A group of First Publishers of Truth including Thomas and Christopher Taylor, Richard Farnsworth, William Dewsbury, Gervase Benson and Thomas Stubbs preached throughout this area of the West Riding in the early 1650s. Several Meetings were settled as a result, based in Beamsley, Bradley, Weston, Netherdale, Guisley, Keighley and Knaresborough. On the formation of Knaresborough Monthly Meeting in March 1669, these were its constituent Meetings, and the composition of the Monthly Meeting remained fairly stable until the late 18th century. Both Knaresborough and Settle Monthly Meetings were largely rural and migration to the industrial cities of the West Riding had weakened Meetings and the ability to sustain both poor relief and the education of Friends' children. Quarterly Meeting investigated the situation in the 1830s and early 1850s. In 1853, both Monthly Meetings were incorporated wholesale into Brighouse Monthly Meeting, with the one exception of Darley Meeting, which was transferred to York Monthly Meeting.
From the guide to the Records of Knaresborough Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1796-1846, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)
From the guide to the Records of Knaresborough Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends, 1654-ca.1960, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)
