Nicholls travelled to Hebden Bridge from Haworth in order to conduct his friend's funeral service.
The report in the Halifax Guardian indicated just how well thought of Sowden had been: "The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. Many of the principal shops were closed, the procession numbered upwards of 300 persons."
bronteblog/sutcliffe-sowden-and-bront-family
st james hebden bridge the-bronte-connection
Sutcliffe Sowden's sudden death was quite a blow for Arthur Bell Nicholls. Coming as it did the same year he lost his father-in-law, Patrick, his last living link to Charlotte.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSowden married Arthur and Charlotte, conducted Charlotte's funeral and Patrick's as well earlier in 1861. He was family
I just read Sutcliffe Sowden's younger brother, George Sowden's "Recollections of the Brontës " writing in the 1890's. George Sowden was ordinated with Mr. Nicolls and was a good friend to him as well .
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGeorge Sowden tells an amusing story about an event that happened when a group of the local clergymen were discussing the Prayer Book .
"They were arguing on the way to interpret some direction in the Prayer Book and in the end, all were of the same opinion, except Mr Nicholls alone.
To settle the point,if possiable,"Wheatley on Common Prayer" was brought out , and the majority were triumphant when it was found that this great authority took thier view.
" But look ", said the minority of one ( Mr. N), " there is a note at the foot of the page , what does it say? " It actually did say "Doctor Nicholls dissents" There after , of course Mr. N was constantly spoken of as "The Doctor".
lol