Rivington Unitarian Chapel

Rivington Unitarian Chapel is a notable church in Lancashire, England, which was founded in 1703. Its motto is 'Here let no man a stranger be'.

History

The Congregation dates from its separation in 1662 from the Parish church

English Heritage aided building restoration in 1990.

Founded 1662, Built 1703

The stirring of Non Conformity

The gulf between Anglican and Puritan in England fluctuated with successive monarchs, the breach widening under James I and culminating in Civil War in the reign of Charles I. The signatures to the Protestation of 1641-42 shows prior to the onset of the Great Civil War, Rivington seems to be Puritan. The Presbyterian system of Church government was in operation during the commonwealth. Its origins can be found in the reformation and the life and times of James Pilkington Bishop of Durham. James Pilkington's preaching in Lancashire in Edward VI's reign were mentioned by George Marsh. 1570.

The Civil War

The nearby village of Horwich, being only a few miles from Rivington has close links to the area. A chapel of ease existed at Horwich before the Reformation, for in 1552 it was found provided with the ornaments for saying mass. There were also three bells, 'which are the poor men's of the town, bought with their own money, and the said bells not yet hanged up.' In 1565 the commissioners for removing superstitious ornaments reported to the Bishop of Chester that they had taken from this chapel 'vestment, alb, altar-cloth corporas, and other idolatrous gear.' There was then a curate there, but the chapel seems afterwards to have fallen into obscurity and is not mentioned again till the survey of 1650, when Mr. Henry Pendlebury usually preached there on Sunday without any stipend beyond the people's offerings. The recommendation to make Horwich a separate parish was not acted upon, and it is probable that down to the Revolution nothing more than a Sunday service was performed by the vicar or curate of Deane. Early Non Conformists at Horwich Civil War Control

In 1669 numerous meetings of Nonconformists were reported at Horwich there was a 'conventicle,' but the ringleaders had been prosecuted. Among those whose estates were sequestrated for 'delinquency' by the Parliament in the time of the Civil Wars was Philip Martindale of Horwich, chapman. A non conformist service is mentioned in 1672 within the house of Thomas Willoughby.

After the Revolution, with the connivance of the vicar, the chapel was used by Nonconformists, but in 1716 Bishop Gastrell recovered it for the Established Church, and it has since been retained. There was a chapel stock of £190, in the hands of Nonconforming trustees, who refused to pay the interest when the chapel was taken from them.

It was during this period that Richard Pilkington and his family were closely associated along with Hugh Whittle with the Horwich Parish Church, the place then being a non conformist place of Worship. New Chapel located between what is now Brazley and Chorley Old Road was the creation of Richard Pilkington and exists today as a protected building. The Holy Trinity was opened in 1831. A separate ecclesiastical district was assigned to it in 1853.

A large proportion of the population refused to conform at the Restoration, but nothing is known as to their ministers or organization, until, as stated above, the chapel at Horwich came into their hands about the Revolution. It can be fairly assumed the same occurred at Rivington. On being ejected in 1716 the Dissenters erected a meeting-house called the New Chapel, Horwich; this was enlarged in 1805, and other alterations have been made more recently. A second Congregational church, known as Horwich Lee Chapel, was erected in 1856, replacing one built in 1774.

Civil War

During the Civil War terrible incidents that took place at Bolton must have at least found their echo in the village. The Levers and the Breres sided with the Parliament. It is known that at this time Rivington was strongly Presbyterian. One solitary mention has come down to us in the Royalist Composition papers, where, in the course of some evidence relating to events which took place at the time of the capture of Bolton in May 1644, a witness states that she and two other women were engaged in driving cattle from Eccleston to Chorley, "with an intention of driving them to Rivington where a part of the soldiers of the Parliament party lay," when a body of Royalists swooped down and captured the cattle. Evidently Rivington was being held as a sort of outpost, the Parliamentary soldiers were in force in Bolton, it is considered that the soldiers were there to hold the old road to the north which used to run over the shoulder of Rivington Pike, and along which tradition says King James came into England.

Ordinary People and the Civil War

Religion played a role in deciding which side the landowners would allied themselves, some switched sides as fortune moved. Anglicans feared that Catholicism would rise again, as it did through the times of Queen Mary, this time through Charles I. On the other hand the Catholics, many of who were landowners were fearful of the harshness that came with a rise in Puritanism. The Puritans took arms mostly with Parliament. The puritans had particular dislike towards the Catholics. All these factors come into play long before the Civil War, finding their roots in the ‘reformation.’

