Explore the religious history of Armitage and Handsacre, Staffordshire, from the medieval parish churches to Methodist and Congregational chapels. Discover the people, buildings, beliefs and events that shaped religious life in the parish over the centuries.
A century-old Pledge Book from Handsacre Primitive Methodists preserves the signatures of dozens of local children who promised to abstain from alcohol. Their names open a fascinating window onto village life, the temperance movement and the ideals of the Band of Hope. Following many of those children into adulthood, this article reveals how the First World War transformed the lives of a generation that had begun with such youthful optimism.
A peaceful Sunday service at St. John the Baptist Church erupted into violence when a dispute over a family pew ended with one worshipper being dragged from her seat in front of the entire congregation. The incident led to a remarkable court case that sheds light on church life, social status and the surprising value once attached to pew ownership.
