Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.Coleman, Thomas
History
Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire: with biographical notices of their pastors, and some account of the puritan ministers who laboured in the county.
Coleman, Thomas
Clergy -- England -- Northamptonshire; Independent churches -- England -- Northamptonshire; Puritans -- England -- Northamptonshire
The Rev. William Todman, the present pastor, took the oversight of the
Church and congregation and commenced his labours on the 5th of June,
1842. During the ten years that have elapsed since then, the large and
convenient school-rooms have been built adjoining the Chapel, at a cost
of nearly L400. In the daily Infant-school there are upwards of 80
children, and in the Sabbath-school 260. Many additions have been made
to the Church, and the congregations never were better than at the
present time. The number of communicants is about 116. Occasional
services are conducted in the villages in the vicinity of Yardley.
The state of this interest shows what may be done, under the divine
blessing, to sustain and advance a Christian society on voluntary
principles, in a situation of not the most promising character, by men
of a devoted spirit, concerned to promote the glory of the Saviour and
the welfare of immortal minds.
CHAPTER XV.
MEMORIALS OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AT KILSBY AND CRICK.
The Independent congregation in these places owes its origin, there is
reason to conclude, to the labours of ministers ejected by the Act of
Uniformity. Mr. Worth, who had been vicar of Kilsby, and Mr. Stephen
Fowler, who had been rector of Crick, were useful here, after their
ejectment. Concerning the former, Palmer states "that he preached for a
while, as a Nonconformist, at Daventry and Chipping Norton"; on other
authority it is stated that "he also continued to labour at Kilsby." Of
the latter we are informed, that "after leaving the Church at Crick, he
came to reside at Kilsby; and that, after attending the services of the
Church in the day, he repeated a sermon in his own house, in the evening
of the Sabbath, to such as chose to attend." The labours of these two
devoted ministers of Christ were rendered useful to several families in
the village, so that they became attached to the preaching of the Gospel
and to the mode of conducting religious worship as it was practised
among the Nonconformists.
Of Mr. Worth it is stated that "he had three sons, ministers among the
Dissenters"; of Mr. Fowler, that "his rectory at Crick was very
valuable, but it proved no temptation to him to conform against his
conscience." He was a very popular preacher, and indefatigable in his
labours. He died through an excess of hard study and too frequent
preaching, as he went to Newbury upon the removal of Mr. John
Woodbridge, who was ejected there. We are informed that "he was eminent
for the holiness of his life, his zeal and constancy in his work at all
times, his great moderation, and many other excellent qualities."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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