Sutton Parish Developments

Learned parish leaders did begin documentation among religious duties performed. Through Sutton-in-Ashfield they created some schools of learning that did aid even poorer children. Examples of the earliest provisions for educating Huthwaite residents dates from 1669, found in the Will of Ann Mason. A married daughter of an influential Langford family, she left past addressing of Fennybank Close at Huthwaite with Trustees appointed for teaching the poorest children in Bible reading. Similar motive dated 1724 recorded Elizabeth Boot also giving her lands addressing Pot House Close in Fulwood.

Throughout those years a gradual increase in population was becoming noticeable within these ancient divisional borders. Reaching the year 1800, Hucknall Huthwaite was recognised as requiring individual needs after steadily gaining around 500 residents. Allocation to a northern section of St Marys, called the Hucknall Huthwaite Aisle saw our first Curate in 1826. By 1840 and mainly supported by newly introduced framework knitting industries, our population had practically doubled to 1000 within just 40 years. Reference to Whites 1853 directory of Nottinghamshire gives a good parish description, while indicating Huthwaites relative growth within was to continue at proportionate rate, until modern mining.

Divine services were brought into Huthwaite by construction of our first National School, once located upon Blackwell Road. Land with £450 towards costs had been presented by the Dowager Countess of Carnarvon in support of providing class rooms. Building became completed 1867 under Rev Charles Bellairs, current vicar of Sutton who began conducting licenced Sunday afternoon services. Evening service became held by Mr C B Beecroft, Suttons Lay Reader before further aid was gained in 1873 when the Countess again, plus other eminent people including Hon C L Lyttleton, Lord Robarts, MP W H Gladstone and Rev C H Prance, helped raise more funds to support a Hucknall Huthwaite Curate.

The opening of our New Hucknall Colliery was predicted to eventually invite new employment for up to 1500 workers Whilst this number actually represented more than our entire village population count, that coal pit brought the most significant growth here into Hucknall-under-Huthwaite. By year 1900, village parishioner numbers had exploded into 4000. A number larger than the whole ancient parish a century before, and all still reliant upon one Sutton Parish Vestry who respectfully performed full baptism, marriage and burial ceremonies defined by leading roles through the Church of England.

The Anglican church once held powers of local government, including legal responsibility for supporting its poorest parishioners. Where congregations thus largely comprised of business and land owning voters, increasing numbers of labourers recognised ruling members could afford keeping strict divisional beliefs asserting elitist higher classed status. One good reason why alternative methodist faiths so widely gained popularity through early industrialisation, respectfully preaching religion relating poorer hard working class. Nearer the 20th century and generally following a rapid rise in poorer population numbers, most antiquated authoritative and administrative powers of parish guardianship, including local workhouses were transferred under the future control of newly elected Boards of Town and District Councils.

There comes dated evidence that farming Quakers had for centuries tried quietly living amongst this village. However, our first non-conformist chapels openly erected in 19th century Hucknall Huthwaite represented various Methodist factions. Subtlely branched from the firstly introduced Wesleyan faith, each gained unique popularity among this expanding mining community. Facing what seems combined competition our Sutton clergy appears slow before finally lending our flourishing 20th century township individual parish stature.