Those who did not wish to fight were often forced to fight by the landowners. Some were even compelled to fight at gunpoint. Leaseholders and Tenants were given little choice by their landlords. Parish constables conscripted some through ‘Local Justice’.

Pressed Ganged

In Lancashire, the Royalists press-ganged crowds of local men and marched them away to attack the Parliamentarian garrison at Bolton, 'the reare being brought up with troopers that had commission to shoot such as lagged behind, so as the poor countrymen in a dilemma of death, either by the troopers if they went not on, or by the shot of the towne if they did'. For the vast majority of ordinary men and women, it was factors other than those of 'class' or 'rank' that determined the eventual choice of sides.

The Protestation

The protestation in Rivington by which the inhabitants appealed to King Charles I to listen to his parliament showed that Rivington was most certainly Parliamentarian.

This Protestation was first drawn up in the early summer of 1641, and laid before the Houses of Parliament for the signatures of the members in May. The Protestation was an oath to' the true reformed Protestant religion against all Popery," and to defend "His Majesty's royal person, as also the power and privilege of Parliament to endeavour to preserve the union and peace betwixt the three kingdoms. It was attested by both Houses and then sent down to the country for signing. it may be said that from this act dates the commencement of definite Nonconformity here

Purchase of Pilkington Estates in Bolton

The allegiance of the Pilkington family in the Civil war was in opposition to Charles I. As a reward among several old deeds signed by Parliamentary Commissioners, a Mr. Pilkington, of Breightmet purchased a considerable amount of land in that vicinity, from the vast possessions forfeited by the House of Stanley.

The Battle of Wigan Lane

The battle of Wigan Lane occurred in 1651 and was in support of the new King Charles II. It was the last Battle of the Civil War in Lancashire. The battle took place on the road between Wigan and Standish. Sir Thomas Tildsley was killed in this battle. James Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby had refused to surrender to Cromwell his holding and title as King of the Isle of Man.

The Retribution 1651

Many families lost their lands for supporting the Royalist. The neighbouring families included the Horny family, the Norrise family of Adlington (Nicholas le Norreys of Burton and his son Robert had quit claimed to Hugh of Standish their holdings in Adlington in 1383) Edward Prescott of Standish, John Hoghton of Park Hall, Chorley, Hugh Pilkington and James Rigby of Coppull, William Anderton of Anderton and Thomas Langree of Langtree. The estates were sold in 1670 by the Crown to Edward Standish of Standish Manor. Edwards father Ralph died in 1665.

1662 to 1682 Samuel Newton

In 1662 over the road at Rivington Anglican Church Mr. Blackburn had taken the place of Samuel Newton who has been ejected from the Anglican Church. Samuel Newton remained in area and services were held in farms and Barns in the locality. - The Bishop's Muniments at Chester under date 20tn June 1674, in an official list of the clergy of the diocese occurs the following under the head of Rivington : Mr. samuel newton, minister. james pilkington (parish) clerke. Mr. Jo. bradley and Jo. hodson, school master. At Rivington. Bishops Wilkins was the person in charge of Rivington Church in this period. This inclines us to consider whether Rivington Church was under Presbyterian Teachings at this time as had occurred at Horwich. Rev. Samuel Newton remained in the vicinity. 1662 to 1689 History records that during the persecution local non conformists worshipped at a place called Noon Hill on the slopes of Winter Hill, Such a place it is felt unlikely as it is a forbidding place. Services were more likely held in Farms, remnants of the farms have been recorded as showing religious symbols. After Mr. Blackburns death in 1686 the Rev. John Breres of Chorley took to the services of the Anglican Chapel. Samuel Newton and John Walker were prominent in their preaching's in the area

Persecution 1664 The Conventicle Act

The Conventicle Act which followed in 1664 punished 'with fine, imprisonment and transportation on a third offence, all persons who met in greater numbers than four over and above members of the same household for any religious worship save that of Common Prayer'. Those who escaped or returned faced death. The families were open to being blackmailed.

Persecution 1665 The Five Mile Act

The Five Mile Act 1665 forced those who had been ejected to swear that they would never attempt 'any alteration in government either in Church or State' . Any refusing to take such an oath was forbidden to go within five miles of any borough or place where he had ministered 'unless only in passing upon the road'. The punishment was a fine or imprisonment.

