Rivington Unitarian Chapel is place of Unitarian worship located close to Sheephouse Lane and The Green in Rivington Village, Rivington Parish, Lancashire, England. It was founded in 1703 and its motto is Here let no man a stranger be. The chapel has been designated as a Grade II* Listed building. ^1) 2),

Rivington Unitarian Chapel 1996 ³⁾

The Chapel is an active place of worship, services are held at 2.15pm on the first and third Sunday of each month, the bell is rung to call worshippers to Chapel as it has been since the chapel first opened.

The Unitarian symbol is a lit candle and each service commences with the ceremonial lighting of the candle, a bible is kept at the pulpit. Bible readings are not often part of the modern service, instead the bible is referred to in sermon. The service is with hymn music sung along to the church organ with silent prayer and ends with the chapels traditional vesper. The Chapel is licensed for weddings and conducts baptism and memorial services by arrangement.

The Christmas service here cannot be justly described in words, it is wonderful service. If snow also happens to fall it is like being inside a christmas card.

The adjacent Sunday School is in use as a Snack bar; this in turn ensures the upkeep of that part of the building and is today very popular with tourists visiting the area.

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Shaw Graves

Chapel Annex⁴⁾

English Heritage aided building restoration in 1990, the photograph of 1932 shows some of the work needed.

The chapel is built using gritstone with quoins at the corners, it has a stone slate roof with a small, hexagonal bellcote on the west gable, attached to Chapel. On the south side are two doorways with chamfered surrounds, over one door is a lintel dated “1703”.

The annex is attached on the chapels north wall and is two storey with a tall chimney and its own external door and windows.

The seperate schoolroom was built 30th November 1872, the stonework was completed by John Morris of Rivington.⁵⁾

The site, including graveyard is enclosed within a traditional dry stone wall with gates at the entrance with original iron gates.

Graves include former owners of the Manor and C.J Darbyshire, 1st Mayor of Bolton.⁶⁾ Iron railings on the Shaw vault were removed for the war effort in the 1940s. Within the grounds is a Plaque dedicated to the Eagle Street College.

Close to the front entrance in the graveyard are four door lintels rescued by members of the congregation in the 1960s from local demolitions. The first lintel on the right is inscribed A over AI 1732 and is from Rivington Hall, the second reads I over IR between 1698 and is from Wood's Farm, the first on the left is another from Rivington Hall dated 1713 and the remaining stone is from School Brow dated 1695.⁷⁾

In the grounds as you enter the main gates to the Chapel directly ahead of you can be seen the Walt Whitman Plaque in memory of the Eagle Street College meeting at the Chapel in 1913.

The walled garden is behind the Sunday School, after the space in the chapel yard gradually filled, leaving no room for additional new graves, it was decided to start an interdenominational Garden of Remembrance where relatives could use niches in the wall, or have names and dates inscribed. The Garden was dedicated on 19th September 1970 by Mrs. Amy Howarth who was at that time President of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. The grave yard is still in current use by descendants of families interred there and who own plots dating back to the 18th century.

Chapel House was a former manse, or minister's house that was situated on Sheephouse Lane nearer the School Tea Rooms. It was once part of the chapels property and is now a private residence. It was built in 1787. According to a deed dated July 31, 1786, Robert Andrews, Esq., of Rivington, conveyed land to Abraham Crompton, the younger, of Chorley , and others. In the garden of the Manse was an old sundial on the shaft of which is the date 1696.

The money from the sale of the house was used in the creation of the Garden of Remembrance in 1970. The Rev. Samuel Thompson was the last resident minister.

Chapel, Christmas 2010 ⁸⁾

The interior retains its original oak box pews, the pulpit being situated about half way along the northeast wall and being one of few examples in its original position, most in other chapels having been moved in the Victorian period. The pews are no longer individually owned or rented. There are a number of memorials inside on the chapel walls. The interior of the chapel had extensive repairs in 1960.

The annex is used by members of the congregation as a vestry and the upper floor is used for trustee and congregation committee meetings. The annex was used by the Home Guard and ARP during World War II. It has two entrances, one being from outside and one internally into the Chapel, the second storey is reached by a flight of narrow steps from within the annex, chapel records were kept on the upper floor before being moved to Lancashire Records Office at Preston. In 1987 there was a break in, two pictures were taken of former ministers. This site offers a reward for the safe return of the pictures to the chapel.

The church organ was a gift to Rivington Chapel when it was removed from Halliwell Road Unitarian Chapel in 1843 and was recently restored.

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 the stone reads ‘Ye Revd Samuele, Neufcone driven from ye Church on Bartholomew Sonday 1662’. The stone was framed and is fixed near the doorway inside the Chapel.

