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| New Mill Unitarians are a congregation of
religious liberals who cherish wide differences of religious opinion
and belief. We welcome all who believe there are many sources of truth.
There is no imposed dogma.
Services and Events
The chapel is open for worship every
second and fourth Sunday of the month at 2.30pm.
Please note: Car parking is very
limited-just a few spaces outside the schoolroom.
The Chapel is available for weddings (including second
and inter faith marriages), naming ceremonies and funerals.
Our 1911 schoolroom is a popular venue for community events, and is
host to Sally Illingworth's famed Dancing School. Contact James Noble
(see below) for all hiring details.
We are on the main road between Wooldale and
Holmfirth, about 6 miles SE of Huddersfield.
Our history
The
chapel is one of the oldest Nonconformist churches in Yorkshire.
As a member of the Yorkshire Unitarian Union the chapel still plays an
active role in the community.
Brief History This
section is dedicated to the memory of Bert and Ivy Mallinson. Bert was
a keen local historian and Unitarian. The efforts of he and Ivy
preserved both the archives and a living congregation at Lydgate.
Lydgate Chapel was founded in 1695. Its official
name is the English Presbyterian Church at Fulstone. It forms part of a
complex of three buildings. The others are the 19th Century Manse,
built c1840, and the schoolroom, built 1910-11. The school was one of
the first flat roofed buildings in Britain. It looks more 1930s than
Edwardian, and may be the work of a pupil of Edgar Wood .
The ‘English Presbyterians’ had been meeting in each
other’s homes since the 1670s. Non-Anglican worship was illegal under
the 1662 Act of Uniformity, which imposed one Prayer Book and form of
Church Government that was imposed on all churches. Almost 2,000
priests left or were evicted from churches for refusing to accept
uniformity. Amongst them was Oliver Heywood(1630-1702). In 1671 Oliver
Heywood visited Lydgate, and preached at John Armitage’s house. This
was across the road from the present chapel. It had spy windows so
people could watch for the ‘King’s Men’- remember, all non Anglican
worship was illegal, until the 1689 Toleration Act was passed by
William and Mary. This allowed non-Anglican (but not Catholic) worship.
1689 John Armitage’s house licensed for worship.
1694 Land acquired for building the present
chapel.
1695 28 March – Church opened. First sermon given
by Oliver Heywood.
1745 William Eden, minister became leader of local
militia, summoned to battle against Bonnie Prince Charlie who avoided
the area.
1768 Interior rebuilt, under direction of Geoffrey
Morehouse of Moorcroft. The pews etc. originally faced south.
1786 Upstairs built- space for choir, small
orchestra. Organ installed there 1801.
1842 Manse built, on land donated by George
Morehouse Hebblethwaite .
1848 Church redone. The outer vestibule and
ornament added on. Three new windows put in, and all given ‘coloured
glass’ decoration.
1895 Bicentenary
1900 Plans begin to raise money for new
schoolroom.
1910 School foundation stone laid.
1911 School opened. One of the first flat roofed
buildings in England. Looks rather 1930s ‘Art Deco’ but is Edwardian.
1924 New organ installed by local firm-
Connachies.
1995 Tercentenary. Sermon preached by guest of
honour, Sir Cyril Smith , former Lib-Dem MP for Rochdale. Historical
details from the 300th anniversary pamphlet, 1995.
Other Non Conformist places of worship are numerous
in the area, such as the Wooldale Meeting House of the Society of Friends (Quakers).
Holmfirth
is also the home of the Folk
Festival and Last of the
Summer Wine and is near Slaithwaite, home to 'Where the Heart Is'.
Our Minister
We do not have a full time Minister. Our
services are led by our Lay Leader Steven Ginnever, and we have
occassional visiting ministers and lay preachers.
Contact
us
Lay leader Steven
Ginnever, Bradford
Treasurer.
James Noble (01484)- 682115
Calendar/Flowers
Joyce Whitworth (01484)- 682992
Secretary
Ray Vickers (01484)- 420127
Church Warden Jennie Wilcock
We are on the main road between
Wooldale and Holmfirth, about 6 miles SE of Huddersfield.
Unitarian links
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