This area of the West Riding was visited by a number of First Publishers of Truth in succession, beginning in spring 1653. Thomas Vears and Christopher Atkinson were the first to hold meetings there, in Newton and Easington; amongst those convinced were James Bond and Cuthbert Hayhurst. William Dewsbury followed shortly afterwards, staying at the homes of John Crosdale, Richard Leigh and Cuthbert Hayhurst, and preaching in the local villages. John Audland also held a meeting at Richard Leigh's house. Cuthbert Hayhurst went on to become a minister and together with other local Friends, formed a Meeting based in Newton. This was first recorded in 1669 as part of Settle Monthly Meeting. A Meeting House was built in 1698 at Pighill Head and rebuilt in 1767, at the same time as a Friends school was founded in the village. In 1853 the Meeting was transferred to Brighouse Monthly Meeting, and discontinued two years later. It reopened as an Allowed Meeting in 1871 and had become a Preparative Meeting by the time of its closure in 1922. It briefly operated as an Allowed Meeting again for the period 1943 to 1948, as part of the re-formed Settle Monthly Meeting.
From the guide to the Records of Newton-in-Bowland Preparative Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1654-1993, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)
