There are 110 children in the Sabbath-schools, and 24 teachers who take part in their instruction.

CHAPTER XXII.

MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT OLD.

In the village of Old there is a neat brick building as an Independent Chapel, with a small burying-ground enclosed in connexion with it; and nearly adjoining it is a dwelling-house for the minister. Though this Chapel was not erected until the year 1809, yet we have to look backward for a little more than a hundred years to observe the first efforts that were made to obtain some stated services by Nonconformist ministers in this place. It appears highly probable that the Gospel was occasionally preached at Old and Scaldwell (the latter village being about a mile from the former) in the early part of the last century. We have found, in the records of the Independent Church at Rowell, that there were a number of persons who were members of that Church residing in Scaldwell and its vicinity soon after the commencement of the last century, who expressed a desire to be formed into a separate Church in that place, on account of the distance they were from Rowell; but their numbers were thought not to be sufficient then to justify such a step.

In the year 1750, Mr. Thomas Palmer, of Old, great grandfather to the late Mr. Palmer, by deed of bargain and sale invested certain premises at Old in the hands of four trustees, that out of the rents and profits thereof they should pay 5 per annum, by four quarterly payments, to some Dissenting minister, teacher, or preacher, to do divine service and preach a sermon once a month at Old for ever.

Neighbouring ministers performed this monthly service for some time. The attendance on this lecture was so good as to lead the friends to obtain more frequent services, which were conducted in a barn on the property.

Some of the hearers were in the habit of attending the Baptist Meeting at Walgrave, a short distance from Old; but the practice of strict communion cut them off from partic.i.p.ating in divine ordinances there, so that it was at length determined to form a Church at Old, and to look out for a stated pastor.

Mr. Shadrach Jackson, from the Newport Pagnell inst.i.tution, visited Old in the year 1808, and preached in the barn with acceptance and success.

The increasing attendance rendered it desirable and indeed necessary to have a more suitable and commodious place for divine worship, and the present Chapel was erected on the premises, at a cost of 850.

At the ordination of Mr. Jackson, his tutor, the late Mr. William Bull, the friend and correspondent of Newton and Cowper, delivered an affectionate and impressive charge, taking for his motto the remarkable words of Joseph, addressed to his brother Benjamin (Gen. xliii. 29): "G.o.d be gracious unto thee, my son." The late Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, in his own peculiar, affectionate, and persuasive manner, gave a most excellent address to the people, from the words of Ruth (i. 16, 17): "Entreat me not to leave thee," &c.

Mr. Jackson was a native of Doncaster. He early became acquainted with Mr. Samuel Hobson, of Sheffield, afterwards pastor of the Church at Maldon, Beds. The late Mr. Thorpe, of Bristol, married the sister of Mr.

Hobson, and to him both these young men were considerably indebted for their ministerial prospects. Both of them became students at Newport; they were both men of ability--Hobson having perhaps most philosophy, and Jackson most genius and pulpit unction. The latter was a striking and impressive preacher, decidedly popular, not failing to secure the attention of his audience. He had an excellent gift in prayer, and was often called upon to pray at the meetings of his brethren in the County a.s.sociation. But it was not a long course of service that was allotted to him. His health was not good; he was subject to an affection of the throat; but it is thought that the affliction which ended in death was brought on by his preaching one night in wet clothes at the neighbouring village of Holcott. He never ceased to feel the effects of that night, and gradually sunk, though occasionally giving some hopes of recovery.

After a long and painful affliction, he died, September 3rd, 1817. His remains were interred near the pulpit, and a tablet was erected to his memory by subscription.

Mr. Hillyard, minister at Bedworth, who was a member of the Church at Old, and has supplied some of these particulars, states--"I saw him just as he was dying, being then about nine years of age; he mentioned my name. Almost the last thing he said referring to himself was, 'A sinner saved by grace.' I well remember the deep impression his death made on my mind; and all the circ.u.mstances of the funeral; and the funeral sermon being preached by the late Mr. Toller, from Acts xx. 24: 'And none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of G.o.d.'"

The writer of these 'Memorials' attended that service, and has a vivid recollection of the crowded a.s.sembly, the impressive sermon, the solemn tones and the tears of the preacher, with the testimony he bore to the increasing spirituality of Mr. Jackson's mind during the closing period of his life.

In the first part of Mr. Jackson's ministry the prospects of the society were very encouraging; but it soon became manifest that, although the Church is not of this world, yet, being in the world, it is more or less affected by those visitations that transpire therein, for three very efficient friends and supporters of the cause were soon removed by death. These events, with the early removal of Mr. Jackson, and some dissensions that afterwards arose, greatly weakened the cause, and cast some gloom over its prospects.

