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More
historical notes Follow
the various links for more information on those earlier days In the 12th century the town of Leigh was made up of
six
townships,
including Chowbent, Lowton and Pennington, where weekly markets were held and
a cattle fair held twice-yearly. Leigh was divided in its allegiance during the
English Civil
War, some of the population supporting the
Royalists cause while others supported the
Parliamentarians. A battle was fought in the town on
December 2,
1642, when 3,000 Chowbenters beat back and then routed Cavalier troops
under the command of
James Stanley,
the 7th Earl of Derby. The Earl of Derby passed
through Leigh again in 1651, when he spent his last night in the King's Arms,
before going on to his execution in
Bolton. The original Chowbent chapel was built in 1645 on land owned, and
loaned by “Ye Lord of Atherton”, a supporter of religious dissent. The
building described as a low brick edifice’ no longer exists: the Parish
Church of St. John the Baptist standing in its place (approximately). Two
years before this date, the Civil War had begun. Episcopacy (rule by Bishops)
and the Book of Common Prayer (of 1559) had been abolished and, for a brief
time, the nation was officially English Presbyterian. Chowbent chapel was such a Presbyterian
congregation meaning that it exercised a local autonomy via elected elders,
called its own Minister and adopted its own order of service. Though now
Unitarian in religious tone, these principles remain the case today. Though
there was strong reaction in many areas to the ways of the Anglican church
there seems to have been little or no local hostility; it was noted that a
copy of both Bible and Prayer Book were kept in the Chowbent pulpit for use
by the Vicar of Leigh on his regular visits. Happily cordial relations have
been preserved between “Chowbenters” and the Anglican community of Atherton. The present chapel retains the only
known surviving artefacts from the 1645 building, namely the Communion table
and two fine Commonwealth silver communion cups gifted by Robert Mort in
1654, The cups are kept securely in a local vault and are brought to chapel
only for special occasions. A nail studded door that separates the chapel
from the vestry is also thought to be from the original 1645 chapel. The original Chowbent chapel
was built in 1645 on land owned, and loaned by “Ye Lord of Atherton”, a
supporter of religious dissent. The building described as a low brick
edifice’ no longer exists: the Parish church of St. John
the Baptist standing in its place (approximately). Two years before this
date, the Civil War had begun. Episcopacy (rule by Bishops) and the Book of
Common Prayer (of 1559) had been abolished and, for a brief time, the nation
was officially English Presbyterian. |