1670 Trial by Jury being denied, penalty of death

With use of the Conventicle Act of 1670 the penalty for Worship as a non conformist were anything from a fine to that of the penalty of death. Trial by Jury being denied them, they were at the mercy of a magistrate. For motives of which no one shall be proud informers could simply swear an oath.

Conventicle Act of 1670

The Magna Carta by King John I (son of Henry II) in 1215. King John recognised that no one was above the law. The Magna Carta’s grants trial “by one’s equals”. In the period of the Conventicle Act English juries were judicial puppets -parroting the courts’ wishes. Not only did the courts dictate verdicts, juries were given no food or water, or access to the most elementary form of plumbing, until the expected verdicts.

With use of the Conventicle Act of 1670 the penalty for Worship as a non conformist were anything from a fine to that of the penalty of death. Trial by Jury being denied them, they were at the mercy of a magistrate. For motives of which no one shall be proud informers could simply swear an oath.

Licence Granted for a meeting place at Rivington 1672

Samuel Newton received a licence as a Presbyterian teacher' on 10 June 1672, and on 16th July was granted a licence for a meeting place at Rivington.

It is likely that the Nonconformists met at what later became Moses Cocker Farm on Sheephouse Lane in Rivington. Samuel Newton died 1682 and was succeeded by the Rev. John Walker, who died in 1702.

1682 Successor to Samuel Newton

Rev. John Walker, then of Charnock succeeded after the death of Samuel Newton in 1682 as the Presbyterian preacher.

Horwich and Rivington Anglican Churches Under Presbyterian Control

The Rev. John Walker had also officiated at Horwich Anglican Church and was much favoured by Lord Willoughby, a leading non conformist. In this period both Horwich and Rivington Anglican Churches were influenced by Presbyterians.

Grant By Thomas Anderton 1693

In 1693 the sum of £100 was contributed by Mr Thomas Anderton of School Brow. A deed dated 16 January 1693 was granted to five men (John Bradley of Rivington, schoolmaster, George Brownlow of Rivington, yeoman, Thomas Waddington of Heath Charnock, yeoman, Jonathan Kershaw of Anglezark, yeoman, and Roger Bromiley of Sharples, yeoman) who were to pay a rent of £5-10-0 per annum to Thomas Anderton until his death, and then to use the money for promoting the Protestant religion according to the Presbyterian belief, including the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants of Rivington, Anglezarke and Anderton. New trustees were to be elected as and when required.

1697 Bequest by Locals for the Presbyterian / Unitarian Chapel

In the will of George Brown low of Rivington, dated 28th November 1697, is a curious ambiguously worded bequest of £50 to John Bradley (the schoolmaster), Thomas Waddington of Heath Charnock, Jonathan Kershaw of Anglezargh, and Roger Bromley, his four fellow trustees, in trust that it "bee by them added and joyned to the stock of one hundred poundes '

The original building is said to have been plain and barn-like. A principle income for the Chapel in its earlier days was the interest on the gift of £200 that had been made by Mr. George Shaw of High Bullough.

1703 Rivington Presbyterian Chapel is built

The Unitarian chapel was built in 1703 in its position, today overlooking the village green on land sold to the Trustees for £2-10-0 by John Andrews Esq. of local stone and has a small bell-cote., The Chapel has its original interior.

1704 Trust

In 1704, the first trust was drawn up, and the chapel was vested in the hands of the trustees.

The document is made " between John Andrew, of Little Lever, in the County of Lancaster, Esq., on the one part, and the Right Honourable Hugh, Lord Willoughby, Baron of Parham; John Bradley, of Rivington, in the county aforesaid, schoolmaster, Thomas Waddington, of Heath Charnock, in the county aforesaid, gentleman Alexander Waddington son and heir apparent of the Thomas Waddington, John Brownlow the eldest, of Rivingion aforesaid yeoman, Richard Brownlow son and heir-apparent of the said John Brownlow, James Worseley, of Rivington aforesaid, yeoman ; John Morres, of Brookhouse, in Anglezargh, in the same county, yeoman; Thomas Bromiley of Sharpies, in the same county, chapman; and Robert Anderton, son and heir-apparent of Thomas Anderton aforesaid, yeoman, on the other part,"

