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  • The Evangelical Revival

The Evangelical Revival

  • ER
    The ecclesiastical provision within Halifax parish, the largest parish in Yorkshire and the third largest in England, was increasingly stretched as its population began to grow with the expansion of the textile industry in the eighteenth century. Evangelical Nonconformity and especially Methodism thrived in the industrial villages and hamlets of the sprawling parish, posing a fresh challenge to the Established Church in Halifax, which by the end of the century had its first Evangelical Vicar.

    John Wesley first visited the parish of Halifax in 1742 when he paid a courtesy call on the vicar Dr George Legh, describing him as ‘a candid enquirer after the truth’. Legh allowed Wesley and other Evangelical Anglicans to preach at the Parish Church and on one occasion lent Wesley his servant and horse to enable him to preach at Huddersfield. The Revd Dr Henry William Coulthurst, the first Evangelical Vicar of Halifax, founded a second Anglican church for the expanding town in 1795 dedicated to the Holy Trinity. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the first Halifax Dispensary in 1807 and the foundation of the Loyal Georgean Society. As a magistrate he later played a prominent role in suppressing the Luddite disturbances in the parish in 1812.

    His successor, the Revd Samuel Knight (1757-1827) was the son of the Nonconformist Titus Knight, a coal-miner convert of John Wesley, who founded the neighbouring Square Chapel, the most magnificent Nonconformist Meeting House to be constructed in the town during the Georgian era.
  • ER2
    During this period, Halifax also gained a reputation as ‘the most musical spot for its size in the kingdom’. Joah Bates, the talented son of Henry Bates, the Halifax Parish Clerk and innkeeper of the Ring O’ Bells, sang in the Parish Church choir and later achieved celebrity as the Director of the Handel Commemoration in London in 1784. He was probably responsible for introducing Handel’s celebrated oratorio, The Messiah, to the residents of Halifax. The oratorio was performed after the installation of an organ built by the renowned Swiss organ builder John Snetzler at Halifax Parish Church in 1766. The first organist was William Herschel, later the King’s Astronomer. One visitor to Halifax, commented in 1788 that even clothiers heaving bales of cloth at the neighbouring Piece Hall could be heard roaring out snatches from the Oratorio such as: ‘ For his yoke is easy and his burden is light’.

    Text researched and written by Dr John A. Hargreaves

    Images:

    Artist’s impression of a gargoyle at the top of the Bell Tower; ‘angel’ detail featured in one of the stained glass windows, and the wooden ‘reed’ pipes from the organ (both Chris Lord Photography)

EVENTS CALENDAR

26
Apr
Organ Recital by Charles Edmondson
Organ Recital by Charles Edmondson
07
May
May Day Bank Holiday Organ Recital by Dr Simon Lindley
May Day Organ Recital
16
Jun
The Doghouse in association with The Grayston Unity are very pleased to present: Sat 16th June - Richard Dawson + Jim Ghedi (support).
The Doghouse in association with The Grayston Unity are very pleased to present:Sat 16th June -...
April 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
RSCM Junior Millenium Youth Choir
11:00
The RSCM Junior Millennium Youth Choir is a new initiative for young boy and girl choristers
Date : 06 April 2018
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Organ Recital by Charles Edmondson
13:00
Organ Recital by Charles Edmondson
Date : 26 April 2018
27
28
29
30

Services Coming Up

22
Apr
Evensong
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50...
23
Apr
Morning Prayer
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
23
Apr
Daily Eucharist
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
April 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
Early Eucharist Service
09:00
This is a said service (approx 45 mins) in traditional language which takes place in the Holdsworth
Evensong
16:00
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50
Date : 01 April 2018
2
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 02 April 2018
3
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 03 April 2018
4
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 04 April 2018
5
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 05 April 2018
6
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 06 April 2018
7
8
Evensong
16:00
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50
Date : 08 April 2018
9
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 09 April 2018
10
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 10 April 2018
11
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 11 April 2018
12
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 12 April 2018
13
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 13 April 2018
14
15
Evensong
16:00
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50
Date : 15 April 2018
16
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 16 April 2018
17
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 17 April 2018
18
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 18 April 2018
19
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 19 April 2018
20
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 20 April 2018
21
22
Evensong
16:00
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50
Date : 22 April 2018
23
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 23 April 2018
24
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 24 April 2018
25
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 25 April 2018
26
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 26 April 2018
27
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 27 April 2018
28
29
Evensong
16:00
This is a quiet, contemplative service which is mostly sung and in traditional language (approx 50
Date : 29 April 2018
30
Morning Prayer
09:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Daily Eucharist
12:30
A 30 minute service of prayers, confession and Eucharist.
Evening Prayer
16:00
A 20 minute spoken service in modern language.
Date : 30 April 2018

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