I gather from the valuable Registers at Elland that "Thom. Robinson, ludimagister de Rastrick 1670 sepult. "Thom. filius Johanan Robynson, clerici de Rastrick 1671 bapt. "Emetta et Sara ff. John Robinson, defuncti de Rastrick bapt. 1674."

"John Robinson, cleric. married Martha Hanson, 1671, per licent."

A William Ashley, also, is said to have been silenced in 1662, who resided at Rastrick, but had no living. He was born in Lancashire, and educated at Cambridge. Subsequently he settled at Hull, over the congregation of which Mr. Canne had been the minister, where he remained until his death in 1695. He was a man of moderate views; pious, peace-loving, but faithful and earnest in his endeavours to promote the spiritual welfare of men. I have met with the name of Richard Astley, preacher for the Independents at the house of John Robinson, at Hull, in 1672, for which a license was obtained from the King.

I do not think, however, that a congregation was formed in Rastrick for more than a century after the ejection, but the members of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, had meetings recorded at the Revolution, 1689, at Nether Woodhouse, the residence of John Eccles, and at Jonas Preston's house, Rastrick. The Brighouse Meeting was held (1689) at the house of Richard Hanson. It was not till 1701 that the removal to Rastrick took place; the immense tract known as Brighouse Monthly Meeting, extending probably thirty miles from south to north, having been thus named for over two centuries.

In the course of time the fervour abated, and in common with most parts of England, religion was in a lethargic state at Rastrick.

Under these circumstances the Rev. Henry Venn, M.A., was inducted Vicar of Huddersfield, 1759, the income being under £100. From his first appearance the church became regularly crowded with attentive audiences. Numbers flocked from the surrounding villages to hear him preach the Gospel -which seldom was presented intelligibly at that time, and

amongst the number thus gathered were a few inhabitants of Rastrick and Brighouse. In 1763 he published his "Complete Duty of Man;" and in 1769, an "Examination of Dr. Priestley's Free Address on the Lord's Supper." Mr. Venn removed to Yelling, in Huntingdonshire, in 1771, and was succeeded at Huddersfield by a vicar of opposite religious tendencies, whereupon the evangelical party withdrew and erected Highfield Chapel, in which they were assisted pecuniarily by Mr. Venn. On a visit in October, 1780, he writes from Halifax to his daughter: "Last Sunday I preached at Huddersfield twice. Fifty minutes was the length of the first sermon; fifty-three of the second. The church was more than filled in the morning; in the afternoon several hundreds were in the churchyard, and hundreds went away. The gallery was so loaded as to crack and give way during the prayers; but was, by bringing a strong prop immediately, kept from falling. You must order in a fresh supply of coals. Oh! what fires have we here. You are a Yorkshire lass: you need not be ashamed of your county.'

Mr. Venn had a man of like mind as himself for curate, when at Huddersfield. This was the Rev. George Burnett, who soon afterwards became Incumbent of Elland, where was established, in his time, the "Elland Society," which holds its annual meeting still for assisting young men who desire to become clergymen. Mr. Burnett was a man of sterling worth, eminent holiness, and greatly blessed in his ministry. In 1760 Mr. Venn writes-" I am about to have a severe trial, I fear, in parting with Mr. Burnett. His friends in Cornwall advise him to leave Yorkshire under a notion that he has too much duty laid upon him. I am apprehensive he will be persuaded; and where I shall get an Assistant, whose heart is engaged to save souls, and to preach Christ crucified without unscriptural peculiarities, I know not." Mr. Burnett then settled at Elland. In January, 1761, Mr. Venn says "Mr. Burnett is much recovered." They united in holding village meetings in the intermediate locality. In common with other zealously disposed clergy he suffered persecution. "Dear Mr. Burnett

has met with the same bitter spirit [of persecution; July 1762]; and the only family that was a great encouragement to him is turned against him." Mr. Burnett preached in Huddersfield Church the evening when Mrs. Venn was interred by torchlight, Oct., 1767. Writing in 1783, Mr Venn says "Mr. Riland, and Mr. Burnett of Elland have a steadiness in them surprising. They are men who 'abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good." Oct. 14, 1789, he writes"To-morrow I go to Cambridge to meet Mr. Burnett and his wife, who return with me on Saturday; and I conclude we shall have their company till Thursday following. Delightful friendship! of more than thirty years' standing, steady and unalterable-not to be reflected on without gratitude to God." Numbers of Rastrick people were accustomed to attend Elland Church to hear Mr. Burnett preach.

