THE tiny village of Pendleton has something big to celebrate this year - its church's 150th anniversary.

When the church of All Saints was built in 1847 a great deal was happening in the country.

As the building was being completed, literary history was being made.

Dickens, Thackeray and Wordsworth were writing and, only about 20 miles, away three sisters were quietly enriching literature for posterity by publishing three novels - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte - then known as Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell - share the 150th anniversary of the publication of their novels with Pendleton's church's anniversary.

Before Pendleton Chapel - as it was first known - was built, people in the village had to go to Whalley or Clitheroe for worship.

When Pendleton School was built in 1837, services were held there and a Sunday school opened a little later.

Jane Aspinall, of Standen Hall, who took a keen interest in the village and school, decided to build a chapel to remedy overcrowding at services. She bought nearly an acre of land and work progressed. The foundation stone was laid in May 1846 and work finished 17 months later, costing some £3,000.

Thanks to the generosity of Jane Aspinall, who married Ralph Blegborough just as the building was nearing completion, the village had a fine chapel.

The opening service was on November 11. Jane Blegborough, as she then was, moved to Hove, but retained her interest in the village and when Pendleton became a parish in 1873, paid for the building of a vicarage.

To celebrate the church's anniversary, events have been planned throughout the year.

This Sunday, there is a visit by the Bishop of Lancaster for Rogation Sunday, a garden party is planned for August, as well as an exhibition and flower festival, a harvest festival and lunch on October 5, to be attended by the Bishop of Burnley and a supper the following day.

A dinner dance is to be held in November, a visit by the Bishop of Blackburn on Remembrance Sunday, November 9 and on the actual anniversary of the opening, Eucharist on Tuesday, November 11.

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