Emma Jane and her Sunday schools in Norfolk and London
The Sunday school the young people are talking about was Wesleyan Methodist. The movement was based mainly on the teachings of John Wesley, who had taken a mission over to an American colony of Savannah Georgia in the 1730s, to promote Anglicanism over there. By the 19th century, there were Wesleyan Methodist chapels all over Norfolk. As can be seen from Mary Boult's letters, the movement had great appeal among the young.
It looks as if the enthusiasm for Wesleyan Methodism in the family was shared by grandmother, Harriott Crow Bately. The Methodist chapel they are likely to have attended was at Wickhampton, where the Crow family owned land and property and her brother, William Barnard Crow had a farm and raised his family.
Harry Skinner's letter to his brother at the fever hospital also shows the family were collecting money for the 'methodist camp' as he puts it. These were reforming campaigns, which included prison reform, abolition of slavery, prohibition of alcohol and child welfare.
James Charles's letter to his father also commiserates with him about turning out on cold nights for meetings at Wickhampton and hopes his new stove is working and helps him. When I visited Tunstall with my mother in 1991, I was immediately struck that a large brick barn-like building near the house could have been used for Methodist meetings. This would have saved the family the regular trip to Wickhampton. I remember thinking it was a remote place for meetings if they held them there. I have since discovered from newspaper reports that the Skinners entertained hundreds of visitors, from all walks of life. They were greeted 'cordially' by my 2nd great grandfather, James Pollard Skinner, to walk in the flower gardens, be entertained with music and methodist preachers and refreshed with tea, served in the barn. Reports record that the Skinner family sent horse vehicles to Yarmouth to collect guests.
I have been looking at Whites Directories for Norfolk and discovered the writer of the Nov 1870 letter from Halvergate, Mr Gillett, was either a large landowner or a Church of England clergyman. Also from Whites I discovered the Batelys owned most of the land in Tunstall, where Jane Betsy, most of her sisters and her own children were born. This has been confirmed by my co-researchers.
Landowners, who could afford to, were increasing their holdings, by marriage, purchase and enclosures, whilst the smaller landowners were more likely to sell. Whites Directories shows manors south of the River Bure were still owned and the owners were noted for helping to maintain the established Church of England. Methodism, which was spreading in country areas, was not likely to support the upkeep of the established churches.
Without resorting to flares and drums, as had happened to the presbyterian Taylor family in Lavenham at the end of the 18th century, Church and State found other methods of maintaining traditions and the status quo. They instituted tolls and taxes, called in debts and ensured death duties were paid. It was a trend. Farms, parks and woodland were sold off and some properties were left vacant to pay or avoid the tolls and taxes. Censuses show game keepers, toll keepers and bailiffs move into the Norfolk villages, including Tunstall.
On 24th March 1883 Emma Jane Skinner, of Albion Terrace, Heigham Road Norwich married Joseph Joyce of Hayman Street, Islington, at St Peter's Wesleyan Chapel, Lady's Lane Norwich. The chapel is no longer there. Her brother Henry Bately (Harry) was present and also, her sister Rosa May. Joe had an uncle and aunts living in Burgh Castle. His uncle, like many other members of the Joyce family, worked for HM Government as a customs officer. Joe also had a sister, Elizabeth, who married into the Juniper family in Norwich. The Junipers were coal merchants and Baptists.
Some years later when Jane Betsy's daughter, Emma Jane and her husband, Joe Joyce were able to afford to buy their own house in Portland Avenue, Stamford Hill, they did not need permission from landlords to run a Sunday school. I have put a picture of their Sunday School, congregated outside their house, below. Their children May Gertrude and Alfred were involved and also May Gertrude's future husband, Walter Harold. Like Emma Jane's brother Harry, he was a musician. He could play anything on harpsichord and piano. He could read music and play by ear.
As I mentioned in the post "Strong ties with Norfolk and Yarmouth" my mother wrote in 1984 that Emma Jane went to the Wesleyan Chapel in Amhurst Park Road, whilst the rest of them walked to the Congregational church across the road, where they had their own pew. My mother also recalls that Emma Jane read the Daily Mirror, which was a daily newspaper likely to reflect her Wesleyan Methodist and Liberal/Labour principals.
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