The Rev. William Grimshaw, A.B., of Haworth, was on terms of particular friendship with Mr. Venn. They frequently conferred together, and Mr. Venn was present at the death of Mr. Grimshaw. He was even more popular than Mr. Venn, and (leaning towards the Methodists) had charge of a large circuit, embracing Rastrick and Brighouse, which he regularly perambulated on preaching excursions. He preached from twenty to thirty sermons a week. People frequently went from Rastrick, Brighouse, and the neighbourhood, to Haworth, to hear him preach. This was from 1742 to the time of his death, 1763. Thousands gathered at Haworth to hear those honoured clergymen the Revs. John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield, preach the gospel. On the visit of Whitefield, with the Countess of Huntingdon and Lady Margaret Ingham, to Haworth, the Church was filled twice, and nearly the third time, with communicants. The Rev. John Wesley preached several times at Smith-house, Lightcliffe, and, I believe, a small Wesleyan Community met on Rastrick Common last century. Fletcher, of Madeley, visited Haworth and Huddersfield, in 1767.

Another person associated with those times was the Rev. Benjamin Ingham, who married Lady Margaret Hastings.

He visited Grimshaw on his death-bed. Of Mr. Ingham very little is known; yet he seems to have been a John the Baptist, and to have prepared the West Riding for the 'lights' that followed. Many years before Mr. Wesley came into Yorkshire, and above twenty before Mr. Venn settled at Huddersfield, had Mr. Ingham formed Societies to which he regularly preached. Rastrick was one of the favoured places. He it was who invited the Moravians into Yorkshire, under the Brethren Toeltschig, Böhler, and Spangenberg, and handed over to them. on their settlement at Smith-house, Lightcliffe, in 1742, a thousand members from his societies, amongst whom were several Rastrick and Brighouse people, some of whom retained their membership with the Brethren for life, and the families of others are still identified with them.

Notwithstanding, then, the indifference that existed in the majority of religious bodies (in those of the Established Church, the Society of Friends, and Independents, alike), there were many earnest Christians engaged in preaching to the neglected population of Yorkshire. The foregoing were but the leaders; others, such as William Darney, followed in the train; but all were of great service in stirring the masses from their lethargic mood.

Under these circumstances, but chiefly through the labours of Mr. Venn and Mr. Burnett, were two or three persons from Bridge End awakened to a sense of the importance of religion; and as they began to make their influence felt on their neighbours, others, benefited by the labours of Grimshaw, Ingham, and the Moravians, but who had changed in their ideas of church government, or cared little for such matters, joined with them in their endeavour to supply the gospel to their needy friends.

This desire prompted them to establish cottage meetings at Bridge End, and, under the evangelic teaching of the Rev. James Scott, of Heckmondwike,-a noted exception amongst the Dissenters of that day,-a race of students had been trained, most of whom, partaking of the spirit of their tutor, entered heartily upon preaching rambles, and were ever ready

to give a helping hand to small companies like the one at Bridge End. Notably, in this band, was the Rev. Joseph Cockin, of Kipping (afterwards of Halifax), who had Hipperholme and Brighouse on his itinerant plan. From the origin of the Chapel to the time of his death, Mr. Cockin was an occasional and welcome preacher, whose manly and sometimes quaint sayings are still reiterated by the old members.

The small but increasing community desired a public meeting-place, and with perhaps more zeal than prudence, commenced operations on some leasehold property. They gave in proportion to their means, pecuniarily, but they chiefly relied on their own labour. After their daily toil, they assembled to dig, and plan, and build; and thus, by boon labour and donations of materials, they reached 'the squares,' but there they ceased. This was in the summer of 1778. Thus it remained

a yard above the ground till next year. Some time ago, I met with a copy of the specifications for the completion. This time they succeeded, having properly counted the cost; but the chief mover in the matter was Mrs. Morton, of Slead Syke.

BRIDGE END CHAPEL.

SPECIFICATIONS.

June 29, 1779.

Walling and dressing to be finished like Mr. Clegg's house [Ball Flash or Black Swan, Brighouse,] at 7s per rood.

Corners carried up with wallstone 1s per yard to measure from the door sole.

Roofing at £1 16s per square rood, and slating at 1s per yard workmanship, slates being led.

Rigging stones 1s per yard.

Sashes and glass 1s 6d per foot.

Flagging 6d per yard, flags to be found.

Ceiling joist at 1s 2d per yard.

Scaffolding £2.