Hidden history brought to life at Hartshead church on Heritage Open Days
The historic St Peter’s Church, in Hartshead, opened its registers to the public to share details of births, marriages and deaths since the late 17th century.
Among its more noted characters was Patrick Brontë, father of the famed literary sisters, who served as curate here in 1811, while one of the church’s most famous tales is of how he reportedly turned a blind eye to Luddite supporters burying their fallen in a corner of the graveyard, while later vicars were vehemently opposed.
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Hide AdImelda Marsden, a life member of the Brontë Society who helped organise the open weekend, said it had proved a huge success with one descendent of his family among those in attendance.
Carole Fox, a cousin of Patrick’s sister Sarah, was among those who travelled to see the original registers.
“We had a super day,” said Mrs Marsden, who joined the present vicar and a number of visitors in dressing for the occasion.
“A lot of people came to find their relatives’ names in the register, going back to the late 1700s.
“A lot of the churches of the time have since been pulled down, but it’s still in situ, what was here. It’s got a lot of history.”