1704 Andrews Gift of Land

The 1704 Trust deed recites that " Whereas a Chappel or Oratory of four bayes of building is lately erected and built by several Protestants dissenting from the Church of England upon a certain plot or parcel of ground lately severed and enclosed off and from a large close of ground situate and lying in Rivington aforesaid, containing 40 yards in length and 30 in breadth or thereabouts, being the inheritance of the said John Andrews, intended to be a place for Religious Worship only, and for an assembly and meeting of a particular Church or Congregation of Protestants dissenting from the Church of England, for the free exercise of their Divine Worship therein, and that the present and successive Minister and Ministers or Teachers of the said Congregation shall be Protestant Minister or Ministers of the Gospel dissenting from the Church of England, but qualified according to an Act of Parliament made in the first year of our late Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary of England, &c., King and Queen, intituled an Act for exempting their Majesties' Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the penalties of certain laws, or that shall be qualified according to some other Act of Parliament or Law that shall hereafter be made and Constituted in favour and allowance of such dissenting Protestants."1 The witnesses being " Ra. Ainsworth, Jas. Brownlow, and Peter Anderton." The first of these witnesses was Ralph Ainsworth, the Minister of the Chapel. (He died early in April 1716)

John Andrews - Land for Chapel and builder of the Pike Tower

John Andrews, his son married Anne Mort in 1682 had several children, including two sons, John and Robert. John Andrews was born in September 1684 and it is he who had built Rivington Pike Tower . He married Abigail Crooke daughter of Richard Crooke of Abram, in 1729 he acquired the Breres moiety of Rivington. It is this John Andrews who the above deed refers. His daughter Abigail married Joseph Wilson. On Joseph Wilsons death the property passed to Robert Andrews who in 1766 married Mary Darbishire and then later Robert Andrews married Sarah Cockshott.

1710 Bequest by John Darbishire of Rivington, yeoman

Several bequests came into the coffers of the congregation at Rivington Unitarian particularly one from John Darbishire of Rivington, yeoman, who by his will, dated 7th February 1710 gave “£10 for and towards the maintenance of a Minister at the Chappell lately built in Rivington for a dissenting Minister to officiate in." This John Darbishire wife was called Jane and their sons are Thomas Darbishire of Heath Charnock and and John Darbishire of Rivington. They are descended from the family resident at Darbyshires Farm, his father being John of Darbyshires Farm in 1641 and Ellen his wife, she died in 1637.

1714 Rivington Grammar School Rebuilt

After the Bishops Pilkingtons death and years of legal squabbles the Rivington Free Grammar Scholl of Queen Elizabeth I founded in 1566 became so badly run down that a replacement was built in 1714 and was built by direct labour controlled by the governors.

1715 Battle of Preston

1737 Bequests by Lord Willoughby and others

By 1737, other gifts had been added - Lord Willoughby £100, George Brownlow, late of Rivington, £50; Thomas Anderton, late of Rivington £20; James Worsley, late of Rivington, £10; Thomas Johnson, late of Heath Charnock, yeoman, £10; John Greenhalgh, late of Anderton, £5 and John Bradley £30.

1738 Mortgage of Great House Farm

The 1738 document gives a list of the Trustees of the Chapel at this date. The names are :Hugh, Lord Willoughby, John Andrews of Bolton , Esq, Alex. Walker of the same, gent. John Walker the elder, of Heath Charnock, clerk, John Walker of the same, chapman, his son. James Walton of Horwich, gent. Alexander Shaw of Anderton, chapman. George Brownlow of Anderton, yeoman. Richard Brownlow of Rivington, yeoman. Thomas Brownlow of the same, yeoman. John Nightingale of the same, yeoman. John Brownlow of Mooredge in Rivington, yeoman. Moses Cocker of the same, yeoman. Peter Anderton of Rivington, carpenter. Roger Leicester of Anglezargh, yeoman. Henry Ainsworth of Anderton, yeoman.

History 1754 to 1844

1754 The Presbyterian Chapel of Rivington Starts To Become Unitarian

It was in the year of 1754 that four of the congregation of Rivington Chapel, Hugh Makinson, Moses Cocker, Thomas Anderton and John Ashworth took up the cause of Presbyterian doctrine in opposition to the rise of Unitarianism. took up the cause of promoting an abandonment of Rivington Chapel in favour of Lee Lane Congregational Chapel at Horwich. The two doctrines differ in the manner of practice. Unitarianism allows for freedom of belief and interpretation of the bible in context, rather than in literal meaning. The Presbyterians do not follow the doctrine of freedom of belief. The Unitarian doctrine of belief in one God of all mankind. At this point Lee Chapel came to flourish as dissenters moved away from Rivington Chapel in favour of Lee Chapel. Lee Chapel sprung up as an offshoot of Rivington.

