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The History of St Paul's Church, Stalybridge: Factsheet

1851 Religious Census

1851 Religious Census - or Census of Accommodation and Attendance at Worship

The only census of religious attendance ever held in Britain took place in 1851. The methodology used has been criticised - e.g. there was no attempt to identify people who attended more than one service, and no count was taken of any early services which may have been held. The results came as a shock to the established church, suggesting that it commanded the allegiance of only part of the nation and, in particular, that it had failed to reach the majority of the working population.
Below are the census returns for St Paul's and Millbrook School which was also part of the parish.
Name and description of church or chapel:  St Paul's Stalybridge, and ecclesiastical district. 
Where situated:   Parish of Stayley, County: Chester. 
Under what circumstances consecrated or licensed: 1839 an additional church.  
In the case of a church or chapel consecrated or licensed since 1 January 1800 state how and by whom erected:  By subscriptions.  
Cost, how defrayed: Private subscriptions, Total £4100.  
How endowed:....Other permanent endowment:.   £1000  
Space available for public worship:   
Free sittings: 350    
Other sittings: 750    
Total sittings: 1100    
Estimated number of persons attending divine service on Sunday March 30, 1851
  MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING
General congregation 350 400 60
Sunday Scholars 250 250 --
  600 650 60
Average number of attendants during months next preceding March 30, 1851
  MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING
General congregation 400 500 60
Sunday Scholars 250 250 --
  650 750 60
Confirmed 31 March 1851, W. Worth Hoare, Minister, Stalybridge.
Morning and Evening prayer would probably form the morning and afternoon services, which were the main services of the day. The evening service was likely to be one aimed at working people.
       
Stayley (Township Part of)
Licensed school house, Stayley.
(This was in Millbrook Village).		 Licensed 1849 as an additional place of worship
Provided by subscription and by a grant from the Privy Council. Total cost £1000
Space available for public worship:   
Sittings: 250 all free
Estimated number of persons attending divine service on Sunday March 30, 1851
  MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING
  -- -- 50
NB: No average attendances were given, having only recently opened. Signed: Wm H Hopkirk, Minister. (Presumably the curate)
   
The total attendance figures for Stalybridge are given on the right. These figures are from: Alice Lock "The role of local clergy and ministers in the Stalybridge Riots of 1863" in Looking back at Stalybridge. Tameside MBC. 1989.

* The figure for Anglicans must be an estimate as neither Old nor New St George's submitted a return. St Paul's and Millbrook contributed 1360 to this figure.		 Anglicans
 1925*
Roman Catholics 1757
Congregationalists 1645
Wesleyans 1050
General Baptists 972
Primitive Methodists 549
Particular Baptists 558
Latter Day Saints 151
Christian Brethren 99