He is known for his contributions to the Bible Christian Church, his advocacy for vegetarianism and temperance, and his involvement in the British radical reform movement.
[1] In 1809, he joined the newly established Bible Christian Church, a non-conformist sect founded by William Cowherd.
He was a trusted figure among the working-class population of Ancoats, known for his practical medical knowledge and his proprietary remedy, "Scholefield's Cholera Mixture", which enjoyed popularity for several decades.
[4] Towards the end of his life, he played a prominent role in the Manchester Vegetarian Society, the Short Time movement advocating for shorter working hours, and the Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association.
This association united a diverse group of reformers, including Richard Cobden, John Bright, Joseph Hume, and Feargus O'Connor.
[2] In 1934, Mary Stocks wrote and produced a play about Scholefield's life, which was performed in the chapel, celebrating his contributions to the community and his reformist spirit.