James Scholefield (6 April 1790 – 24 April 1855), was an English religious leader, social reformer, undertaker and medical practitioner. He is known for his contributions to the Bible Christian Church, his advocacy for

vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism may ...

and

temperance Temperance may refer to: Moderation *Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed *Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion Culture *Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...

, and his involvement in the British radical

reform movement A reform movement or reformism is a type of social movement that aims to bring a social or also a political system closer to the community's ideal. A reform movement is distinguished from more radical social movements such as revolutionary mo ...

Life and career

James Scholefield was born at Colne Bridge, in the parish of

Kirkheaton Kirkheaton () is a village and former civil parish north-east of Huddersfield, now in the parish of Kirkburton, in the county of West Yorkshire, England, Historically, it is part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is in the Dalton ward of t ...

, Yorkshire, on 6 April 1790. In 1809, he joined the newly established Bible Christian Church, a non-conformist sect founded by William Cowherd. He was educated at Cowherd's Salford Grammar School and Academy of Sciences, covering subjects such as physical science, medicine, astronomy, Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. In 1813, Scholefield was ordained as a minister in the sect and served at Christ Church in Hulme until 1823. Scholefield founded the Christ Church Chapel in Every Street,

Ancoats Ancoats is an area of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. It is located next to the Northern Quarter, the northern part of Manchester city centre. Historically in Lancashire, Ancoats became a cradle of the Industrial Revolution and has ...

, Manchester, in 1824. His ministry was characterised by his strong principles; he was a committed teetotaller and

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism m ...

. Around 1851, Scholefield published a pamphlet advocating for vegetarianism. It was translated into German by Emil Weilshäuser as "Der Meusch—Kieu Raubthier". His lifestyle and teachings were influenced by the belief that abstaining from alcohol and meat was integral to a virtuous and healthy life. Despite his active ministry, Scholefield did not receive financial compensation for his religious work. Instead, he supported himself through various ventures. He was a successful

undertaker A funeral director, also known as an undertaker (British English) or mortician (American English), is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as w ...

and managed a large graveyard adjacent to his chapel. Notably, he developed the "Safety tomb" designed to protect graves from robbers, a significant concern at the time. In addition to his work as an undertaker, Scholefield practiced medicine. Although he was not formally qualified, he studied medicine and began practicing before the Medical Act of 1815, which mandated formal qualifications for medical practitioners. He was a trusted figure among the working-class population of Ancoats, known for his practical medical knowledge and his proprietary remedy, "Scholefield's Cholera Mixture", which enjoyed popularity for several decades. Scholefield was deeply involved in the radical

s of the early 19th century. He was present at the Peterloo Massacre in 1819 and later, in 1842, he commissioned an obelisk in memory of Henry Hunt, a politician and reformer who played a significant role in the events leading up to the event. In the same year, he allowed the Chartist conference to convene in his chapel. For permitting this, Scholefield was tried at the Lancaster Assizes in 1843. However, he was acquitted. Towards the end of his life, he played a prominent role in the Manchester Vegetarian Society, the Short Time movement advocating for shorter working hours, and the Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association. This association united a diverse group of reformers, including Richard Cobden, John Bright, Joseph Hume, and

Feargus O'Connor Feargus Edward O'Connor (18 July 1796 – 30 August 1855) was an Irish Chartist leader and advocate of the Land Plan, which sought to provide smallholdings for the labouring classes. A highly charismatic figure, O'Connor was admired for his ...

Death and legacy

Scholefield died on 24 April 1855 and was buried in Every Street churchyard, Ancoats. His gravestone is the only one from that period that remains intact. The Every Street chapel later became associated with the

University of Manchester , mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity , established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univer ...

Settlement. In 1934,

Mary Stocks Mary Danvers Stocks, Baroness Stocks (née Brinton; 25 July 1891 – 6 July 1975) was a British writer. She was closely associated with the Strachey, the Wedgwood and the Ricardo families. Her family was deeply involved in changes in the Victoria ...

wrote and produced a play about Scholefield's life, which was performed in the chapel, celebrating his contributions to the community and his reformist spirit.

Life and career

Death and legacy

References

Further reading