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1662 the Act of Uniformity
The Monarchy was restored in 1660 though now the religious face of the nation would be altered irrevocably. At once the Bishops and conforming clergy were re-installed but at Chowbent the Presbyterian form of congregational life continued. In 1662 the Act of Uniformity was passed – this required that all clergy must be episcopally ordained (the laying on of hands by a Bishop) before officiating in a Church and, moreover, must swear unfeigned assent and consent to all that was contained in the Book of Common Prayer.
The immediate consequence was that an estimated 2000 clergy felt unable, in conscience, to conform and so lost their livings. This was known as the Great Ejection and caused great hardship to many clergy as well as depriving congregations of their chosen minister. The ejection included Reverend James Wood, the father of the James Wood who was the last minister of the old chapel and the first of the new (present) chapel. Like many of his brother clergy, Wood continued to hold services in private houses, including that of the Mort family at Wharton Hall in (Little Hulton). For his disregard of the law Wood was ’catched and sent to prison’ in1670.
Following the Act of Toleration in1689, some dissenters gained freedom to worship and the worship life of Chowbent chapel continued. In1695 James Wood (the son) succeeded his father. James Wood’s ministry lasted a remarkable 60 years and saw the transfer of the congregation from the old to the new (present) chapel.
Wood was a loyal supporter of the House of Hanover. In 1715 he marched a large number of men of his congregation to Walton, near Preston. Armed with basic weapons such as farm implements, Wood and his ‘army’ successfully prevented the rebel Jacobites from crossing the River Ribble. For his courageous action, Wood was awarded a pension and the honorary title of ‘General’ to add to that of Reverend. The then Lord of the Manor, Richard Atherton, was a Jacobite and furious at what had taken place. Noting that the land on which the dissenters' chapel was built was legally his (loaned not given by his forbear) he evicted the congregation and closed the chapel. This took place in 1721 when Richard had reached the age of 21 years. Reverend General Wood was not easily discouraged and, with his congregation, he set about building the present Chowbent chapel, which was fully in use in 1722.
This time the land on which the chapel is built was given by Nathan Mort, the then occupant of Alder House, part of Alder Fold Estate. This land was given in perpetuity. |