Lee Chapel Founded

With the growing number of Presbyterian supporters within the neighbouring Horwich combined with the Rivington congregation sufficient momentum had been gained to give rise to the building of a Chapel there and the foundation of the building was laid down in 1774. The Rev Pendlebury, Harrison and Priestly of Manchester were their first preachers. Lee Chapel was founded in 1765. It has a prior history before Chapel records start. The Chapel is considered to have been first founded in 1672 within the house of Thomas Willoughby at Horwich. The Chapel was not created by Act of Licence it was a licence granted to an existing Chapel. The Chapels of Horwich and Rivington were the first in Lancashire to granted Royal Favour, the Freedom to worship as non conformists. Hampson in his history of Horwich, 1893 says 'Rivington and Horwich were rent in twain".

At one time the Rivington Chapel members who could not agree to the Unitarian ways gathered at a dingle or quarry at the base of Rivington Pike, the founding words as quoted by Hampson were spoken at the outdoor meeting, on a cold and wet day " Brethren, something must be done", from those words the cottage was obtained, that cottage was to become Lee Chapel. Here commenced the very first Sunday school.

In 1760 four pious men left with a large flock of the congregation of Rivington Chapel to Horwich; Rivington Unitarian Chapel was at that time Presbyterian. By 1774 says Hampson the four men had founded a new building for Lee Chapel. The Rev. Leonard Redmayne, who's grave is to be smashed in 2007, was one of the first ministers to serve the Lee Chapel. He began his ministry in 1777, he ended his ministry in 1822 and died age 82 in 1829. During these years within the names you will find the Pilkingtons in baptism records, members of Rivington Chapel travelling to Lee Chapel.

By June 1787 a well organised Sunday School with over 100 children attending was launched at Lee Chapel, Horwich, this provided education to all families. The Chapel also provided food and clothing for the congregation. Lee Chapel had become the not just a Chapel but the centre of community life. The school is being demolished in 2007.

On recent inspection of the grave records the Horwich Lee Chapel (Lee Congregational Chapel) shows an extraordinary number of young people interred between 1884 and 1894. Although the graveyard is small within this ten year period alone there were around 205 under 18's interred at Lee Chapel, whilst in the same period the number of adults was around 104.

Rivington Anglican Church loses congregation

The Incumbent of the Anglican Church across the road was the Rev. John Fisher, B.A. He had licence to serve the cure of Rivington from 30th October 1763, at the "nomination of the Inhabitants of the Chapelry of Rivington” he continued to serve the cure until his death in 1813. At the Diocesan Registry at Chester several full sets of replies to Visitations of the Parish. In 1778 he returns the answers that there are 68 families in Rivington Parish, one Family of Note (the Andrews of Rivington Hall), no papists, 27 families of Presbyterians, no Independents, no Anabaptists, one Quaker, four families of Methodists, and no Moravians. " There is one Presbyterian who is a Gentleman," There is one Meeting House which is not licensed.

1787 The Manse

The manse, or minister's house, is situated on Sheephouse Lane close to the chapel. It was built in 1787 and is now a private residence. The money from the sale of the house was used in the in the creation of the Garden of Remembrance . The Rev. Samuel Thompson (January 1st 1881 to July 1st 1909) was the last resident minister.

Unitarian / Presbyterians Increase at Rivington

In 1789 the number of houses in the Parish [i.e. in the four villages) had increased to 88. There were "290 Presbyterians all of common rank except one Robert Andrews, Esq." One Meeting House licensed, Mr. Hibbert the Teacher, "but not qualified according to law." He states of the Grammar School that it is " Free to all parts of the world" and is governed by John Walker, Richard Pilkington, Alexander Gerrard, Richard Mason, James Magnal, all Presbyterians, and John Kershaw, a Quaker.

1795 Sunday School Commenced

Sunday School existed at Rivington Chapel as early as 1795 where local children were taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.

The 1813 Relief Act

The Relief Act of 1813 did not settle all matters. A bill was put by Peel in 1844, called the ‘Dissenters Chapels Bill’ to settle the matters of the trusts laid down by benefactors for certain chapels.

1821 Library Started by Rev. J. Taylor

An extension of Rivington Unitarian was erected by public subscription and also used at first as a Sunday School by the parish church. A good library started by the Rev. James Taylor in 1821 (which all for 1d per week) was housed in the schoolroom.

