Earby Through 60 Years (16)

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Earby Through 60 Years (16) 

Handel, Haydn and Novello(by John Hartley) 24/02/1939
For sixty-five years, until the end of the Bracewell regime in 1885, there was a fine association of musical culture between the two places of worship in the village, which belonged to the Baptist and Methodist denominations. To some extent the popularity of chapel going was due to the facilities provided for musical expression and training, in addition to the admission into the enchanted realm of Christian literature. These facilities were highly prized by the people generally and did much to cheer the lot of the hard working sons of toil.It must freely be conceded that, in some respects, the Baptist community were rather more influential in standing and numbers than their Methodist friends, and this has been maintained for more than a century. At the beginning of their organic church life, in 1819, they had a minister of their own, William Wilkinson ("Owd Billy"), who was connected with the leading clan in the village. He was "a man of parts," as the Scots would say. He was a diligent pastor, and "ran" a day school and a night school. To secure funds for a chapel he went to London, where he preached in one of the principal chapels in "the capital city of the nation." He walked there and back, and also preached in Baptist chapels en route. The Chapel was opened in 1821, and Mr. Wilkinson was the pastor until 1849.
In all their history the Earby Baptists have been renowned for their love of music and the vigour of their congrega­tional singing. They were particularly accustomed to singing in their homes, and practising for their special events. The "string players" in the village were mostly associated with the Baptists, and they nearly monopolised the Brass Band after it was formed. At the "Earby Feast Walking Day" they "had to play" for the Baptists, and the Wesleyans had to be content with "Barlick Band !"

A Musical Family
After   the new chapel, "Mount Zion," was opened in 1861, the musical pre­dominance continued, and  it was  not long before they got a new pipe organ, "with two manuals"! The organist was William Hartley, and to distinguish him from another William Hartley ("Too-a -tal") a noted 'cello player, the younger man was known to everyone as ''little Bill Hartley." He was a whole-souled musician, and when he was seated on his "throne" (the organ stool) it seemed as if he was seated on springs. More significant still, his numerous family, with, perhaps one exception, had musical names bestowed upon them. Thus there was Handel, Haydn, George, Frederick, Novello, Lloyd and, last of all, poor "Jim." The eldest and the youngest were fine 'cello players, but it was Lloyd who gave the family real musical dis­tinction. When quite a boy he was a musical prodigy, and eventually attained renown as a solo pianist in Yorkshire musical circles, principally at Leeds and Harrogate. He is also noted as a teacher of the pianoforte' and the organ. On several occasions he has broadcasted from the Leeds studio of the B.B.C.
Perhaps the crowning point in William Hartley's musical career was when the new organ, by Driver & Haigh, of Brad­ford was installed in the chapel, in 1887. It was a famous organ at the time for an industrial village of the type of Earby, and they were proud of its size and musical capacity. It stretched across the back of the chapel, and occupied two-thirds of the space in width, and was curved in shape to correspond with the pews in the gallery. It was also provided with a detached console, so that the organist always had the choir in full view.
When the opening ceremony was cele­brated the place of honour at the organ was occupied by Mr Stocks Hammond, replete with gown, and he was a wonder­ful spectacle to the crowded congregation. All went well until the choir rose to sing an anthem, but before four bars had been sung the choir and the organist were "at sea."    "William" stopped the show and in a voice that all could hear he exclaimed, "A' think we'll start ageean." Then he changed his beat from two in a bar to six-eight time, and said, quite aloud, one, two, three, four, five, six, all then all went well, and  "Bingley Jim," the organ blower, had a glorious time.

In the Minister's Ear.
William was always noted for his outspokenness in the speech that he was accustomed to use in his ordinary conversation. When the Rev.Walter Wynn conducted his first harvest festival services in the chapel William said to the minister, in the vestry before the service: “Na' don't think as  people have come to hear the’ talk; they've come to hear me play as well!” Thus  William occasionally at­tempted to remind the minister that there was someone else who counted in the chapel services, and no one enjoyed these outbursts of the organist more than Mr. Wynn.
A noted acquisition to the musical ranks of the chapel, after the opening of the new organ, was Mr., Joseph Foulds. As a boy he had lived at Barnoldswick, and William Bracewell got him to play the harmonium at the Wesleyan School. When the family removed to Nelson he served in a similar capacity at Cooper Street School. Then he became asso­ciated with Black Lane Ends School, near Colne, and on his marriage he settled at Sough Bridge, and conducted Kelbrook Chapel Choir. "Joe" was a fine tenor singer, too, and as exuberant a musician as could be found in the country­side. He had a son called Haydn, who as a good bass singer, and two daughters, Pollie and Jennie, who were charming vocalists.
Under the direction of Mr. Foulds the choir made much progress, for "Joe" was a trained singer himself, and a frequent visitor to musical festivals and high-class concerts. He put his best into everything he did, and he expected others to do the same.After William Hartley's retirement, Mr. W. N. Berry officiated as organist for a few years. "Nehemiah," as he was generally known, was a product of Cowling Hill, and a schoolmate of Philip Snowden. He was profoundly affected by the influence and training of his old schoolmaster, John Heaton, and "Excelsior" was always his motto. As an organist he was not only painstaking, but always entered into the spirit of the music he played. He was a master of technique, but greater still in intelligent expression. As a performer he always bore a modest demeanour, and was given to under rating his own ability. I think the greatest pleasure of his musical experience was the accompanying of Edna Thornton on some of her visits to Earby, and the musical evening's at the home of her hostess.

