Seen
here is a group of Rufford School children in standard
5 in 1901. At this time there were six classes numbered
from one to six. The front row and half the middle
row are from lower standards, so it is suggestive
that classes were small. Mr. Haskell, the headmaster,
and strict disciplinarian, is standing on the back
row.
In these days, a Sergeant Leverton visited school
each Friday to take the pupils for `drill' and physical
training.
It was also this group of children who were taken
around the corner to the main road to witness the
passing of the first motor car through the village.
As
a thanksgiving for a safe return from the French Wars
in 1346, Sir William De Heskaith, grandson of the
first Hesketh of Rufford, endowed a separate chantry
in the Chapel of Rufford. And in 1352 he rebuilt the
edifice. The Heskeths worshipped at this chapel to
save themselves making the journey to Croston Parish
Church.
During the next couple of centuries the Heskeths repaired
and adorned the Chapel, and in 1522 Thomas built a
steeple with four bells and a south aisle. The church
at this time was considered wealthy and was evidently
flourishing.
In 1624 we can read that the chapel was at the peak
of its glory containing four brass effigies, two full
length tombs and two alabaster monuments. It was also
well furnished with ornaments and silver plate, with
vestments of damask, velvet and silk.
However, things were soon to change and around the
time of the Civil War Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary
Commissioners described the Curate of Rufford, the
Rev. Wood, as a `Godly Minister, well conformable
to the State and Government'. Being a strict Puritan,
he encouraged the destruction of sculpture, carvings
and stained glass and much was pillaged and stripped
bare.
The chapel then stood until 1736 when it was replaced
by a plain, but beautiful Georgian edifice.
In 1793, the chapel became a Parish Church in its
own right, an Act of Parliament separating the township
from the Parish of Croston. Then in 1869 the church
was demolished and the present Gothic structure was
built by public subscription at a total cost of £1,629,
and a historian probably painted the best possible
picture when he described it as `A perfect, small
brick and stone Victorian Church with good contemporary
pictorial glass with pillars carved with boldness
and originality'.
