NORTHOWRAM

a Hundred Chapels. She explained that there was a lot of unrest in the Anglican Church in the 17th Century, leading to C of E clergy being required t9o sign a Statement of Beliefs. A huge number refused to sign and had to leave their livings, many of the becoming itinerant preachers for the growing number of Non-Conformists. By 1740 a few chapel buildings stared to appear in the Calder Valley, for example Slack Chapel and Bent Head. They were built in the style of weaver’s cottages, with mullion windows, and were owned by the Baptists. John Wesley first visited Heptonstall in 1747 and he and his brother Charles were frequent visitors to the area. The first Methodist Chapel was build at Heptonstall in 1764 and by the 1800s there were many new chapels, mostly Methodist. These buildings served as Meeting Houses as well as places of worship. They were Educational Centres for children and adults and there were Lantern Lectures and Libraries. Sunday Schools didn’t only teach religious studies, they also taught general subjects. They were social centres and political centres. There were Women’s Groups and the

Barbara Gee

Shibden WI held their monthly meeting at Northowram Methodist Church. Wendy welcomed 38 members and visitors and introduced the guest speaker for the evening, a representative from Slaithwaite Hand Made Bakery. He explained how the business had started as a Worker’s Co-operative producing organic artisan breads. The bakery have a shop and a tearoom and try to provide a work/life balance for the staff. There were sample of the different loaves for the ladies to taste and some of the ladies were able to take some of the bread home. He was thanked