Many have assumed the Willoughby monument at Rivington Unitarian Chapel was placed there soon after the death of the 15th Baron, the original monument was a hatchment.¹⁵⁾ The large monument now present is a copy of one that existed at Horwich Parish Church, since missing. The copy was created in 1845 and commissioned by John Shaw of Rivington. The huge monument was moved to the Chapel on horse and cart. There is no record of the fate of the original.¹⁶⁾

A family tree is available of all 17 Barons of Parham.

The Willoughby Pew, in its day owned by the Baron Willoughby of Parham and is one that dominates the Chapel interior and bears a brass plate naming its former owner inscribed The Right Honorable / HUGH LORD WILLOUGHBY / F.R.S./ OF PARHAH OBIT 1765.

The Chapel was the place of worship of the family of the 12th to 15th Barons Willoughy of Parham and its founding is associated with Thomas, 11th Baron Willoughby of Parham who had lived at Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire. The 11th to 15th Barons Willoughby of Parham were members of the English House of Lords. The family homes were at 'The Knowles in Rivington' and 'Old Lords' in Horwich, Shaw Place and Worlsley Hall, Worsley, Lancashire. The Willoughby vault is in the grounds of Horwich Parish Church. The most well known in London was the 15th Baron who served as head of committees and chaired the house of Lords for many years.

1. Thomas Willoughby, 11th Lord Willoughby of Parham made his claim to the title after the death of Charles Willoughby, 10th Baron on the assumption there was no other valid claimants from his elder brothers line. His claim met no opposition and he was summoned to parliament by writ directed to Thomas Willoughby de Parham Chir. He died in 1692. He married Eleanor, daughter of Hugh Whittle of Horwich. Early non conformist meetings were held in the Barons home¹⁷⁾
   1. Thomas, b. 1641, died young. ¹⁸⁾
   2. Edward, died young.
   3. Hugh Willoughby, 12th Lord Willoughby of Parham his first wife was Anne daughter of Lawrence Halliwell of Tockholes. His second wife was Honora daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh who he married in 1692. He died without surviving male heir August 1712.
      1. Thomas Willoughby, son of Hugh & Anne, died young.
      2. John Egerton, step son to Hugh
      3. Honora Egerton, step daughter to Hugh
   4. Francis Willoughby married Eleanor daughter of Thomas Rothwell of Haigh, he first settled at Haigh but by 1686/7 moved back to Horwich and died there 1704.
      1. Thomas Willoughby died unmarried 1703
      2. Edward Willoughby, 13th Baron Willoughby of Parham died 1713
      3. Charles Willoughby, 14th Lord Willoughby of Parham born 25th Dec 1681 died 12 Jul 1715, he married Hester daughter of Henry Davenport of Darcy Lever. His wife Hester outlived him, having remarried later to James Walton. She died age 73 in 1758.¹⁹⁾
         1. Hugh Willoughby, 15th Lord Willoughby of Parham Elected Vice President of Royal Society in 1752 and President of Society of Antiquaries in 1754. Died unmarried 21 Jan 1765.
         2. Helena married Baxter Roscoe of Anglezarke and was titled The Honorable as daughter of a Baron. Hugh died intestate without a male heir, a deed of partition divided the 15th Barons estate between his two sisters, Helena and Elizabeth.
         3. Elizabeth, married John Shaw of Anglezarke, 1729 at St Mary's, Deane²⁰⁾ and was titled The Honorable as daughter of a Baron. She was co-heiress with Hon. Helena Roscoe.
            1. George Shaw, died 22nd Apr 1787, married Ellen Whiteside, interred Ormskirk.
            2. Charles Shaw, died unmarried 20th Mar 1827, age 87, interred Rivington Church.
            3. John Shaw, married Sarah Brownlow, daughter of Richard Brownlow of Horwich, died 24th Jun 1826, age 80, interred Rivington Unitarian Chapel.
            4. Daniel Shaw, married Mary, died 25th Nov 1787, merchant sailor onboard 'Kite', interred Bananon, West Africa. Daniel inherited The Clough, Rivington, Lancs in his mothers will.
            5. Elizabeth, married John Higson of Little Hulton, Bolton, died March 23 1831 age 83, (Issue).
            6. Hester, married Hart.
            7. Hannah, married 1/ Ebenezer Roscoe 2/ Rev. William Heaton of Rivington Church, died 8 Sep. 1819.
            8. Jane, married Barker of Liverpool
         4. John Walton, half brother of Hugh, 15th Baron.
         5. James Walton, half brother of Hugh, 15th Baron.
         6. Alice, half sister of Hugh, married Henry Vause of Blackrod.
         7. Hannah, half sister of Hugh, 15th Baron, daugher of James Walton & Hester.
   5. Jonathan, baptised 21 Dec 1664²¹⁾ married Ellen, 28th July 1696, died at Horwich the same year, his daughter was his heir. His widow returned to Anderton.²²⁾
      1. Ellen baptised 2 Feb 1696/7²³⁾inherited 'Old Lords, Horwich'²⁴⁾
   6. Mary, born 1652, ²⁵⁾ married Samuel Greenhalgh of Adlington.²⁶⁾
   7. Sarah²⁷⁾
   8. Abigail²⁸⁾