The Church was now supplied by neighbouring ministers and students until April, 1818, when Mr. Joseph Gravestock, of Towcester, who had been a short time fellow student with Mr. Jackson, came to Old as a supply. As his connexion with the Church at Towcester was dissolved, his services being acceptable here, after a period of probation he received an invitation to the pastoral office. On the 3rd of September, in this year, he removed with his family to Old; and on the evening of his arrival, preached from Heb. xiii. 8 ("Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever"), having special reference to the death of his predecessor, who had been in the world of spirits just one year, and dwelling on the immutability and all-sufficiency of the ever living Redeemer.

"Amidst varied scenes, producing diversified fears and hopes, Mr.

Gravestock (who is still living) pursued his ministerial course till September, 1843, when failure of health and other circ.u.mstances induced him to resign his office and terminate his labours in a farewell address, from Rev. ii. 10: 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.'" The stated ministry of Mr. Gravestock at Towcester and at Old extended to nearly thirty years, for he was ordained at the former place August 17th, 1814, when Mr. Jackson commenced the service with prayer; Mr. Bull, his tutor, delivering the charge; Mr. Aston, of Buckingham, preaching to the people; and Mr.

Jackson preaching in the evening.

After this resignation, supplies were obtained until 1845, when Mr.

Ingram Moody was invited to the pastoral office, in which he continued until 1849, when he resigned and emigrated to Australia.

After the removal of Mr. Moody, Mr. John Spence, of Kettering, a member of the Independent Church under the pastoral care of Mr. Toller, who had for some time previously engaged in occasional services in the vicinity, was invited to supply the pulpit at Old. His ministry proving acceptable to the people, at the expiration of four months he received an invitation to become the pastor, and entered on his stated labours in January, 1850, and has now become the resident minister of the place.

In the spring of 1852, alterations and improvements were made on the premises, the burying ground enclosed, at the expense of about 60. On Lord's-day, June 13th, three sermons were preached (morning and evening, by Mr. Toller, of Kettering; afternoon, by Mr. Samuel Marsh, of Moulton), when collections were made towards the expenses incurred.

Numerous congregations a.s.sembled in the afternoon and evening. On the following day a public tea-meeting was held, when 200 persons took tea; after which there was a public meeting, when Mr. J. Stockburn, of Kettering, presided. Mr. Spence read a brief history of the cause, when effective addresses were delivered by several ministers and gentlemen that were present. The collections and donations produced 36. 17_s._ 11-1/2_d._, leaving a debt of 23. 2_s._ 0-1/2_d._, which it is hoped will be entirely extinguished at the next anniversary, and by means of exertions that may be made previous to that time. The prospects of the Church appear to be more pleasing than they have been for some years past; and we trust that the present pastor and his flock will go forward with united efforts and realize an abundant blessing, peace and prosperity being richly enjoyed among them, that the great Head of the Church in all may be glorified.

In connexion with this cause at Old there is a small place of worship at Scaldwell, where one service on the Sabbath is generally conducted. The number of communicants at present is twenty-six. There are twenty-five children in the Sabbath-school--number in minister's Bible cla.s.s, thirty; and occasional services are conducted in villages in the vicinity.

From this village society three Independent ministers have been raised up, viz.: Mr. T. Hillyard, of Bedworth; Mr. Gammage, of Ketton; and Mr.

Gammage's son, Mr. Henry Gammage, of Dunmow, Ess.e.x.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT EVERDON.

The village of Everdon, four miles from Daventry, contains nearly 800 inhabitants. There were no regular efforts made here for the preaching of the Gospel by Dissenters until the year 1811. Mr. Barge, a member of the Independent Church at Weedon, under the influence of compa.s.sion for the state of the inhabitants, fitted up a small place of worship at his own expense, measuring twenty-two feet by ten feet, which was opened May 30th, 1811, and regularly supplied twice on the Sabbath by Mr. Meac.o.c.k, a member of the Independent Church, West Orchard, Coventry; and occasionally in the week by Mr. Gronow, of Weedon. The services were well attended, and the place was soon found to be too small for the number of hearers; which induced Mr. Barge to give a piece of ground for the erection of a new Chapel, which was opened October 26th, 1813, on which occasion Mr. Jerrard, of Coventry, preached from Rev. i. 12, 13, and Mr. Whitehead, of Creaton, from Matt. xviii. 20, and Mr. W. P.

Davis, of Wellingborough, from Num. x. 29. This building was invested in the hands of trustees of the Independent denomination. Several persons from the neighbouring villages began to attend the services, and there was a pleasing prospect of success. The following spring a Church was formed by Mr. Gronow, and Mr. Meac.o.c.k was invited to become their pastor, and was ordained on the 23rd of August, when Messrs. Morgan, of Kilsby, Watson, of Daventry, Gronow, of Weedon, Whitehead, of Greaton, Bicknell, of Brownsover, Knight, of Yelvertoft, and Griffiths, of Long Buckby, were engaged in the services of the day. An endowment of 500 was bequeathed to the Chapel by William Falwell, Esq., the interest of which is to be applied toward the support of the minister for the time being.

