Originally posted by Vonny North West
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:D:D
It is, isn't it!
George Fox preached in St Andrew's church yard, Sedbergh, in 1652. He apparently referred to the church as the "steeple house". He also preached on nearby Firbank Fell.
I dug a little further at the time when I was researching Brigg Flatts Meeting House and Robert Hayhurst, and found this little tidbit ..................
Writing after the events of that year [1652], Fox recalled the vision that he had after climbing Pendle Hill:-
‘And ye Lord opened to me at that place: & let me see a great people in white raiment by a rivers syde comeinge to ye Lorde; and ye place was neere (John Blayklinges where Rich: Robinson lived).
This identifies Brigflatts as the place in the vision ……. the riverside refers to the Rawthey River which flows past the end of Brigflatts Lane, and the reference to "people in white rainment" could be a reference to the large community of Flax Weavers living in the lane at the time, and the white linen they made.
‘And ye Lord opened to me at that place: & let me see a great people in white raiment by a rivers syde comeinge to ye Lorde; and ye place was neere (John Blayklinges where Rich: Robinson lived).
This identifies Brigflatts as the place in the vision ……. the riverside refers to the Rawthey River which flows past the end of Brigflatts Lane, and the reference to "people in white rainment" could be a reference to the large community of Flax Weavers living in the lane at the time, and the white linen they made.
Richard Robinson's house can still be seen from the Brigg Flatts Meeting House garden although it is a private dwelling and not open to the public
Later that week Fox went on to preach in the churchyard of Sedbergh church and then on to the great open-air meeting on Firbank Fell which is now usually identified as the start of the Quaker movement. The crag upon which Fox preached is now known as Fox's Pulpit and is a popular destination for those tracing the origins of the Society.
A permanent Meeting was settled by Fox at Brigflatts later in 1652 and has continued uninterrupted until this day.
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