At this Chapel are the graves of the Shaw family, a local ancient family, with ancestry to Edward I and closely associated with Rivington and Anglezarke. The family were related to the Pilkington family of Rivington Hall who's son was James Pilkington, first Protestant Bishop of Durham. John Shaw, of the Anglezarke branch of the same family married Elizabeth Willoughby sister and heiress of 15th Baron Willoughby of Parham and from whom many descendants can trace their roots.²⁹⁾

The charity provides grants for children of Rivington, Heath Charnock and Anderton entering further and higher education.

The former Grammar School building in Rivington still belongs to Shaw's charity, and the Local Education Authority pays rent for its use.

Richard Shaw of Gilsbrook, was a trustee of the charity; his gravestone reads: In loving memory of Jane, wife of Richard Shaw (of) Gilsbrook who died 6th May 1893 aged 82 years; the above Richard Shaw born 28th December 1823, died 11 September 1897.

The descendants chart, will and other information of the Shaw family can be downloaded below:

• Will of Elizabeth Shaw
• Family tree of Shaw descendants
• Family tree of Alice Asshaw (Shaw) wife of Richard Pilkington, mother of Bishop James Pilkingon,

An important wedding here was that of J. M. Andrews the second Prime Minister of Ireland who in 1902 married Jessie (d. 1950), eldest daughter of Bolton stockbroker Joseph Ormrod also related to the Rivington and Anglezarke Pilkingtons.³⁰⁾

There are many notable families associated with the Chapel.

Before The Chapel

The Age of Enlightenment, in the middle of the 17th and to the 18th century, also known as the 'the Century of Lights' brought change to society introducing ideals such as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state. Prior to this period the Churches of England and the Church of Rome dominated Europe through strict laws and heavy penalty set by governments, the severity of the law existed through a mixing of politics and religion in a divided Europe where countries were often at war.

Samuel Newton was ejected in 1662 from Rivington Anglican church as he refused to comply with the Act of Uniformity. At that time it is believed he held services near Noon Hill, located close to Winter Hill on the moorland. He received a ‘general licence as a Presbyterian teacher’ and a licence for a meeting place at Rivington in 1672. The old farm, known as Moses Cocker Farm, Sheephouse Lane is closely associated with those who formed the Congregational Church at Horwich for non conformists. Samuel Newton died in 1682. The Rev. John Walker was the next minister, he in 1702. The next minister was Ralph Ainsworth in 1704.

Earlier meetings of the congregation here prior to 1703 were held in private homes or in the open air. A memorial stone in the chapel was found by workmen in during drainage installation many decades ago and now hangs on proud display. There are records of non conformist meetings at Horwich in a private home. Horwich Parish Church and Rivington Anglican Church were dominated by non conformists until the middle of the 18th century.

A local and well known family of the 17th to 19th century was the Willoughby and Whittle families. The Willoughby family became Barons of Parham and members of the the House of Lords by inheritance. The Willoughby family were leading non conformist and through marriage to the Whittle family had inherited a farm and large estate part of which became known as 'Old Lords', the farm ruins are on the border with Horwich and Rivington. The area is still known as the 'Old Lords' estate. The Willoughby family were relations of the Shaws and Pilkington families.

A record from 1702 at the Quarter Sessions, “Record Book of Dissenting Meetings” names the properties used at that time as the house of Arthur Davies at Rivington, a building called the Sheepcoate, Rivington and Pilkington House.³¹⁾.

Ministers

For years prior to the formation of the Rivington Chapel persons who were non conformist were fined, sent to prison and could even be put to death and at very least were deprived many basic rights afforded to Anglicans.³²⁾

The signatures to the Protestation of 1641-42 shows prior to the onset of the Great Civil War, Rivington village was with Parliament and Rivington was an outpost for the Parliamentary soldiers. The Presbyterian system of Church government was in operation during the commonwealth. In 1669 numerous meetings of Nonconformists were held at Horwich and in one particular meeting in 1672 was within the house of Thomas Willoughby, who later became 11th Lord Willoughby of Parham. During and for some time after the civil war the Rivington Anglican Church and school were under Presbyterian control until 1763 ³³⁾ and the nearby Horwich Anglican Church remained under Presbyterian control until 1716.³⁴⁾

August 22, 1662 was to become known as Black Bartholomew's Day as it was the day of enforcement of the Act of Uniformity that called for subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, and enforced the use by all clergymen of the Book of Common Prayer those refusing were ejected from the Anglican church. Bolton was known as “The Geneva of the North”, of 70 ministers ejected in the county, 40 of them were in Bolton, it was a strongly non conformist area.³⁵⁾Samuel Newton then of Rivington Church was one of the ministers ejected. ³⁶⁾He remained in area conducting services at farms in the locality.³⁷⁾

