Congregationalism in the Court SuburbStoughton, John
History
Congregationalism in the Court Suburb
Stoughton, John
Congregationalism -- History; Kensington (London, England) -- Church history
“On Sunday morning, 23rd November, 1879, a solemn memorial service
was conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. Raleigh, D.D., suggested by the
death of Mrs. Stoughton, on the 11th of November, at Ealing.
“The sermon was based on the passage (2 Cor. v. 9): ‘Willing rather
to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord,’ Dr.
Stoughton and his family being among the worshippers. The Church
wish, moreover, to record their deep sympathy with Dr. Stoughton, in
his sad bereavement, and cherish the memory of Mrs. Stoughton as one
who, during her husband’s long pastorate of thirty-two years at
Kensington Chapel, co-operated with him in all his work for the
heavenly Master, and endeared herself to many as a bright example to
the flock.”
I shall be pardoned for the insertion of a single paragraph from the
beautiful sermon delivered by Dr. Raleigh on that affecting occasion. It
is no less true than beautiful:—
“Fitted by education and culture for any place in social life, it
might have been thought by some that she would be among the foremost
always in visible activities and good works. She was indeed always
active, and was always engaged in doing good; but always as much as
possible in silent and unseen ways. She was not one who could say,
in view of the many things that might be done by one in her position,
of a more or less public kind, ‘therefore being always confident.’
Rather she loved and sought the shade; if a sweet and calm and
all-helpful domestic life may be called the shade, to a lady of deep
piety and high culture. She strove to make home good and happy, and
succeeded; every child following father and mother in Divine ways,
and into the Church of God; and then she strove to extend the
blessedness to as many other homes as possible. I know not that we
could have a much nobler ideal and pattern of a woman’s life. I have
it on the best authority, that of a ministerial friend who was like a
brother in the house, that many and many a poor minister’s home in
the country was made warmer and brighter, and more what home ought to
be, by her generous persistence of care for them, and by the gentle
importunity of her letters to others on their behalf. Her power of
letter-writing was unique; all who were privileged to receive these
letters, on any subject, but especially on Divine and spiritual
subjects, felt the charm, and valued the more the friendship of one
who could write so for God and for men. Her last years were weighted
with deepening affliction; yet were they calm and peaceful years to
the last. For months she waited on the border land, looking
heavenwards, thinking often no doubt of the loved ones who had gone
before, and who, as I have been told by one who well knows, often
seemed very near to her. The few who saw her felt that they had been
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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