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Hudsonites
The Hudsonites, active around 1840-1848, received opprobrium from local newspapers
due to their mockery of religion. Their meetings spoofed religious
services - a hymn would be given out, but not sung; absurdist
sermons would be read; and members testified that the land was
the birthright of the people. They were organised by James Hudson,
also known as 'Pope' Hudson, and were mainly drawn from the Shade,
Gauxholme and Knowlwood areas of Todmorden. They wore green coats,
indicating their sympathy with the Chartist cause, and held annual
meetings at the Basin Stone on the first Sunday in May (Spaw
Sunday). The implication seems to be that their beliefs were
libertarian Christian-humanist and similar to the Diggers of
the 17th century.
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