Samuel Newton received a license as a Presbyterian teacher' on 10 June 1672, and on 16th July was granted a license for a meeting place at Rivington, Samuel Newton died 1682 and was succeeded by the Rev. John Walker, then of Charnock. The Rev. John Walker had also officiated at nearby Horwich Anglican Church and was much favoured by Lord Willoughby. In this period both Horwich and Rivington Anglican Churches were under the control of Presbyterians. The Minister of Rivington was elected. Horwich was returned to the Anglican Church in 1716 and Rivington remained under Presbyterian control until c.1754, when Lee Lane Chapel, Horwich was created.

Rivington Unitarian Banner

In the 1670 Will of William Anderton of Rivington he left ten shillings each to Ministers John Walker and Samuel Newton. Samuel Newton received a license as a Presbyterian teacher' on 10 June 1672, and on 16th July was granted a license for a meeting place at Rivington. Samuel Newton returned to preach Presbyterian doctrine at Rivington Anglican Church 20tn June 1674, where his name appears in an official list of the clergy. Samuel Newton died 1682 and was succeeded by the Rev. John Walker, who died in 1702 both remained prominent preachers until their death. Rev Walker had also officiated at Horwich Anglican Church and his ability as a preacher gained him support from the Barons Willoughy of Parham, a leading local Presbyterian family. In 1686 the Rev. John Breres of Chorley and member of the Breres family of Rivington Hall took to the services of the Anglican Chapel, he was again another Presbyterian minister.³⁸⁾

In 1693 the sum of £100 was contributed by Mr. Thomas Anderton of School Brow in trust to five local men for promoting the Protestant religion according to the Presbyterian belief. George Brownlow of Rivington in his will of 1697 added £50 to the same trust. A further £200 was also added to the trust by Mr. George Shaw of High Bullough.

By 1703 the Chapel was built on land from John Andrews Esq. of Rivington Hall for a small payment in exchange for a 2000 year lease, effective freehold. By 1704 a formal trust agreement was signed between John Andrews and the Hugh, Lord Willoughby, Baron of Parham and other trustees for the use of the building as a Presbyterian Chapel.³⁹⁾ By 1737 the chapel was well funded. The trustees provided a mortgage for Great House and Barn in 1738.⁴⁰⁾

In 1754 four of the congregation went to form a Presbyterian chapel at Lee Lane Chapel, Horwich. There was sufficient numbers of both congregations for both Chapels to co-exist, with some of the congregation switching between the two. Sunday school commenced at Rivington in 1795 and the Sunday School building operated from 1821 to 1985. Rivington Unitarian stopped an invasion of Methodists in 1893 who tried to convert the Unitarians by holding service at the Chapels gates in open air.⁴¹⁾

The interior of the chapel had extensive repairs in 1960. In 1961 Capt. John W. R. Crompton of Rivington Hall, Chairman of Trustees, suggested a Pilgrimage as the means by which Unitarians nationally could celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of the ejection of 1662. About 360 people made the first pilgrimage in the following year, a dinner in the Tithe Barn being followed by the walk to the chapel for a service, with many having to sit outside. Since the 1980's it was decided to hold this event once every three years.

• A short history of the township of Rivington, Irvine,1904.
• British National Archives: The Nonconformist Chapel in Rivington, Lancashire and its Early Registers, Joan Holding and Colin D Rogers (A2A) URI 1/8
• History of Rivington: With Lists of the Clergy and Church Wardens, the Church Wardens Accounts, Particulars of the Rivington and Blackrod Grammar Schools an Account of the Pilkington Family and Copious Index - 1893 First Edition ISBN 978-0-9552873-0-5, ISBN 0955287308
• Horwich: Its History, Legends, And Church, Thomas Hampson, 1883 (Horwich Public Library)
• Records of a Lancashire Family from the XIIth to the XXth Century, R. Cunliffe-Shaw, 1940, authors edition with original unpublished notes, private collection.
• With Walt Whitman in Bolton, Paul Salveson, 1985, ISBN 978-0-9559171-0-3

*Rivington Unitarian Chapel] (General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

*Early Baptisms - Rivington Unitarian Chapel (Early Baptisms - Rivington Unitarian Chapel

*Early Burials - Rivington Unitarian Chapel] (Early Burials - Rivington Unitarian Chapel)

*1841 Census Data - Rivington] (1841 Census Data - Rivington)

*1881 Census Data - Rivington] (1881 Census Data - Rivingtont)

Further Reading

The Unitarian Heritage, An Architectural Survey of Chapels and Churches in the Unitarian tradition in the British Isles.