It is, of course, difficult to arrive at strictly accurate statistics by
which to determine the complete state of religious feeling at any given
time; but taking well ascertained facts for our guide we may at least get
an approximate result. The moral ground and receptacle of religious
truth upon which Mr. Fletcher had to work was the same as now; but that
ground may be, and is, we imagine, in a more favourable condition for the
reception of the seed now than it was in Mr. Fletcher’s day: facts also
tend to shew that men are less indifferent and supercilious now than
then, and that the means of influencing them are vastly increased,
probably as a natural consequence whilst the fruits are in proportion.
The channel of truth is wider and deeper, and the climate of thought and
feeling is more favourable, and although diversities may have increased,
there are collateral benign and ameliorating influences in operation,
producing mutual reverence for the good and the true, and a growing
tolerance of opinion where such diversity exists.
In Mr. Fletcher’s time, Protestantism, as represented by the Church of
England, and Catholicism as represented by a small body which does not
seem, so far as Madeley itself is concerned to have increased, stood
alone, if we except the Friends or Quakers, also small as regards
numbers. From the time of the Reformation, a few Catholic families of
influence lingered here. They worshipped first in a room fitted up as a
Chapel in the house of Mr. Wolfe, who gave shelter to King Charles.
Afterwards the Giffards of Chillington, gave some ground on which was
erected a house and chapel about the year 1760. Mr. Fletcher in one of
his letters mentions the disquietude the erection of this Chapel gave
him, and describes it as the new mass-house. The present Church of St.
Mary was not built till 1853. It consists of nave, side aisles, and
gallery, and will accommodate 500 persons, but if we except those who
attend from other parishes we question whether the congregation is
greater now than in Mr. Fletcher’s time. This however is not to be taken
as shewing the state of Catholicism in the neighbourhood, inasmuch as
missions have been established from this in Bridgnorth, Shifnal,
Wellington, and other places.
On the other hand, the Church of England has made great progress. It has
more than kept abreast of the increasing population, whether we consider
the accommodation it affords or its efficiency, its activity, or the
varied machinery by which it works. Not only has the mother church been
enlarged to twice the size of the one in which Mr. Fletcher preached, but
two others have been added in other parts of the parish, each of which
has become a separate ecclesiastical division. The population of Madeley
in the time of Mr. Fletcher may be judged of from the fact that there
were 900 families which, upon the usual calculation of five to a family,
would give 4,500 inhabitants. In 1801, when the first census was taken,
it had only increased to 4,758; and in 1831 to 5,822. In 1841 it was
7,267; in 1857, 8,524, in 1861 it was 9,461; and in 1871 it was 9,475; of
which number 4,345, are in the electoral and ecclesiastical division of
Madeley. The population therefore of the entire parish has little more
than doubled itself during the past century.
In Mr. Fletcher’s time, then, if we except the out places then being
opened for the convenience of small societies, there was church
accommodation only for 500, leaving 4,000 unprovided for. We have now a
church capable of holding 1000; and a chapel of Ease at the Aqueduct
holding 200; in addition to places of meeting at Lower Madeley, Blissers
Hill, Coalport, and the Lloyds.
In addition to this, a church has been erected at Ironbridge capable of
holding 900; and one at Coalbrookdale seating 850 persons. We thus get
Church accommodation alone for over three thousand, or nearly one third
of the population, as against 500 formerly. But the best criterion is
the activity and co-operation of workers and helpers, the machinery
called into play by those who, having themselves been indoctrinated, come
willingly forward to carry on the work of benevolence, education, and
religion, and who give evidence to their faith by their works.
At least one hundred more persons than the old church would hold now
attend service at 11 a.m. and 300 more than it could have held attend at
6 p.m. A Service is also held on the 1st Sunday in every month at 3-15
p.m. at which children are catechised, and the Sacrament of Baptism
administered.
At the Aqueduct Church, which was built in the year 1851, and enlarged in
1864, there is a service every Sunday evening, at which from 150 to 200
persons attend.