NEWCHURCH-in-ROSSENDALE-FOREST, a
chapelry in that part of the parish of WHALLEY which is
in the higher division of the hundred of BLACKBURN,
county palatine of LANCASTER, 3 miles (E. S. E.) from
Haslingden, containing, with Bacup, Deadwin-Clough,
Tunstead, and Wolfenden, 8557 inhabitants, The living
is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Chester, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Whalley.
The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The
Wesleyan Methodists and Unitarians have each a place
of worship here, and the former a Sunday school. A
free grammar school was founded, in 1701, by Edward
Ashworth and John Hoyle, who surrendered an estate,
now producing an annual income of £ 60, in support
of the master, for teaching about thirty-five children.
The river Irwell passes through the parish, in which
cotton and woollen goods are manufactured to a considerable
extent, in their various branches. Coal mines
and quarries of freestone, slate, &c., abound hese. A
fair for cattle is held on April 29th, and one for cattle,
clothing, and pedlary, on June 29th.