The Samuel Newton memorial Found During Building Work

On the Chapel wall, near the north door, is a small and cracked slate tablet in a wooden frame. It is recorded in Hampsons History of Rivington that a broken slate stone was found by workmen during demolition of a wall. The stone was saved by a local farmer, who being a member of the congregation set this broken stone into a frame . This is as it appears today and is now a monument at the Rivington Chapel. The Rev. Samuel Newton was buried age 48 March 11th 1682 at Rivington Lane , with his wife. The funeral service was by the Rev. John Walker reading from Saml 25.

1844 Use of Trusts based on twenty five years of use

The bill was to settle matters of claims to Chapels by various non conformist doctrine. A battle had been fought in the courts costs £40,000 and for a period of twelve years . The bill settled that as the original deed did not specify doctrines the period of twenty five years of use was long enough for the doctrine to be that of the Chapel.

Drumming Out Methodism 1890’s

Methodism was introduced into the area by a preacher from Bolton about the beginning of the 1800's. A room in a mill at Wilderswood was used for a time; but a chapel was opened in or about 1810. The Independent Methodist chapel in Lee Lane was built in 1867, the congregation having originated some years earlier in a gathering of teetotallers. The Primitive Methodists once had a chapel on Horwich Moor, and the Independent Methodists also have a place of worship.

A well known visitor to Rivington in this period was the writer Dr. Martineau.( born Norwich 1805 to Died 1900 Ordained in 1828 to Unitarian Ministry served as Unitarian Minister for Liverpool and Dublin ) who in 1893 recalled that' Methodists’ chose Rivington as a place to hold services in open air, choosing the village Green. The green being situated between both Church and Chapel was not a welcome place for such an invasion . The Chief at Rivington Church took up the cause of ridding them by banging on a tin as if it were a drum. On a fine summer afternoon Dr. Martineau recalled taking a walk half a mile from Rivington Village and hearing an awful din.

On getting closer he found a crowd assembled sitting on the village green and he asked what was going on. Of the onlookers, a farmer and his wife who had been watching whilst sat on a stile at the nearby New Hall (Alias Fernely) explained that the Methodists had again invaded the village, she said it is all our Parson, he's banging out the Methodists with that Tea Tray. The noise was described as repulsive and very loud. The Methodist preacher, with his field table was shouting louder in his sermon whilst the Parson increased his beat and loudness to sound him out.

The village green, part of the remaining Pilkington estate retained from the sale of the Old Hall was also subjected to a ‘flower power’ invasion in the early 1970’s attracting various sorts, this to was shifted on. The Green is the heart of the village and I know the descendants of that ancient family wish to see it preserved for common use.

The village green is said to be a remnant of the Anglo-Saxon Common where it was usual to build the houses around the common land. Rivington is said to be one of the "ington" settlements. The stone water trough dated 1860 situated at the lowest part of the green is a relic of the horse transport days and was placed here after the rearrangement of the roads due to the construction of the reservoirs. The stocks once used as a punishment today act as an ornament. The flagpole has been removed.

The Andrews Unitarian Graves

Over the door inside the Unitarian Chapel is a plaque dedicated to the Andrews Nieces. The other occupants of this large grave are four nieces of the above brothers, being daughters of their sister, Hannah Maria Andrews, who had married Robert Fletcher of Liverpool. Mary Ann, the only one who did not have her birthday in July, was born on the 24th of October 1813 and she lived the longest, dying on the 27th of September 1891 in her 78th year.

Recent history

English Heritage aided building restoration in 1990 and is a grade two star listed building. The old school house is not within the listed building regulations. The chapel is a plain, simple, rectangular building of local grit stone, with a bell-cote at the north end. It retains its original oak box- pews, the pulpit being situated about half way along the northeast wall. The pews are no longer individually owned or rented, from the past a brass plate on one door is inscribed 'Robert Andrews, John William Crompton, Andrew Crompton'. The Willoughby Pew is one that dominates the Chapel interior. The organ was a gift to Rivington Chapel when it was removed from Halliwell Road Unitarian Chapel in 1843.

In 1844 workmen discovered the stone when they were demolishing the breast wall of the village green in Rivington; a member of the congregation had the broken pieces framed and mounted on the chapel wall.

References

• This page incorporates text taken from The Non Conformist, Unitarian Chapel, Rivington, Lancashire