Much opposition has been experienced here, but some have been brought to the knowledge of the truth. The villages of Bradley, Newnham, and Farthingstone have shared, at different periods, in the pastor's labours; but in his later years Mr. Meac.o.c.k chiefly confined his services to Everdon. At length, through the increasing infirmities of age, after labouring for a period of thirty-two years amongst his little flock in peace and harmony, he resigned the pastoral office the first Sabbath in April, 1845, and was succeeded by Mr. S. G. Stirmey, the present pastor.

Mr. Stirmey observes, that at the present time the Church is reduced to a low state, and that the Sabbath-school numbers but about thirty children; for great efforts are made, and very considerable influence is employed, on the side of the Established Church, so that the difficulties with which this cause has to struggle are very considerable.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT BRACKLEY.

Brackley is a small market town and ancient borough, near the south-west extremity of the county: it has, in former times, been a place of considerable importance. In the early days of Methodism, John Wesley might have been seen sometimes, preaching to a rustic throng from the steps of the Market-house. But the Independent Church in this place is of very recent date, and its history will therefore be comprised within a very small compa.s.s.

A short time previous to the year 1835, "the North Bucks a.s.sociation"

made an ineffectual attempt to obtain a place of worship in this town.

At length a room was secured for the purposes of divine worship and preaching the Gospel. This proving inadequate to accommodate the attendants, in 1836 a Chapel was erected, at a cost of 650, capable of seating about 300 persons. The services of Mr. John Ashby, formerly a student at Newport, now minister at Stony Stratford, were engaged by the newly formed congregation, and he laboured here for somewhat more than a year. After his removal, the pulpit was princ.i.p.ally supplied by students from Newport Academy. In January, 1838, Mr. G. Smith, late of Halesworth, accepted an invitation to labour here. In the same year a Church was formed, consisting of twenty persons--the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was first administered June 24th of that year; but in the beginning of 1839 Mr. Smith was compelled by indisposition to resign his connexion with the Church.

Again supplies were obtained from the Newport seminary, until 1842, when Mr. W. R. Lewis commenced a probationary course of labour, and afterwards settled as the pastor. Under his superintendence the Church was re-organized; but after the lapse of three or four years circ.u.mstances arose which rendered his removal to a more extended sphere of labour a subject for consideration, which resulted in his resignation about Christmas, 1846. In 1847, Mr. Robert Davis, who had been pastor at Turvey, Bedfordshire, accepted an invitation to minister in this place, and continued his services until December, 1851. The Church, again being dest.i.tute of a pastor, was supplied for a time by ministers from the vicinity; until, in August of this year (1852), Mr. T. Roberts, late student at Newport Pagnell, accepted an invitation to become the pastor under somewhat pleasing circ.u.mstances; and it is hoped that his ministry will be rendered truly useful, that the Church may be increased, and the name of the Redeemer glorified. The present number of communicants is thirty-three; children in the Sabbath-school, rather more than fifty.

CHAPTER XXV.

MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT BYFIELD.

The village of Byfield, containing more than 1000 inhabitants, has in it a small Independent Church, of recent origin; but it has struggled with many difficulties, and a number of changes have taken place during its short history, of which we can only present some very concise statements.

About thirty years ago, some persons residing here, who were members of a Dissenting Church in the vicinity, determined to invite some of the neighbouring ministers to preach the Gospel of Christ in this place. For three months the services were conducted in a room, which was rented and fitted up for the purpose. The Home Missionary Society then agreed to give 30 as a grant for one year, and recommended Mr. Grey as the minister, formerly of Oakham, Rutlandshire. During the first year of his ministry, which was 1827, a neat little Chapel was erected. Mr. Grey remained three years, during which time his ministry was rendered useful. A short time after Mr. Grey had left, the place was supplied by Mr. Kidgell, from Newport Academy, who became the pastor of the Church in 1831. His ministry was continued here for four years. Mr. Phillips next supplied the place for three months, under whose ministry things greatly revived; but through some misunderstanding, he quitted the pleasing scene of usefulness that appeared to be opening before him, the Church much regretting his removal. After this Mr. Moses became the pastor, and continued with them three years. Then a Mr. Sanderson was invited for twelve months, in consequence of an advertis.e.m.e.nt; "but since then," it is remarked, "the Church has had no faith in advertising ministers." Mr. Kidgell then returned to his former scene of labour, and remained for eighteen months, but under considerable discouragement.

After his final removal, the congregation was supplied by neighbouring ministers and occasional preachers for more than twelve months. At length they invited a Mr. Berrill, who remained with them seven years.

He laboured under many difficulties, weathered many storms, and at length retired from the situation. For ten months they remained dest.i.tute, having supplies as they could be obtained. In March, 1849, their present minister, Mr. Robson, came to supply them, and was invited to remain. He found the place in a very low state, but things have taken a favourable turn. The Chapel is now well attended, and seventeen members have been added to the Church. The present number of communicants is thirty-three. In the Sabbath-school there are thirty children, instructed by six teachers.

CHAPTER XXVI.