Nonconformity in Husborne Crawley
The Primitive Methodist chapel in Crow Lane about 1900 [X21/756/17]
Early Years
In 1672 Charles II issued a Declaration of Toleration for Protestants dissenting from the Church of England; this had the effect of some dissenting meeting houses registering with the Secretary of State. The Toleration Act of 1689 enshrined the right of protestants to dissent from the Church of England and, once again, encouraged meeting houses to register voluntarily with local quarter sessions |and Anglican church. Registration provided protection against persecution, laying a duty of protection upon magistrates and so was popular with nonconformists. Most registrations were made with quarter sessions until the middle of the 18th century, presumably due to the mutual antagonism of nonconformists and established Church. However, from that point registration with the Church, via the local archdeaconry |began to become the favoured method, because the archdeaconry Registrar would issue a licence at any time rather than during the days each quarter when the quarter sessions met.
Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has a reasonable number of registrations of nonconformist meeting houses in both the Quarter Sessions and Archdeaconry of Bedford archives. Registration continued through the 19th century even though persecution faded away - this was because registered buildings were allowed to claim exemption from parish poor rates, were exempt from control by the Charity Commission and were allowed to be licensed to carry out marriages. These things meant that registration became almost compulsory in practice for well established nonconformist meetings. This is fortunate for the local historian because sometimes the only surviving references to a nonconformist meeting occur as registrations.
The first surviving registration certificate for Husborne Crawley dates to 1792 and was lodged with the Quarter Sessions by Joseph Harris, glazier, for his own dwellinghouse, he was joined in registration by John Keech, labourer, John Turney, butcher and John Gurney, miller [QSR1792/56]. In 1830 a house occupied by William Fossey was registered by Fossey, Joseph Bowler and Thomas Herbert [ABN1/2 and ABN2/246].
Baptists in Husborne Crawley are first recorded in 1801, exactly a century after their first recorded appearance in Ridgmont. In the Ridgmont church book [X347/1] it was noted in 1801 that the minister from Ridgmont would preach at Husborne Crawley on Sunday evenings one month in every two "in harmony with the minister at Woburn". In 1827 the dwellinghouse of Joseph Higgens was registered by Higgens himself [signing by mark], William Cuttriss and Felix Higgins [ABN1/2, ABN2/228 and ABN3/3]. In the Baptist book for Ridgmont [X347/2] it was recorded in 1832 that Husborne Crawley, along with Steppingley and Eversholt was a "station" of Ridgmont.
In 1845 a building in occupation of John Sibley was registered by Joseph Brooks, Richard Boughton and Thomas Francis [ABN1/2 and ABN2/379]. Accompanying this latter is a note [X347/44] by Sibley that he was licensed to preach at Husborne Crawley by Rev.J.H.Brooks and that the forms and candlesticks of the meeting house were in his possession. Unfortunately there is no description of the location of this house. Given the reference to Husborne Crawley being a station of Ridgmont it is likely that there was never a purpose built chapel in Husborne Crawley but that members met in a private house or outhouse or barn.
Interior of Primitive Methodist Chapel about 1900 [X21/756/18]
It is likely that a place of Primitive Methodis worshipo was first registered in Husborne Crawley in 1801 when Samuel Harris registered his house "near the Swan" [ABN1/1 and ABN2/105]. The Swan stood on the south side of Crow Lane at the junction with School Lane. The Primitive Methodist chapel, built in 1867, stood facing it on the north side of the road. In 1805 Francis Beall, who had joined Harris in registering his house, joined Harris and Thomas Bennet in registering Bennet's house [ABN1/1 and ABN2/116], it is not described where this was. The first registration of the chapel building came in 1870. It is last noted in a Directory of 1920 but by the time of the next Directory held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service, 1924, it is no longer mentioned.