The former Rowley Rectory

Image: © Marathon Taken: 18 Apr 2024

All that is to be found at the deserted village of Rowley in the East Riding is the church and the former rectory as Rowley is now in America. When the Book of Sports, allowing games to be played on Sunday was ordered to be read in every church during the reign of King Charles I, the parson at Rowley, Ezekiel Rogers, refused to read it. He had served as pastor for twenty years before his suspension due to his non-conformist Puritan beliefs. He was turned out of his house but soon afterwards sailed for America taking with him every family in the village. Taking all their possessions, they founded a new Rowley in Massachusetts in 1638 where he became Rowley’s pastor. The colony of 20 families faced many difficulties but Ezekiel lived to see the settlement thriving. By 2020, the town had a population of over 6,000. In the garden of the former rectory can be seen this rotunda which came from Campden Hill in London. The rectory, seen in the distance, dates from the early 18th century but is now a hotel. For the church see www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7755752

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