Independent Chapel, Rawden
The ceremony of laying the
foundation stone of a new Independent Chapel at Rawden was performed on Monday
last.
The weather was rather unfavourable, but notwithstanding, by 11 o'clock, the hour appointed for commencing the work, a large number, probably
near five hundred persons had assembled.
A suitable hymn was then given out by
the Rev. J Stringer of Idle.
An introductory prayer was offered by the Rev. J
Glendenning of Huddersfield.
Henry Forbes Esq. then
performed the ceremony of laying the stone in which had been deposited copies
of several of the local newspapers, some of the religious publications of the
day, a list of the principal subscribers to the erection of the chapel and one
of each of the current silver coins of the realm.
The stone, having been
properly deposited "For the sole worship of God, according to the order of
the Christians commonly called Independents or Congregationalists" another
hymn was sung and the Rev. T Scales of Leeds offered a dedicatory prayer.
The
Rev. W Scott of Airedale College then delivered an address in which he adverted
to our religious privileges, to the leading doctrines of Christian religion and
to the distinct peculiarities of the Independents.
The ceremonies at the
chapel site being over from eighty to a hundred persons adjourned to an
adjoining school-room where an excellent cold collation was provided for them.
After dinner a handsome silver trowel was presented to Mr Forbes by the young
persons who intend to be connected with the new chapel, in commemoration of the
event of the day and several addresses were delivered.
We understand that
the chapel is to be called Benton Park Chapel.
It will be situated in a
field belonging to Robert Milligan Esq. of Acacia who has generously given the
ground on which to build it besides promising to wall and rail it in ".
Image courtesy of the British Newspaper Archives, research by Edwy Harling