis Haslingdon
'' '' ''
Removed
''
'' ''
Cath. Mosley
'' '' ''
Deceased
''
Feb. 1
John Shallcross
'' '' ''
Transferred
''
March 5
Edward Dyas
Oswestry Transferred
Transferred
1833
March 5
Jeremiah Whitehead
Vote of Chapel
Withdrawn
''
July 5
John Wild
'' '' ''
''
Sept 1
B. Allen
'' '' ''
Removed
''
Nov 2
Wm. Bailey
'' '' ''
Deceased
1834
Ap. 27
Fanny Bailey
'' '' ''
''
''
'' ''
Hannah Shallcross
'' '' ''
Transferred
''
'' ''
H. Anderton
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
'' ''
Jno. Woodcock
'' '' ''
Transferred
''
'' ''
H. Ardern
'' '' ''
Removed
''
July ''
Sarah Brown
'' '' ''
Transferred
1835
June 28
Grace Whittaker
'' '' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
Thos. Wild
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
July 26
S. Sutcliffe
'' '' ''
''
Aug 27
Jas. Rothwell
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
'' ''
Wm. Bate
'' '' ''
''
Nov 29
E. Ardern
'' '' ''
Deceased
1836
Aug 28
John Openshaw
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
Oct 30
John Hurst
'' '' ''
Ministry
Nov 27
Jos. Wild
'' '' ''
Deceased
1837
Jan 29
Eliza Wild
Vote of Ch.
Deceased
1837
Jany 29
Mary Wild
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
'' ''
Sarah Bate
'' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
Hanley Pickersgill
'' ''
Ministry
''
Aug 27
Isaac Sutcliffe
'' ''
''
'' ''
Alice Swann
'' ''
Transferred
1838
Feb 25
Sarah Wild
'' ''
''
'' ''
Jos. Craig
'' ''
Removed
''
March 25
At a church meeting held pursuant to notice Ap 29 38
the following members were chosen Deacons by
the Unanimous Vote of the Church viz.
John Yates
Elected Deacon
deceased
1838
April 29
D. Bradburn
'' ''
to Chinley
''
'' ''
W. Bate
'' ''
''
'' ''
Isaac Sutcliffe
'' ''
''
'' ''
Elisha Swan
Vote of Ch.
Withdrawn
1838
Sept. 30
Frances Swan
'' ''
Deceased
''
'' 30
Henry Green
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
Oct 29
Peter Warren
'' ''
do do
1839
Feb 24
S. Heginbottom
'' ''
''
E. Chapman
'' ''
Removed
''
March 31
Mary Harrop
Vote of Church
Deceased
1839
March 31
M. Torkington
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
May 26
H. Wild
'' ''
''
June 30
E. Whittaker
'' ''
Deceased
''
July 28
R. Chapman
'' ''
Removed
''
'' ''
Anne Taylor
'' ''
Workhouse
''
'' ''
Mary Dale
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
Aug 25
T. Braddock
'' ''
Deceased
1840
Feb 22
J. Goodwin
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
March 29
C. Baldwin
'' ''
Removed
''
'' ''
Noah Hurst
'' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
Anne Warren
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
July 26
A. Bruce
'' ''
''
Nov. 26
S. Bruce
'' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
J. Garratt
'' ''
Removed
1841
Jan 31
T. Bennett
'' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
J. Sargent
'' ''
Removed
''
March 28
Anne Sargent
'' ''
'' ''
''
'' ''
S. Kimer
'' ''
Withdrawn
''
Dec 26
Moses Hurst
'' ''
Withdrawn
1842
Jan 30
E. Woolley
Vote of Church
Deceased
1842
Jan 30
E. Baldwin
'' '' ''
Left village
Transferred
''
'' ''
Joshua Wood
'' '' ''
Deceased
''
July 31
E. M. Wood
'' '' ''
Transferred
''
'' ''
Jos. Clayton
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
1843
Feb 26
Hannah Clayton
'' '' ''
'' ''
''
'' ''
John Taylor
'' '' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
Susan Gould
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
July 30
M. A. Bradburn
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
1844
Feb 25
John Lowe
'' '' ''
''
Dec 28
E. Lowe
'' '' ''
Deceased
''
'' ''
J. Roberts
Transferred
1845
Feb. 23
E. Roberts
'' '' ''
''
'' ''
E. Sullivan
'' '' ''
''
March 25
E. Sullivan J.
'' '' ''
''
'' ''
J. Surtees
Vote of Ch.