Organist from Kelbrook.
In the meantime, Joe Foulds was on the look out, and he found a youth of the same calibre as Nehemiah Berry, and that was his nephew Edwin, the son of Jonathan Berry, of Kelbrook. At the outset of his career Edwin was his uncle’s pupil, and after a short period with Mr. Aldersley at Colne, he went to Mr. H.A. Fricker, the Leeds City organist. He was one of Mr. Fricker’s most promising pupils, and he (Mr. Fricker) was extremely sorry when his young friend had to abandon his musical career owing to business reasons occasioned by the death of his brother. During his lengthy term of service as the Baptist Church organist he gave unbounded satisfaction, and he was a tower of strength to the choir and its conductors. Perhaps the best testimonial to his eminent services had been the unstinted appreciation of visiting artistes, who held him in the greatest esteem.
After about 20 years of invaluable service, Mr. Foulds was succeeded as choirmaster by Mr. Levi Turner. "Levi" received his first lessons in music from H. C. Smith, and after another spell with "Bill" Hartley he went to Mr. Skippings, at Broughton Hall, who was a very skilful musician. As a player he got a lot of experience at the Wesleyan Day School, where he was a pupil teacher, and as a youth he acted as assistant to H. C. Smith, and frequently went with the Wesleyan choir to concerts in the villages around.
He has had nearly sixty years associa­tion with the Baptist choir, which was intercepted by residence at Chatham and Sheffield. At the former place he was a pupil of Dr. E. J. Hopkins, organist of Rochester Cathedral, and during his stay at Sheffield (where he was a teacher at the Intake Council School) he was brought into association with Dr. Duffel, conductor of the Musical Union, and with Dr. Coward, conductor of the Sheffield Choral Society. Returning to his native heath, he entered upon a period extending over thirty years in his role of conductor.
In recent years the choir has given such works as the, "Messiah," "Judas Maccabeus," "Elijah," "Hymn of Praise," "The Holy City," "Stabat Mater" and "Forty-second Psalm."


Visiting Singers.
In the realm of operatic music, the performances include "Robin Hood," "Highwayman Love," "Merrie England," "Julius Caesar" and "Dogs of Devon."
Visiting artists for concerts and musical services include many dis­tinguished vocalists, such as Hilda Blake, Lilian Cooper, Eva Rich, Dora Gibson, Dora Labette, Maryan Elmar, Ida Bloor, Isobel Baillie, Minnie Rigby, Lilian Dillingham, Mabel Sadler, Lilian Mitchell, Florence Fielding, John Collett, Sydney Coltham, Wm. Heseltine, Wil­fred Hindle, Walter Glyn, Fred Popplewell, Tom Child, Tom Pickering, Joseph Farringdon, Foster Richardson, Frank Phillips, Stanley Jepson, Herbert Brown, Hamilton Harris, Walter Scott, Richard Charlesworth, Dan Billington and Fred Sugden.
Among their own singers who have distinguished themselves may be noted the two sisters (both sopranos) Clara and Grace Watson; Mary Higson, Millicent Turner, James Turner and Virgil Crowther, a splendid bass singer who took many prizes at musical festi­vals.
Quite recently Mr. Levi Turner has had to relinquish his post as conductor owing to ill health, and he has been succeeded by his nephew, Mr. John Smith, who has officiated as organist for a few years. Mr. Turner served as a teacher for 25 years at the Church School, Barnoldswick.
A very happy event took place in the chapel, before the new school was opened, in which the Baptist community had the assistance of musical friends from Earby, Kelbrook, Thornton, Salter­forth and Barnoldswick. The united choir sang several choruses from the oratorios, and they were assisted by Miss Standing, of Padiham, and Mr. Sharp, of Keighley. A small orchestra included V. Wilkinson and James Brown (violins), W. Sugden ('cello), T. Whitaker, Green Hill, and C. Holgate, Keighley (cornets), W. Sephton (tenor horn), Dan Windle (harmonium), Wm. Hartley (pianist and conductor,). A pianoforte duet was also given by Jas. W. Brown and Henry Wilkinson. The proceed­ings terminated with a dialogue "Honesty's Reward," by Messrs. Jas. Bailey, John Cowgill, G. P. Hartley, H. Morgan and H. C. Smith. Two members of this sketch party were prominent Wesleyans.

