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I have said； it is most probable that where Haworth Church now stands； there was once an ancient 〃field…kirk；〃 or oratory。 It occupied the third or lowest class of ecclesiastical structures； according to the Saxon law； and had no right of sepulture； or administration of sacraments。 It was so called because it was built without enclosure； and open to the adjoining fields or moors。 The founder； according to the laws of Edgar； was bound； without subtracting from his tithes； to maintain the ministering priest out of the remaining nine parts of his income。 After the Reformation； the right of choosing their clergyman； at any of those chapels of ease which had formerly been field…kirks； was vested in the freeholders and trustees； subject to the approval of the vicar of the parish。 But owing to some negligence； this right has been lost to the freeholders and trustees at Haworth； ever since the days of Archbishop Sharp； and the power of choosing a minister has lapsed into the hands of the Vicar of Bradford。 So runs the account； according to one authority。
Mr。 Bronte says；〃This living has for its patrons the Vicar of Bradford and certain trustees。 My predecessor took the living with the consent of the Vicar of Bradford； but in opposition to the trustees； in consequence of which he was so opposed that； after only three weeks' possession； he was compelled to resign。〃 A Yorkshire gentleman； who has kindly sent me some additional information on this subject since the second edition of my work was published； write； thus：…
〃The sole right of presentation to the incumbency of Haworth is vested in the Vicar of Bradford。 He only can present。 The funds； however； from which the clergyman's stipend mainly proceeds； are vested in the hands of trustees； who have the power to withhold them； if a nominee is sent of whom they disapprove。 On the decease of Mr。 Charnock； the Vicar first tendered the preferment to Mr。 Bronte； and he went over to his expected cure。 He was told that towards himself they had no personal objection； but as a nominee of the Vicar he would not be received。 He therefore retired； with the declaration that if he could not come with the approval of the parish； his ministry could not be useful。 Upon this the attempt was made to introduce Mr。 Redhead。
〃When Mr。 Redhead was repelled； a fresh difficulty arose。 Some one must first move towards a settlement； but a spirit being evoked which could not be allayed； action became perplexing。 The matter had to be referred to some independent arbitrator； and my father was the gentleman to whom each party turned its eye。 A meeting was convened； and the business settled by the Vicar's conceding the choice to the trustees； and the acceptance of the Vicar's presentation。 That choice forthwith fell on Mr。 Bronte； whose promptness and prudence had won their hearts。〃
In conversing on the character of the inhabitants of the West Riding with Dr。 Scoresby； who had been for some time Vicar of Bradford； he alluded to certain riotous transactions which had taken place at Haworth on the presentation of the living to Mr。 Redhead； and said that there had been so much in the particulars indicative of the character of the people； that he advised me to inquire into them。 I have accordingly done so； and； from the lips of some of the survivors among the actors and spectators； I have learnt the means taken to eject the nominee of the Vicar。
The previous incumbent had been the Mr。 Charnock whom I have mentioned as next but one in succession to Mr。 Grimshaw。 He had a long illness which rendered him unable to discharge his duties without assistance； and Mr。 Redhead gave him occasional help； to the great satisfaction of the parishioners； and was highly respected by them during Mr。 Charnock's lifetime。 But the case was entirely altered when； at Mr。 Charnock's death in 1819； they conceived that the trustees had been unjustly deprived of their rights by the Vicar of Bradford； who appointed Mr。 Redhead as perpetual curate。
The first Sunday he officiated； Haworth Church was filled even to the aisles； most of the people wearing the wooden clogs of the district。 But while Mr。 Redhead was reading the second lesson； the whole congregation； as by one impulse； began to leave the church； making all the noise they could with clattering and clumping of clogs； till； at length； Mr。 Redhead and the clerk were the only two left to continue the service。 This was bad enough； but the next Sunday the proceedings were far worse。 Then； as before； the church was well filled； but the aisles were left clear； not a creature； not an obstacle was in the way。 The reason for this was made evident about the same time in the reading of the service as the disturbances had begun the previous week。 A man rode into the church upon an ass； with his face turned towards the tail； and as many old hats piled on his head as he could possibly carry。 He began urging his beast round the aisles； and the screams； and cries； and laughter of the congregation entirely drowned all sound of Mr。 Redhead's voice； and； I believe； he was obliged to desist。
Hitherto they had not proceeded to anything like personal violence； but on the third Sunday they must have been greatly irritated at seeing Mr。 Redhead； determined to brave their will； ride up the village street； accompanied by several gentlemen from Bradford。 They put up their horses at the Black Bullthe little inn close upon the churchyard； for the convenience of arvills as well as for other purposesand went into church。 On this the people followed； with a chimney…sweeper； whom they had employed to clean the chimneys of some out…buildings belonging to the church that very morning； and afterward plied with drink till he was in a state of solemn intoxication。 They placed him right before the reading…desk； where his blackened face nodded a drunken； stupid assent to all that Mr。 Redhead said。 At last； either prompted by some mischief…maker； or from some tipsy impulse； he clambered up the pulpit stairs； and attempted to embrace Mr。 Redhead。 Then the profane fun grew fast and furious。 Some of the more riotous； pushed the soot…covered chimney…sweeper against Mr。 Redhead； as he tried to escape。 They threw both him and his tormentor down on the ground in the churchyard where the soot…bag had been emptied； and； though； at last； Mr。 Redhead escaped into the Black Bull； the doors of which were immediately barred； the people raged without； threatening to stone him and his friends。 One of my informants is an old man； who was the landlord of the inn at the time； and he stands to it that such was the temper of the irritated mob； that Mr。 Redhead was in real danger of his life。 This man； however； planned an escape for his unpopular inmates。 The Black Bull is near the top of the long； steep Haworth street； and at the bottom； close by the bridge； on the road to Keighley； is a turnpike。 Giving directions to his hunted guests to steal out at the back door （through which； probably； many a ne'er…do…weel has escaped from good Mr。 Grimshaw's horsewhip）； the landlord and some of the stable…boys rode the horses belonging to the party from Bradford backwards and forwards before his front door；