The Rossendale Rambler

If the name of Pendle Hill conjures up for you only visions of witchcraft, Old Mother Demdike and Alice Nutter, and if your only knowledge of the area was gained from reading, 'Mist Over Pendle', you may be surprised to learn that Pendle Hill is associated in some parts of the world and in America in particular with visions of a different kind, and far from fostering witchcraft, Lancashire's famous hill was the birthplace of a certain religion. But if anyone visiting the area for the first time imagines that, while they are travelling along the narrow twisting lanes on a moonlit night, they see a witch astride a broomstick fly across the hill's summit they can be forgiven, for this is the popular image that is kept alive by folklore, local history and the tourist industry. For Pendle and the surrounding area was indeed the home of the notorious Lancashire Witches.

One only has to visit the village of Newchurch-in-Pendle at the foot of the hill to come face to face with three old crones who, from their allotted spot outside the gift shop, stare with unseeing eyes, and many an unsuspecting tourist has been frightened almost out of their wits when suddenly and mysteriously these three witches have appeared to twitch into life.

Many artists have been inspired to capture the changing moods of Pendle's enig- matic hill. On a golden summer's day it stands serene, proud and beautiful bathed in sunlight, surrounded by pretty villages and lush fields. But when its summit is covered by damp, swirling mist or dark brooding storm clouds it has a strange and sombre fascination that is inexplicable. Perhaps it is then that all the folklore of the past comes alive and visitors may well imagine that they see a black cloaked figure glide silently down the lane.

But not everyone comes to Pendle looking for witches. In the sixteen hundreds, a religious young man, travelling towards Lancashire, is reputed to have heard the voice of God speak to him and command that he climb the 'great and high hill' there. The young man did as he was bade and when he reached the top he imagined that he saw the heavens open and he heard the revelation that he was to instigate the Society of Friends. The young man is reported as saying, 'The Lord let me see in what places he had a great people gathered.' The man was George Fox, a shoe maker by trade, who, because of his vision on Pendle Hill did, in 1652, become the founder of a religion that is now known as the Quakers.

George Fox made quite an impression on the local people with his preaching and, undaunted by any hostility that he did encounter, he soldiered on gathering together a faithful band of followers. From Lancashire, George Fox travelled on into Cumbria and continued to impress people with his religious fervour. But his ideas were somewhat revolutionary for the time and his mission to establish a new religion was not without its difficulties and opponents. Eventually, George Fox became embroiled with the law and was brought before a judge.

However, far from being intimidated by the court, George Fox told the presiding judge that he, the judge, should tremble at the name of the Lord. Whether or not the judge took heed of the warning is not recorded but we do know that it was because of those words, that the judge was inspired to give George Fox's new religion the nickname of Quakers and as such the movement became universally known.

The Quaker movement quickly spread through Europe and also became established in America where today there is a large and thriving community.

Now, when the Quakers visit Lancashire and the Ribble Valley in particular, as they do regularly, it is not to hunt for the Lancashire Witches, but to see for themselves the 'great and high hill' that George Fox, their founder, climbed, the hill of Pendle where their religion was born.

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