An Abrupt Ending.
It is on record that on January 20th, 1877, a "public entertainment" was given in the new Baptist School, which was presided over by Mr. James Brown, the leading Wesleyan layman. The Earby Glee Party opened the musical proceedings by singing, "with their usual ability and success," "The Bells of St. Michael's Tower," and  later they rendered "Fair Flora Decks" and "Life's a Bumper." A local artiste, Mr. Joseph Holgate, sang very pleasingly "Angels ever bright and fair" and "Shells of the Ocean." The attraction of the evening was Miss Pauline Had­dock, of Leeds, one of the most famous singers in the country, who contributed a varied selection of songs and ballads in a most excellent style, which was crowned by a moving rendering of "Home, sweet home." There were several readings and recitations by adult performers, including a droll piece by Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, on "Sam o' Nathan's and the shampooer." A well-known reciter, Mr. E. Hall, of Accrington, wearied the audience out completely by selections from "Besom Ben," and the meeting had to be closed abruptly.
More than forty years ago a powerful two-manual harmonium was secured for the Sunday School, and to provide the necessary funds the choir undertook a musical tour on Christmas Eve of that year. Beginning at Albert Bailey's shop in Water Street, their accustomed starting point, they called at W. N. Berry's in Stoneybank Road, then pro­ceeded to Rake Bank, Coolham farm, Cockit farm, Bleara-side and on to James Proctor's at Lothersdale. The return journey was by way of Dodgson's farm, Windle Field farm, and finished up at "The Mount."
They got the required amount, but they were all so hoarse that they could not sing in the evening of Christmas Day at the annual entertainment.


"Old Abe's" Voice.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the "Mount Zion" choir has been the family associations, which have contri­buted so much strength to the cause. When members of these musical families were admitted into the choir it was not a spasmodic adventure; they usually "signed on" for the "duration” of their vocal existence. What a delight it is to remember "Old Betty Green" (the wife of Charles Greenwood) and her two daughters, Alice and Pollie. More notable still is the case of "Old Abe", Turner, with his sons Tommy, Fred, Johnnie, Jim and Will—a men's choir in themselves. It is still boasted that "Abe" had a voice which ranged from top G down to B flat, and that he was equal to half-a-dozen ordinary singers. Tom had one of the finest bass voices ever known in Earby, and Will was quite a "star" tenor. Then there was Hartley Wilkinson (Hartley o' John o' Dick's), the village blacksmith, who had a lovely light tenor voice; and accompanying him in the musical circle were his daughters, Mary Ann and Martha.
Another family of Turners (brothers and sisters), John, Jesse & Darius, Martha and a neice Bessie; Also several members of the Windle group including Tom, Jane and Miriam.Another veteran was Harry Wormwell, with his children, Jimmy and Janie. 
Congregational and choir singing at the present day may be more refined and cultured, but looking back I would venture to assert that the singing of the Earby Baptist community reached its high water mark when "Sankey's Hymns" became "all the rage" fifty to sixty years ago. I can recall a quiet Summer Sunday morning of that period, when I stood in the back playground of the Wesleyan School (only about a dozen yards from the Baptist School) and heard an outburst of song, the thrill of which has remained clear through the passage of the years. The doors and windows of the school were open, and the singing was perhaps more impressive on the outside of the building than inside. This was the song they sang :— 
Ring the bells of Heaven!
There is joy to-day,
For a soul returning from the wild.
See! the father meets him,
Out upon the way,Welcoming a weary, wandering child! '  
Chorus:
Glory, glory, how the angels sing!
Glory, glory, how the loud harps ring!
'Tis a ransomed army,
Like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free. Craven Herald and Pioneer 24th February 1939
Transcribed by John Turner March 2006
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This is the penultimate in this series and this article appears to be missing from the site.

Edited by - Mixman on 19/12/2009 6:24:58 PM

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