Left village
''
'' ''
G. Wharmby
'' '' ''
1846
July 25
Deacon Elect
April 23 1847
S. Sawtin
Transferred
Removed
1847
June 27
Sawtin
Vote of Ch.
Removed
''
July 25
Maria Sawtin
'' '' ''
Removed
''
'' ''
J Simpson
Vote of Ch.
1847
August 29
Mrs Simpson
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
''
'' ''
D. W. Simon
'' '' ''
Ministry
''
'' ''
1851
April 2 1851
Joseph Simpson
Chosen deacon
May 29
Elizabeth Bowden
'' '' ''
Withdrawn
Do
David Ashworth
''
Do
Joseph Ashworth
1852
Nov 29 1852
Elizabeth Hall
1853
Do
Sarah M. Massey
Transferred
1853
April 27 1853
Ralp[h] Abercrombie
Ministry
1853
Nov 30 1853
Rachel Barrett
Transferred
1855
Oct
Berthia Kelso[?]
Transferred
America[?]
1856
October
Anne Stafford
Vote of Ch.
1856
Nov 30
Sarah Scutcliffe
vote of Church
''
'' ''
Fred. Midwood
Transferred
1858
July 11
Margaret Midwood
Do
Marg[a]ret Pearson
Vote of Church
1858
July 30
John Chapman
Transferred
1858
Oct 31
Ann[?] Chapman
Do
Frederick Midwood and David Ashworth were
Chosen Deacons by the vote of Church July 11 1858.
Names
How Admitted
Remarks
Residence
Year
Month & Day
Mary Barnes
Transferred
Torr Top
1831
Jan. 7
Jos. Godard
Vote of Ch.
Miss G.[?]
See to this
New Mills
1833
Jan. ''
John Wild
'' '' ''
Do
''
Sept. 1
S. Sutcliffe
'' '' ''
Not Known
See to this
Birch Vale
1835
Aug 27
Wm. Bates
'' '' ''
Do
''
Nov 29
J. Sutcliffe
'' '' ''
Do
1837
Aug 27
Sarah Wild
'' '' ''
gone to America[?]
1838
Feb 25
H. Wild
'' '' ''
New Mills
1839
June 30
A. Bruice
'' '' ''
Dec.[?]
Birch Vale
John Lowe
'' '' ''
Infirm
Beard
1844
Dec. 28
Geo. Wharmby
'' '' ''
Birch Vale
1846
July 26
Joseph Simpson
'' '' ''
Low Leighton
1847
Aug 29
David Ashworth
'' '' ''
Chosen
Deacon
July 11
Birch Vale
1851
April 2
Joseph Ashworth
'' '' ''
New Mills
1852
Nov. 29
Elizabeth Hall
Transferred
Birch Vale
1853
Nov. 30
Rachal Barrett
Do
Sick
Do
1855
October
Ann Stafford
Vote of Ch.
Do
1856
Nov. 30
Sarah Sutcliffe
'' '' ''
Do
''
'' ''
Fred Midwood
Transferred
Chosen
Deacon
sometime
High Lee
1858
July 11
Marg[a]ret Midwood
Do
Do
''
'' ''
Marg[ar]et Pearson
Vote of Ch
Beard Hall
1858
July 30
John Chapman
Transferred
Waterford Brg.
''
Oct. 31
Ann Chapman
Do
Do
''
'' ''