Thomas Crowther


Thomas Crowther was an evangelical clergyman in the Church of England, a friend of the Brontës, and the first vicar of the church of St John in the Wilderness in Cragg Vale from 1822 until his death in 1859.

Biography

Early life

He was the son of a weaver and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He married Phebe Wilkinson on 6 February 1815 at Thornton in Craven. He was made a deacon in 1821 and a priest in 1822, serving as a curate in Overton, North Yorkshire, until coming to the newly built church of St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, being installed on 5 July 1822.
He was a regular visitor to the Brontë parsonage, and appears to have visited at least once in each year. In 1854 he visited the Howarth Church to assist and performed 10 baptisms in a day. On the same day he preached the Sunday School sermon which raised the substantial sum of £18 10s.

Opposition to child labour

He was a supporter of men such as Richard Oastler and John Fielden in his opposition to child labour in the mills. He also worked to support the passage of the Factories Act 1847. Crowther spoke in support of Richard Oastler at public meetings held at the Old Assembly Rooms in Halifax on 8 April 1833 and again at Hebden Bridge on 24 August 1833.

Illness and death

In the visitation records kept by Robert Bickersteth as Bishop of Ripon of his visitation in 1858 Crowther is recorded as saying that he was totally incapacitated from sickness, and that his son was deputising for him. He was buried in St John's churchyard and his gravestone reads:
In Loving Memory of The Late Revnd Thomas Crowther
For 38 Years Incumbent of this Parish
Who Departed this Life Nov. 18. 1859
His Sole Aim Was to Win Souls to Christ
Also of Phebe,
Widow of the Above Who Died March
13. 1875, Aged 80 Years
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints Psalm 116:15