Currer Bell at Kildwick Church

There are many theories dealing with why the Brontës chose Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell as their pen names. In all probability we will never know for sure, but we are very interested to read a new possible source of inspiration for Charlotte's pick of Currer.

The information comes from this post from Lang Kirk 21, a blog about St Andrew's, the church at the village of Kildwick, between Keighley and Skipton.

Anyone familiar with the story of the Brontes of Haworth and their writings will know that at the time they were producing their novels it was not thought fashionable that women should be writers. Indeed the poet Robert Southey wrote in a letter to Charlotte that 'literature cannot be the business of a woman's life, and it ought not to be' - so the sisters' novels were first published under the pseudonyms of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell -( thus keeping their own initials)
The name Currer is very familiar at Kildwick Church. There are many references to the name Currer on windows and tablets and plaques in the building and in looking up at the church tower there is an inscription on the clock face which says' the gift of W Currer of Steeton, late citizen of London 1709'
Over the chancel door on the outside is a sun dial with the inscription 'Haworth Currer. A D 1729'.

In 1839 Charlotte Bronte took up the post as temporary governess to the Sidgwick family of Stone Gappe, Lothersdale, a village about four miles from Kildwick. In 1824 a faculty was obtained by St Andrew's for the erection of a gallery across the west end of the nave. The seats or pews were apportioned to the several purchasers at stated prices. Number three was for £21 to William Sidgwick of Stone Gappe. Did Charlotte come to the church whilst in the employment of the Sidgwick's and having seen the name Currer remember it when choosing a 'pen name'?

Anyone interested in the Bronte family would of course be very welcome to come to Kildwick to look round the church and inspect the inscriptions and windows which may have been seen, and the name committed to memory by a member of that remarkable literary family.

Very interesting, and a whole new possibility.
Picture Source

Categories: Charlotte Brontë, Haworth